Early Career Researcher Network (ECRN) Enhancement Awards Funding – Applications Now Open!
Applications are open until 12 Noon on Wednesday, 22nd January 2025
The Researcher Development and Research Culture team is excited to announce funding from Research England to enrich research culture activities at the University of Exeter.
What are the ECRN Enhancement Awards?
The ECRN Enhancement Awards provide funding to support current Early Career Researcher Networks (ECRNs) in enhancing, developing or re-establishing their network activities. The awards are also available for the creation of new ECRNs in departments or faculties that do not yet have an established ECRN (please check that an ECRN does not already exist in your area by checking the ECRN webpages). These awards are specifically for ECRs and not for the establishment or development of PGR (Postgraduate Researcher) only networks.
Who can Apply?
The awards are offered to support events, workshops and initiatives e.g. speakers/facilitators and learning and development resources. The ECRN Enhancement Awards are open to all early career research staff. The Lead Applicant must be an Early Career Researcher associated with an existing ECRN or wishing to establish a new ECRN. Typically, Early Career Researchers will be research-only staff (grades E-G), but we welcome applications from academic, research and technical staff who consider themselves to be early career researchers, including, for example, lecturers, experimental officers, research software engineers.
Please note that postgraduate research students currently studying for a PhD or other higher degree are not eligible.
We encourage creative and innovative bids that have a lasting impact. Proposed events can by delivered in various formats: hybrid, online or face-to-face.
For those who received an award in 2024, you will need to clearly show in your application how your initiative builds upon what you did last time; it cannot be a repeat of your previous activities. All applications will need to clearly articulate your plan as to how the network will be developed beyond the activities related to the award. Although the award can support a social or community-building element, the bulk of the funding must be focused on learning and development activities.
Key Themes for Your Proposal
To align with the university and the funding priorities, your initiatives should focus on one or more of the following themes:
- Creating routes for collaboration and exchange with businesses, third sector organisations and government;
- Career development at all stages;
- Improving research conduct and reproducibility;
- Enhancing research leadership skills;
- Advancing open research practices;
- Delivering new approaches to public dialogue and community-led research;
- Fostering equality, diversity and inclusion in research;
- Fostering collegiality and building research communities.
We have collated a series of FAQs - ECRN Enhancement Awards for any applicant who may have questions about the process or what the money can be spent on.
Application Guidelines
You must consider the following when applying:
- Beneficiaries: The proposed activities must directly benefit parties beyond the named applicants, fully reflecting the beneficiaries detailed in the application.
- Long-term Impact: You will be required to provide a clear outline of how your network will sustain its activities after the funding period, such as through producing accompanying resources, guidance or establishing a committee etc.
- Award Holders Responsibilities: Successful applicants must agree to fulfil the responsibilities outlined in the Award Holder’s Responsibilities which includes taking full responsibility for managing the financial demands of the award. Full details can be found on the How to Guide.
- Funding for internal room bookings, travel to conferences, equipment (including IT) or individual professional development are outside the scope of this funding.
- Regular Reporting: Successful award holders are obliged to write a monthly update report to share the progress of projects. This will include updates on expenditure. Upon completion of projects, award holders will be required to evaluate their activities, provide a short written report in blog style and send it to the Researcher Development & Research Culture team at researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk
Number of initiatives and value of award: Funding is available from a pool of £15,000
- The funding must have been spent by Friday 27th June 2025, meaning: Goods/services received (pre-payment for goods/services received after the cut-off date is not eligible) and receipted (on T1).
- Travel undertaken prior to this date (prepayment for later travel is not eligible).
- Consultancy payments made (for work undertaken within the funding period).
Administrative Support:
- The RD&RC team will provide some administrative support for the duration of the award. In your application, please specify the maximum number of administrative hours you believe you will need. Successful applicants will be notified of their allocated time.
- You will need to build into your planning how you will manage any administrative tasks that fall outside of the allocation you are given.
Special guidance workshop: How to write a strong ECRN Enhancement Award application on 8 January 2025, Wednesday, 12:00 - 13:00
This Webinar offers help with completing the application form, including tips on what to include, and outlines the importance of providing a clear budget. There is an opportunity to hear from successful 2024 ECRN Enhancement Award holders who will be able to share their experiences.
Download the Application Form: ECRN 2025 Application Form
Don’t Miss Out - Apply Now!
Seize this opportunity to enhance your ECR Network and make a lasting impact on our academic community.
For any questions, please refer to our FAQs - ECRN Enhancement Awards
Apply today and be a catalyst for change in research culture at the University of Exeter!
