Seed-Corn Funding opportunities

In this round, we aim to support early-phase development of ideas for innovative, interdisciplinary data science and AI research across Exeter.  By the end of an award, recipients are expected to have developed new data-scientific solutions that can underpin future research grant applications, contribute to research publications, or lead to other impactful outcomes such as new collaborations, software tools, policy insights, or industry engagement. 

This scheme is open to all colleagues at all career stages. We welcome applications from Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and encourage them to apply. However, we recognise that colleagues at different career stages may have varying levels of experience with data science and AI. Applications will be assessed based on the degree to which IDSAI support will benefit the proposers, the quality and impact of proposed outputs, and the likelihood of project success. 

Research awards will support pilot research projects in interdisciplinary data science and/or artificial intelligence aligned to the aims of  IDSAI and the Research Data Science Group. We are therefore seeking applications to utilise data science/AI approaches to address research challenges in any area of the sciences, arts and humanities. Please note that applications where most of the work is routine data analysis will not be supported. 

To ensure that projects are interdisciplinary, applications should be led by two PIs from different disciplines. Typically, this would include one Project Lead from a data science discipline; however, effective project teams may be composed differently.  Please get in touch if you are not sure whether your project team meets this requirement. 

Projects will preferably represent potential for novel data science/AI, as well as innovation in application. 

In this round of funding we anticipate making two awards for IDSAI Research Fellow time and two for Research Data Scientist time. 

Applications for IDSAI Research Awards may request the following:

• Fully-funded time of an IDSAI Research Fellow up to 0.5 FTE, for a maximum of 6 months. Applicants are able to suggest projects of differing duration and resourcing as long as this limit is not exceeded.  We will do our best to accommodate resourcing requests across the portfolio of projects OR: 
• Fully-funded time of a Research Data Scientist at 0.4 FTE, for a maximum of 6 months. Applicants are able to suggest projects of differing duration as long as this limit is not exceeded. 
• Up to £500 for associated research costs (for IDSAI Research Fellow projects only), including (but not limited to) HPC time/credits, travel and subsistence costs associated with visits to project partners, minor computing hardware/software. (Please note that Research Fellows and Data Scientists have their own equipment sufficient for most data science research needs). All costs much be fully justified before they will be approved. 

We propose the following guidelines for deciding whether to request IDSAI Research Fellow time or RSE Research Data Scientist time: 

Please note that where appropriate we will automatically consider your proposal for both streams, but your choice of request at application stage will help us in this process. 

Applicants are welcome to discuss their applications in advance of applying with either the Research Fellows or Research Data Scientists. Please contact idsai@exeter.ac.uk (IDSAI) or  rse-group@exeter.ac.uk (Research Data Science group).  

Applicants need to submit a full application of up to 3 sides of A4 (at least 11pt font, in Arial font with 2cm margins) by to idsai@exeter.ac.uk by the application closing date. The document needs to include the following details / headings: 

• If you are applying for IDSAI Research Fellow or Research Data Scientist support. 
• Project aims and potential for innovative, interdisciplinary data science/AI research 
• Outline research methodology 
• Data: discussing availability and nature of data to be utilised in the project. Please detail any pre-work needed to make the dataset suitable for use in the project and how this will be resourced
• Data science/AI skills needed to complete the project (to enable us to match you with an appropriate IDSAI Research Fellow and/or Research Data Scientist) 
• Collaborators and what they will contribute (if appropriate) 
• Expected outputs within the timeline of the project and beyond 
• Potential for academic and/or societal impact 
• Plans for future funding 
• Resources requested – please state the proposed duration and %FTE of researcher time required. Please justify any additional research costs up to a maximum of £500. 
• You may use up to 1 extra side of A4 (in addition to the 3 sides - case for support) for references if required. 
• Data annex – max 1 side of A4, with samples of data to be utilised in the project. 
   

Case for support (max 3 sides of A4, at least 11pt font with 2 cm margins), with details under each of the following headings:

• Project aims and potential for innovative, interdisciplinary data science/AI research
• Outline research methodology
• Data: discussing availability and nature of data to be utilised in the project. Please detail any pre-work needed to make the dataset suitable for use in the project and how this will be resourced
• Data science/AI skills needed to complete the project (to enable us to match you with an appropriate IDSAI Research Fellow)
• Collaborators and what they will contribute (if appropriate)
• Expected outputs within the timeline of the project and beyond
• Potential for academic and/or societal impact
• Plans for future funding
• Resources requested – please state the proposed duration and %FTE of researcher time required. Please justify any additional research costs up to a maximum of £500.
• You may use up to 1 extra side of A4 (in addition to the 3 sides - case for support) for references if required.
• Data annex – max 1 side of A4, with samples of data to be utilised in the project

Applications will be assessed by members of the IDSAI Management Group, and representatives from the Research Data Science group, with input from the IDSAI Research Fellows and Research Data Scientists based on their fit to criteria including the following: 

• Quality, novelty, ambition and timeliness  
• Interdisciplinarity and alignment to the aims of IDSAI and the Research Data Science group 
• Appropriateness of the proposed research methodology 
• Potential for academic impact and knowledge exchange 
• Likelihood of future collaborative grant submissions between the academic team and IDSAI/RDS 

• Projects awarded funding will be required to: 
  Attend a kick-off meeting where a project plan, start and end dates will be agreed. 
• Attend a mid-project review meeting. 
• At the conclusion of the award, prepare a final report outlining the outcomes of the project for the IDSAI Management Group and the Research Data Scientist (RDS) Group. This report is essential in helping IDSAI and the RDS Group showcase the ongoing value of this scheme to the institution. 
• Present their work at IDSAI / RDS Group events if requested 
• Include the collaborating IDSAI / RDS team member as a co-author on any arising journal or conference publication(s) that incorporates the work they have contributed.
• Explicitly acknowledge IDSAI support or ADA funding (if leveraging time of an RDS) on all publications, outputs, or communications arise from this Seedcorn funding, resources, or collaborations., Please ensure that IDSAI/ADA support is recognised. This acknowledgment reinforces the institute’s profile and highlights the strength of our partnerships. Where possible, include IDSAI/RDS in your author affiliation details and, for papers, in the acknowledgments section. Suggested format:
  • First name, surname] 
  • [Department]
  • Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence 
  • University of Exeter 
• Help us track our collective impact by sharing relevant outcomes with the IDSAI and/or RDS team. This could include: 
  • Development of large, multi-institutional, or cross-disciplinary funding bids (tagging these as affiliated with IDSAI and/or Research Data Science where appropriate on Worktribe and your University of Exeter profile). 
  • New collaborations formed with internal or external partners. 
  • Data sets, software, or tools produced through your research associated with IDSAI and/or RDS. 
  • Media coverage, public engagement, or any activities that enhance IDSAI’s and/or RDS visibility.