The University Research and Knowledge Exchange (URKEC) Working group on Research Success and Sustainability is pleased to announce the launch of two new funder Strategic Advisory Groups at the University of Bath.

These two groups for the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); and the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) will aim to improve our interactions with these funders. It will also help disseminate relevant information and intelligence to the academic community at the University of Bath.

Participation in these groups will provide the opportunity to input into strategic decision making and improve funder-specific communications and sharing of funder insights and opportunities across campus.

The Strategic Advisory Groups will engage with the funders at funder-specific events and meetings. Information and early intelligence from the group will be shared with RIS and disseminated accordingly. The funder Strategic Advisory Groups will meet twice a year to discuss funder delivery plans, strategies and funding directions, as well as University research development activities, alignment to Bath’s research strengths, and funding opportunities. This will be fed into the URKEC, the Bath Beacons Steering Group, faculty/school and department research committees and into RIS support plans.

We are looking for members for the Strategic Advisory Groups who are research active in an area relevant to the funder.

To apply complete the application form and email to ResDev@bath.ac.uk by 21 June 2021

Expressions of Interest will be assessed by the URKEC working group, chaired by Professor Jonathan Knight. Membership outcomes will be communicated by 30 June 2021.

Membership criteria

Membership of the MRC/BBSRC and NERC Strategic Advisory Groups will be based on the following criteria:

  1. Be research active in an area relevant to funder remit.
  2. Have recent (within the last five years) experience of applying for and holding (as PI or Co-I) Research Council grants or equivalent funding from other UK or international funding bodies, ideally from the target funder(s).
  3. Experience of sitting on relevant funder panels and committees would be desirable.

If you have any questions contact Dr Laura Wisby (BBSRC/MRC) or Dr Anne Priest (NERC) in the Research Development team.