Birkbeck Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund (ISSF)
Birkbeck has been awarded £1.8m in ISSF funding from the Wellcome Trust, matched by a further £1.8m from College funds. The award was initially to cover a five-year period from 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2021, however, this has been extended to 31 March 2023 to enable us to manage activities that have been delayed due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Please note that the ISSF project finishes on 31 March 2023 and all activities must complete by this date.
The award is to continue to develop activities relating to public engagement, early career researchers, career development of academic staff, translational support and inter-institutional and interdisciplinary activities. All activities must fall within the scientific or medical humanities remit of the Wellcome Trust. See below for details on the funding available.
Final scheme deadline
Submission deadline of 3 November 2022 for consideration at the ISSF panel meeting on 17 November 2022.
Completion reports
- At the end of awards all applicants are required to submit a two-page report to include the following information:
- name(s) of applicant
- type of ISSF award
- title of award
- period of award: start and end dates
- summary of work/event and results, if applicable
- outputs achieved during award period
- further outputs/activities planned.
- This report should be submitted by email to Liz Francis, Head of the Research Office.
Public engagement activities led by Birkbeck
- Awards of up to £2500 are available for staging public engagement activities in the biomedical sciences or medical humanities.
- How to apply:
- Contact Public Engagement at Birkbeck for advice on your application.
- Read our guidelines to find out more about this funding and how you can apply.
- Download and complete the application form, including all relevant information, and then email it to us.
- We will favour projects where partial funding has been obtained elsewhere.
- You will have to complete a report on how the funding was spent at the end of the activities.
Opportunities for PhD students at Birkbeck
- PhD researchers completing their thesis: You can apply for funding to enable you to complete publications or develop public engagement or dissemination activities. The funding covers salary costs up to three months beyond the end of your formal period of study (on the starting point of the Researcher 1 pay scale).
- Please note that unsuccessful applicants to this scheme may apply only one further time. In a resubmitted application, you are required to state that the application is a resubmission, show how you have responded to feedback (if any) from the ISSF panel on your original application, and explain how the project has been amended.
- Note that if you are applying as an overseas student, you can only work up to the limit on your visa and will be paid pro-rata accordingly.
- How to apply
- Download and complete an application form (PhD) and include a statement of support from your supervisor.
- Email us your completed form as an attachment, together with a copy of your CV.
- You will have to complete a report on how the funding was spent at the end of the activities.
Fellowships for early-career researchers
- This scheme is now closed.
Career Development Awards
- Academic staff can apply for funding up to £2,000 to support career development activities or training. Examples could include attendance on practical or public engagement courses, or training related to your academic field (either a course or a visit to another institution to learn a new technique or develop a new collaboration).
- How to apply:
- Download and complete an application form (career development), including a statement of support from your Head of Department.
- Email us your completed form as an attachment, together with a copy of your CV.
- You will have to complete a report on how the funding was spent at the end of the activities.
funding for early-career researchers and academics returning from a career break
- Early-career researchers and academics returning from a career break can apply for start-up funding of up to £10,000 for research projects in biomedicine or medical humanities.
- Early-career researcher: you must be within five years of your first academic appointment (at the date of your application), which includes academic employment at another institution(s).
- Academics returning from a career break: this includes leave for maternity, extended paternity, adoption or other caring responsibilities.
- How to apply:
- Download an application form, including a statement of support from your Head of Department.
- Email us your completed form as an attachment, together with a copy of your CV.
- You will have to complete a report on how the funding was spent at the end of the activities.
Conference and symposia funding
- You can apply for up to £5000 to stage interdisciplinary or inter-institutional activities in the biomedical sciences or medical humanities.
- Projects, where partial funding has been obtained elsewhere, will be favoured.
- How to apply:
- You will have to complete a report on how the funding was spent at the end of the activities.
funding to 'Translate' your research
- Awards of up to £5000 are available for translational activities in the medical humanities and biomedical sciences - that is, translating research findings into meaningful outcomes. Examples of this type of activity include hiring a consultant to advise on commercialising a piece of research, or directed work with clinicians or patients.
- Projects, where partial funding has been obtained elsewhere, will be favoured.
- How to apply
- Download and complete an application form (translational).
- Email us your completed form as an attachment.
- Your application will be judged solely on the information completed in this form.
- You will have to complete a report on how the funding was spent at the end of the activities.