Funding Proposals: Peer Review and Feedback

Are you a PGR, member of research staff, or lecturer looking to apply for funding in the next six months? Do you have a draft of your application on which you would like feedback?

OR

Are you a PGR, member of research staff, or lecturer interested in developing your awareness of what makes a good funding application? Would you like to gain insights into the funding application process by being peer reviewer on funding applications? 

Three applicants (one PGR, one postdoc/fellow and one lecturer) will have the opportunity to present their work and obtain detailed feedback on a draft application. We want drafts which are as near to completion as possible. We recognise there may be some elements which you will not have ready (e.g. letters of support, full costings), however more late-stage drafts will be prioritised. All participants will be asked to agree to keep proposals and the discussions on the day confidential. We will ask you for a lay summary in the expression of interest, with full drafts due a few weeks before the day to enable printing.

We are also seeking reviewers with a diverse range of experience, fields and backgrounds to provide presenter applicants with feedback on their funding applications. As reviewer participants, you will see three short presentations on the applications (similar to those which might be required at interviews) and will provide detailed feedback on a draft application. Please note that although we welcome experienced reviewers who wish to give back to the research community, no previous experience of reviewing is required as you will be given guidance.

Funding Proposals is aimed at the full range of early career researchers (postgraduate researchers, research staff, and early career academics):

• Early career researchers currently applying for funding – as applicants
• Early career researchers interested in the funding process – as reviewers

Expected outcomes for applicants:

• Unlock your funding potential: Increase your confidence in writing and communicating your funding applications.
• Refine Your Proposals: Receive detailed feedback on your drafts from a range of researchers at different stages and from across different disciplines; check how well you have communicated your vision and approach; practice pitching your research to different audiences; reflect upon and refine your proposals before submission

Expected outcomes for reviewer participants: 

• Gain insights into what makes a good application: see proposals from different stages and from across different disciplines; read how researchers communicate vision and approach; see the applicants pitch their research; see how reflection upon and refining proposals is essential prior to submission 
• Recognise and understand how to provide clear feedback: develop your reviewing skills, including trialing using different lenses
• Demonstrate mentoring and feedback skills: evidence of developing others (as required in the R4RI narrative CV and increasingly by funders)

Prerequisites

There is no requirement to have reviewing experience to take part in this session, guidance will be provided. 

How to book

To express an interest in attending this session, you need to complete an application. The outcome of your application will be provided one week after the closing date.