College of Medicine and Health

COST

COST was the first and is the widest European network for the coordination of nationally funded research activities.

COST brings together researchers and experts in different countries working on specific topics. COST does NOT fund research itself, but supports networking activities such as meetings, conferences, short term scientific exchanges and outreach activities. COST Actions are networks centred around nationally funded research projects in a particular field. Approximately 250 Actions are currently supported by COST. These are a good starting point for the development of consortia for FP7 projects, for instance.

The programme is divided into 9 Scientific Domains:

• Biomedicine and molecular biosciences

• Chemistry and molecular sciences and technologies

• Earth system science and environmental management

• Food and agriculture

• Forest, their products and services

• Individuals, societies, cultures and health

• Information and communication technologies

• Materials, physical and nanosciences

• Transport and urban development

Proposals should include researchers from a minimum of five COST countries. On average, grants are worth around €100,000 annually over four years.

Proposals are submitted on-line and are assessed in two stages. Preliminary Proposals (maximum 1 500 words/3 pages), should provide a brief overview of the proposal and its intended impact (for template go to http://www.cost.eu/opencall). Eligible Proposals will be assessed by the relevant Domain Committees and applicants of selected Preliminary Proposals will be invited to submit a Full Proposal. Full Proposals will be peer reviewed (for assessment criteria go to, http://www.cost.eu/opencall). The decision will normally be taken within six months of the collection date and the Actions should expect to start within three months thereafter. 

Collection dates for Preliminary Proposals are usually the last Friday in March and September. Up to 80 applicants will be invited to submit Full Proposals, of these up to 30 new Actions will be selected, subject to available budget.

Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)

Outgoing Fellowships are for researchers from EU Member States and Associated Countries. To apply, you must have either a doctoral degree or at least 4 years’ full-time equivalent research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting you to embark on a doctorate. More experienced researchers can apply and the higher level of experience will not affect their chances of obtaining an IOF.

IOFs fund advanced training. Funding covers a salary for the researcher and a contribution to research-related costs. Financial support can be given for up to 3 years in all. This includes an initial outgoing phase of 1-2 years in a Third Country and a mandatory reintegration phase in Europe.

The host organisation should be a university, research centre or enterprise established and located in a Third Country (for the outgoing phase) and in an EU or Associated Country (for the return phase).

The main activities should be based on a research project which should prepared by the applicant  in coordination with the European host organisation. An IOF should significantly develop and widen the applicant’s competences. In particular, it should strengthen their multi- or interdisciplinary expertise, inter-sectoral experience and complementary skills.

Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)

Incoming Fellowships aim to reinforce the research excellence of Member States and Associated Countries through knowledge sharing with incoming top-class researchers active in a third country (Other third countries are countries which are neither EU Member States nor third countries associated to FP7).

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree or at least 4 years’ full-time research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting you to embark on a doctorate. This is the minimum requirement and has the main focus of these is knowledge transfer, the more experienced the applicant, the greater the chances for success.

Funding is provided for a research project which will transfer knowledge into the host organisation and build or enhance collaborations between Europe and the rest of the world. Financial support is provided for 12-24 months (full-time equivalent). Funding may also cover a return phase of one year in the applicant’s country of origin. To qualify for a return phase, the applicant must be from must be from one of the International Cooperation Partner Countries.

Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development (IEF)

Researchers based in EU Member States or Associated Countries can apply for an IEF. They must have either a doctoral degree or at least 4 years’ full-time research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting them to embark on a doctorate. Generally, they  must carry out the project on the premises of a host organisation in an EU or Associated Country other than your own. Special consideration is also given to those returning to a research career after a break.

Funding is provided for advanced training. This may include the acquisition of new and/or complementary skills, and transnational mobility. The training is based on a personal career development programme agreed between the researcher and the supervisor at the host organisation. Funding covers a salary for the researcher and a contribution to research-related costs and is provided for a period of 12-24 months (full-time equivalent).  

BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards

The BBVA Foundation invites nominations for its frontiers of knowledge awards. These recognise research and creative work that contributes to a better understanding of the natural, social and artificial or technological worlds. Eight categories are available:

•basic sciences (physics, chemistry, mathematics);

•biomedicine;

•ecology and conservation biology;

•information and communication technologies;

•economics, finance and management;

•contemporary music;

•climate change;

•development cooperation

Candidates may be one or more persons of any nationality. Agencies and organisations in the public and not-for-profit private sector are also eligible for climate change and development cooperation awards.

