Where to start?
When developing a project idea it's usually useful to start by speaking to colleagues in your School or Institute about how they develop their projects. Speak to your manager, peers, other academics, your School research administrator or your Edinburgh Research Office Research Funding Specialist to get support.
School & College web and Intranet sites
Find my Research Funding Specialist [Your University Login required]
Strategy and Planning [Your University Login required]
Timescales
Writing a fundable research proposal takes time. The more complex the application and the less experience you have, the more time it will take. A fellowship application might take you 6 - 18 months depending on your work pattern, your other commitments, how developed your idea is, how complete your partnership network is and how available your pre-submission peer reviewers are.
It's worth remembering that a good research idea is not the same as a good research proposal. As well as demonstrating the strength of your research idea, a proposal has to show how you will deliver the project, how you will staff it and how you will adapt the delivery of the project over its lifetime.
Develop your Idea
At the Develop your Idea stage Edinburgh Research Office can help you think about what you need to do to grow your idea into a fundable proposal.
Research Networks
Connecting with research networks and testing your research idea out with others can help you refine the idea and make links with potential collaborators. Engaging with research networks that are influencing funding priorities can help you understand what your funder is looking for, as well as helping your peer reviewers and your funder become more open to your idea.
Coaching & Mentoring
The University and individual Schools and Institutes provide coaching and mentoring to staff. Coaching and mentoring provide you with one to one and group support to help you develop in your role and career. It can be useful to identify a network of experienced people, or a mentor to support you in developing research funding bids. The Mentoring Connections programme is open to all staff and connections can be made through our online resource, Platform One.
Craft your application
At the ‘craft your application’ stage, Edinburgh Research Office work closely with colleagues in your local Research Office to provide you with the supporting roots that enable your idea to grow and blossom.