EPSRC Capital Award emphasising support for Early Career Researchers
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Research Office
Abstract
Loughborough University has a substantial and sustained commitment to maintaining leading experimental facilities in support of the world-class research activities that saw us ranked in the top 10 in England for research intensity in REF2014. In this submission, we seek state of the art equipment for Early Career Researchers which will also add significant value underpin and make a step-change to our key engineering and physical sciences (EPS) research capabilities.
Our well-equipped and well-supported existing laboratory provision is integral to our research strategy and a distinctive aspect of our ethos that features particularly prominently across our EPSRC portfolio. This includes the projects of our 700 EPS PhD students and the collaborations fostered through our participation in nine Centres of Doctoral Training in addition to our substantial EPSRC Doctoral Training partnership grant, which is strategically allocated to support ECRs. We work with a diverse range of industry partners, on areas from stem cell therapies with to savings of 20,000kg of fuel per year on aircraft.
The funds used from this investment will not replace any planned investments at the institutional level.
This award will be used to facilitate high quality research by funding Early Career Researchers that can demonstrate they are seeking to establish broader, multi-disciplinary collaborations with industrial and academic partners, that will benefit from usage of the equipment. These collaborations will ensure that research is novel and timely and leads to:
- Enhanced impact
- Higher quality publications
- Ability to attract high calibre PhD students and improved research experience
- Increased volume of successful grant applications to a broad range of funders
Our well-equipped and well-supported existing laboratory provision is integral to our research strategy and a distinctive aspect of our ethos that features particularly prominently across our EPSRC portfolio. This includes the projects of our 700 EPS PhD students and the collaborations fostered through our participation in nine Centres of Doctoral Training in addition to our substantial EPSRC Doctoral Training partnership grant, which is strategically allocated to support ECRs. We work with a diverse range of industry partners, on areas from stem cell therapies with to savings of 20,000kg of fuel per year on aircraft.
The funds used from this investment will not replace any planned investments at the institutional level.
This award will be used to facilitate high quality research by funding Early Career Researchers that can demonstrate they are seeking to establish broader, multi-disciplinary collaborations with industrial and academic partners, that will benefit from usage of the equipment. These collaborations will ensure that research is novel and timely and leads to:
- Enhanced impact
- Higher quality publications
- Ability to attract high calibre PhD students and improved research experience
- Increased volume of successful grant applications to a broad range of funders
Planned Impact
Any equipment procured via this award will be used to support our Early Career Researchers and we anticipate the main impact of this investment being utilised to enhance their research environment. This will be maximised by allocation of funds through a competitive application process to ensure that a wider impact is identified for each piece of equipment.
This award will be used to facilitate the development of high quality research by enabling Early Career Researchers to establish broader, multi-disciplinary collaborations with industrial and academic partners, that will benefit from usage of the equipment. These collaborations will ensure that research is novel and timely and leads to:
- Enhanced impact
- Higher quality publications
- Ability to attract high calibre PhD students and improved research experience
- Increased volume of successful grant applications to a broad range of funders
We will monitor achievements against these outputs, by ensuring any Early Career Researcher supported via this award are asked to provide regular updates on performance against these objectives.
For each Early Career Researcher supported via this award, we will work collaboratively with their school to ensure they have priority access to the equipment procured. Applicants will be asked to outline how they will measure their success and research impact and provide an update to Research Committee.
This award will be used to facilitate the development of high quality research by enabling Early Career Researchers to establish broader, multi-disciplinary collaborations with industrial and academic partners, that will benefit from usage of the equipment. These collaborations will ensure that research is novel and timely and leads to:
- Enhanced impact
- Higher quality publications
- Ability to attract high calibre PhD students and improved research experience
- Increased volume of successful grant applications to a broad range of funders
We will monitor achievements against these outputs, by ensuring any Early Career Researcher supported via this award are asked to provide regular updates on performance against these objectives.
For each Early Career Researcher supported via this award, we will work collaboratively with their school to ensure they have priority access to the equipment procured. Applicants will be asked to outline how they will measure their success and research impact and provide an update to Research Committee.
