November 26, 2019, by Rob Ounsworth

Interdisciplinary Research Clusters and the Flexible Fund: supporting ambitious, challenge-led discovery

A new fund supporting interdisciplinary research is set to make its first awards. The University’s Flexible Fund is linked to our Interdisciplinary Research Clusters (IRCs), which bring together academics and our partners to address the key challenges of our age.

The Flexible Fund is designed to support interdisciplinary research projects in the early stages of development. Staff at all career levels and from all disciplines are eligible and proposals do not need to be linked to an existing IRC. The fund will prioritise proposals which prepare the ground for large-scale external grant capture and can deliver high quality outputs, aligning with the University’s emphasis on delivery of our world-class research.

Ambitious, challenge-led interdisciplinary research

Dr Richard Masterman, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research Strategy and Performance, said: “These awards, worth up to £15,000 (but can be more), that are designed to facilitate ambitious, challenge-led interdisciplinary research that directly maps onto the University’s Research Strategy, from either existing IRCs or groupings that have the potential to be IRCs.”

An initial call for Flexible Fund applications closes on 19 December, with successful grants announced in January.

There will be further opportunities to apply to the Flexible Fund over the three years of the programme.

There is a current portfolio of 15 IRCs. Dr Masterman added: “The IRCs will refresh the University’s research ecosystem, refocus our commitment to interdisciplinary discovery and offer agile responses to UK and global challenges and funding opportunities.”

 

Further information

Please contact maria.richards@nottingham.ac.uk. 

More on IRC funding call

 

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