Research Committee

What do we do?

The Department of Brain Sciences Research Committee supports the Executive Board with the development and delivery of the Department’s research strategy, primarily by the peer review of key research funding applications from members of the Department to maximise the chance of success.

Support for academics/researchers:

• Triage applications for schemes managed by College, for example fellowship applications where the Department is only allowed to put one candidate forward;
• Peer review of key applications for fellowships and large project and programme grants;
• Support the development of career pathways for Early Career Researchers (ECRs), especially independent fellows, by organising local departmental events, such as workshops and other activities to help develop ECRs’ skills;
• Use available data to identify gaps in success funding for particular funder/schemes and increase support to strengthen chances for key schemes/areas;
• Support mock interviews if needed (note: these can already be organised via the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI) e.g. ICRF, postdoctoral fellowships, Departmental Research Manager e.g. transition to independency fellowships and the Faculty of Medicine Research Strategy Coordinator e.g. Wellcome Career Development Award and Wellcome Discovery Awards).

Communication and collaboration:

• In collaboration with networks, centres and groups hosted by the Department, to coordinate activities that bring together those with shared interests, particularly around the Department’s priority themes;
• Identify opportunities for collaborative and cross-divisional research (including industry collaborations) that address priority areas through input from Divisions.

How we can help

The Research Committee is keen to support Early Career Researcher Fellowship applications and can provide a lot of practical assistance. If you would like help with any of the following, please contact the Research Manager, Celia Domingues (c.domingues@imperial.ac.uk):

• Want to discuss grant application strategies?
• Thinking of applying for a Fellowship?
• Had some feedback on a grant application that you’d like to discuss?
• Like some independent feedback on a research proposal?
• Have a different question for the Research Committee?
• Advice on funding schemes
• Help planning a grant application
• Help to identify internal resources/support in preparing a grant application
• Review of non-scientific sections of grant applications (e.g. lay summary, data management plans, impact statements)
• Obtaining Head of Department (HoD) approval of applications, or letters of support / supporting statements from the HoD
• Arranging mock interviews for grant applications