Please note this opportunity is now closed.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Maternity Disparities Consortium (MDC) brings together a diverse range of organisations with expertise in research, capacity building and working with people and communities. It aims to deliver a step change in maternity outcomes, access to maternity services and experience of services and developing future research leaders in this area of need. The research carried out by the consortium will focus on inequalities before, during and after pregnancy.
The consortium has dedicated some of its capacity-development funding to provide Pre-Application Support. These awards are specifically designed to “level the playing field,” offering extra resources to those who need them to build a competitive application for an onward Career Development funding award. Every award is intended to equip individuals with the necessary skills, experience, and protected time to successfully transition to the next stage of their research career. A primary expectation is that the award holder will produce a high-quality fellowship funding application submitted to an identifiable external funder. Applications that do not name a specific target scheme from an identifiable funder will not be considered.
These awards offer funding towards salary costs (up to a max £30k) on a flexible WTE basis allowing individuals to buy out time from current responsibilities to enhance or prepare an application for career development funding. You must read the guidance and approach a capacity development lead before preparing and submitting an application.
Eligibility
- Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria of the subsequent career development award they intend to apply for following the pre-application support award.
- Applicants can be existing members of the consortium or be external to the consortium. However, the award must be held at an MDC member organisation. Applicants who are not currently based at an MDC member organisation, would need to be hosted at an MDC member organisation for the award.
- The applicant’s main supervisor must be from within the MDC, but additional supervisors can be either internal to the consortium or external depending on the needs of the project.
- Applicants research interests must align with MDC Themes, and this must be discussed and agreed with the theme lead and/or capacity development lead.
- Applicants must have agreed how their current position will be covered and have support from their line manager/ supervisor.
- The funding is available for individuals at all career stages as long as there is a clear link to the MDC and they meet eligibility criteria as per first point.
- We particularly welcome applications from those working in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
This call has now closed. If you are interested in applying for a pre-application support fund, please check the NIHR award here: Pre-Application Support Fund | NIHR
In line with our mission to tackle maternity inequalities, we particularly encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and those working in underserved clinical or community settings. We want to ensure that the best research ideas, no matter where they come from, have the support they need to succeed.
If you have any questions regarding your eligibility or the application process, please reach out to (nihr.mdc.capacitydevelopment@newcastle.ac.uk).