2024 ECRN Enhancement Awards winners
Biomedical Sciences ECRN and PGR Network Launch
ECRN: Biomedical Sciences
Award Holder: Dr Sophie Walker
This project supports the development of an Early Career Researchers (ECR) community in the Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences (DCBS). Dr Sophie Walker's project aims to provide opportunities for ECR peers to collaboratively explore the current ECR and Postgraduate Research (PGR) landscape in DCBS and the Medical School. By co-designing the ECRN based on the needs and aspirations of the community, the project seeks to establish a resilient peer-support and shared learning network.
Empowering ECRs, building connections
ECRN: Psychology
Award Holder: Dr Melika Janbakhsh
Dr. Melika Janbakhsh's project aims to revitalise the existing ECR network within the Psychology department. By organising an ECR-led event, the project seeks to create a safe and supportive space for ECRs to openly discuss common challenges faced in their careers. The event will feature speakers from various career stages, fostering an inclusive environment where all participants can share their experiences and insights. This initiative aligns with the University's Research Culture policy and Concordat commitments, promoting collaboration and exploration of career opportunities.
Inspiration, reflection & action: Career event for Geography Early Career Researchers
ECRN: Geography
Award Holder: Dr Nina Lindstrom Friggens
Dr. Nina Lindstrom Friggens' project aims to guide the Geography ECR community in exploring various career paths through a two-day career event. The event will provide inspiration on day one, allowing participants to reflect on their career aspirations and take action on day two. By facilitating career planning and fostering connections beyond academia, this project aims to support career development, establish valuable contacts, and nurture collegiality within the community.
ECR Symposium and Research skills seminars
ECRN: Mathematics & Statistics
Award Holder: Dr Dimitar Vlaykov
Dr. Dimitar Vlaykov's project supports the newly established ECRN for Mathematics and Statistics by organising a series of monthly research coffee-and-seminar sessions. These sessions will culminate in a one-day research and career development symposium for ECRs. The symposium aims to encourage cross-group interaction among ECRs, offer field-specific talks on career development and research skills, and foster collegiality within the department. The event will provide ECRs with an opportunity to present their research to a broader mathematics community and identify key challenges they face.
Establishing the Penryn Marine ECRN
ECRN: Penryn Marine
Award Holder: Dr Chris Kerry
Dr. Chris Kerry's project aims to bring together satellite groups of Marine ECRs across disciplines and faculties at Penryn Campus. The project will organise interactive sessions and a networking event focused on career progression and showcasing ECR research. By fostering engagement, building a cohesive community, and enhancing research and employability skills, this initiative will contribute to a more connected and supportive network.
Future of AI
ECRN: IDSAI (Institute for Data Science and AI)
Award Holder: Dr Cédric Mesnage
Dr. Cédric Mesnage's project focuses on the IDSAI ECRN community and aims to create an interdisciplinary space for innovation and collaboration in the field of AI. The project proposes an event on the Future of AI, featuring a keynote, guest speakers, informal discussions, an online industrial panel, and a presentation of funding opportunities. By facilitating knowledge sharing, collaborative funding, and exploration of new research areas, this project aims to advance AI research within the ECRN.
2023 ECRN Enhancement Awards winners
ECR Mentoring Scheme
ECRN: Centre for Ecology & Conservation (CEC) ECRN – Penryn
Award Holder: Dr David Baker
Supporting the launch of a new mentoring scheme for all Early Career Researchers at CEC with the aim of providing support, advice and guidance on career and research development and progression; personal effectiveness; funding strategies; improvement of research conduct; leadership and research impact.
Early Career Researcher Conference Day 2023
ECRN: Department of Community and Health Sciences
Award Holder: Dr Rebecca Whear
Supporting the combined development of new and pre-existing Early Career Networks within the new established Faculty through a collaborative hybrid day event. This collaborative effort will develop networking skills and leadership knowledge, focus on personal development, wellbeing and provide a space where networkers and researchers come together to share experiences, identify future network activities and share their hopes for the networks going forward.
ECR week at the Living Systems Institute
ECRN: Living Systems Institute (LSI ECRN)
Award Holder: Dr Hannah Laeverenz Schlogelhofer
Supporting the continued development of the LSI ECRN with a week-long programme of activities in June 2023, complemented by monthly post-doc coffee mornings and PhD seminars. These activities aim to continue to strengthen the LSI ECRN by providing the 58 ECRs and 75 PGRs affiliated within the two Faculties hosted at the LSI with opportunities to develop their research skills and initiate collaborations, while fostering inclusivity and supporting wellbeing.
The ENDEER initiative (ENcouraging DEvelopment of Early and mid-career Researchers)
ECRN: Exeter Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) Early and Mid-Career Researcher Network
Award Holder: Dr Sinéad McDonagh
Supporting a range of activities to enhance early and mid-career researchers’ (ECRs/MCRs) knowledge and skills relating to impact, leadership, career progression and fellowships, along with providing protected time to network/collaborate and focus on developing productivity skills and outputs. The ENDEER initiative aims to build a supportive and interactive community within APEx, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (HLS), and beyond.