Nominations are accepted from: scientific or artistic societies or organisations; national or regional academies of the sciences or the arts; public or private research and development centres; university departments and schools, and university or research institutes; hospital departments and biomedical research centres; conservatories and schools of music; scholarly music and musicology journals; orchestras and orchestra associations; radio and television broadcasters running symphony or chamber orchestras; science museums; public agencies and international, national or regional organisations involved in a relevant field. Organisations may nominate more than one candidate but each candidate may only be nominated for one category. Awards in each category are worth €400,000.

Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds PhD Fellowships

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds awards PhD fellowships to outstanding junior scientists (max. age: 27 years) who wish to pursue an ambitious PhD project of approximately 3 years in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory.

The peer-review-based selection process is highly competitive. Applicants should therefore be outstanding in all three selection criteria

Purpose

To promote basic research in biomedicine by providing the best young, up-and-coming scientists with comprehensive support during their PhD phase.

More than a monthly stipend

The fellowship comprises a competitive monthly stipend that is initially granted for 2 years and that can be extended for up to another 12 months. Participation in international scientific conferences is also supported. In addition, fellowship holders are offered personal support, seminars to discuss their projects, communication training and alumni meetings, and thus can become part of a worldwide network.

Timing and selection

Deadlines of application: 1 February, 1 June, 1 October of each year. Pre-selection takes place about 4 weeks after the respective deadline, and the final selection approximately 5 months after the respective deadline.

Champalimaud Foundation International Neuroscience Doctoral Programme 2013

Successful applicants will demonstrate the ability to tackle difficult intellectual challenges, to learn new skills and ways of thinking and to work passionately as part of a research team. Predoctoral training in quantitative disciplines (e.g. physics, mathematics, computer science), biological sciences (e.g. biology, medicine, bioengineering) or related fields is important. Previous research experience is also desirable but not required. Applicants should have a master degree and/or a 4+ year undergraduate degree, or will be obtaining their degree by no later than December 31, 2013.

The INDP is associated to the Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme (CNP), comprising fifteen research groups with a focus on the neural circuits and systems underlying mind and behaviour.

Before beginning research on a thesis project, admitted students will complete one semester of intensive courses and will be able to perform summer rotations in CNP laboratories. Courses are led by distinguished local and invited international scientists. The topics of instruction include molecular & cellular biology, ecology & evolution, neurophysiology & neuroanatomy, learning & development, sensory & motor systems, and computational & cognitive neuroscience, and all courses have a practical component comprising exercises, small projects, and experimental work in the INDP dedicated teaching laboratory. The overall format emphasizes participation, team-work and informal interaction in both classroom and laboratory.

The INDP is supported by funding from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, FCT) and the Champalimaud Foundation. Full tuition and stipend to perform courses and thesis work will be ensured for successful applicants of all nationalities for a period of 4 years. English is the official language of the INDP

AIIHPC Education and Practice Fellowships

All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) is pleased to launch a €14,000 education and practice fellowship fund aimed at developing the knowledge, capacity and leadership skills of those working in the palliative care communities in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The fellowships are open to individuals, from clinical, education or community backgrounds, who wish to further develop their knowledge of palliative care education and promote the sharing of information within their own organisations and beyond.

There are five fellowship opportunities available, enabling individuals to visit other palliative care related organisations or education centres, either at home or internationally.

NCRI Lung Cancer Supportive and Palliative Care Scholarship Scheme

Applications are invited to the NCRI Lung Cancer Supportive and Palliative Care Scholarship Scheme.

Awards of up to £25,000 for up to 1 year will be available to support research that is focused on the supportive and palliative care needs of patients with lung cancer or mesothelioma and/or the needs of their families/carers.

This one off Scheme may be of interest to those with an interest in research to gain experience in this area or to obtain preliminary data to support a PhD/MD or early career research grant application.

The Commonwealth Fund International Program in Health Policy and Innovation

The Commonwealth Fund’s International Program in Health Policy and Innovation promotes cross-national learning by:

The Commonwealth Fund requests letters of inquiry for its international programme in health policy and innovation. This programme is dedicated to building an international network of policy-oriented health care researchers, sparking innovative health policy thinking and high-level exchanges, and encouraging comparative research and collaboration in the field of health care.

Topics of particular interest include:

Grants are divided to two categories: small grants are worth up to US$50,000 while the board-level grants exceed this amount. Most of the available funding is awarded as small grants for issue briefs and case studies. Funding is available for periods ranging from a month to a few years.