University of Oxford - Capital Award in Support of Early Career Researchers

This is an enabling grant that will support a wide range of early career researchers (ECRs) and fields of research across the engineering and physical science remit through the provision of new equipment. The grant will bring a number of benefits of particular relevance to ECRs:

- Enable use of major research infrastructure, for example by providing better quality sample preparation facilities to increase throughput

- Increase research productivity, by providing the necessary research throughput and allowing time to experiment with a technique

- Broaden the research base or enable new research directions

- Accelerate establishment of research following a move to Oxford

- Facilitate research independence for ECRs progressing within Oxford

- To facilitate access to equipment as a means to encouraging equality and diversity

The breadth of research that will be supported through this grant has the potential for impact across a wide range of different sectors, aligning with outcomes of the EPSRC's delivery framework to deliver prosperity to the UK. No specific projects have been identified at this stage, but we can anticipate that this investment will promote impact across four broad groups:

- graduate students and post-doctoral researchers, who will acquire enhanced technical skills through access to, and training on, state-of-the-art equipment, enhancing the UK skills base. UK Companies will benefit from access to highly trained personnel. (Resilient Nation R2).

- consumers, through access to innovative, disruptive, novel technologies and improved underpinning technologies. (Productive and Resilient Nation P1, P2, R2, R3)

- society in general, e.g. through the development of innovative products to tackle challenges such as carbon reduction and sustainable energy (Resilient Nation R1)

- UK industry, including key manufacturers (and their supply chains) in high value manufacturing areas (such as aerospace and automotive). Advances will have the potential to develop multiple industrial sectors, generating long-term economic growth and jobs for the UK. (Productive Nation P1, P2, P3)