What are they?
The Lister Institute Research Prize Fellowships are one-off awards which seek to help support and nurture future leaders of biomedical research by providing £200,000 (or equivalent euros) which may be used in any appropriate way to support the holder’s research, other than the provision or augmentation of personal salary, over a period of up to five years. The awards are aimed at younger, rather than established, researchers who might be in their early years of running their own groups and for whom receipt of the Prize would ‘make a real difference’. What it meant to me!
There are up to three competitive awards per year (occasionally four as in 2013) which are made after a written application process which culminates in an interview with members of the Institute’s Scientific Advisory Committee. The time-scale from application to commencement of award is as follows – application by early December, review through to interview in May and start of the award in October (this may be delayed if requested). The Institute currently receives around 60 applications for the three Prizes; around 20 candidates are long-listed and up to ten interviewed.
The Prize Fellowships are intended to provide funding which will enhance or expand an on-going research activity or enable a new area to be developed and, as said above, would have a high impact for the recipient – they are not project grants! The perceived beneficial ‘impact’ of the Prize on the recipient and their career will be a key factor in the selection process.
The awards are open to any researcher, who fulfils the eligibility criteria (Prize Applications – Eligibility) working in any not-for-profit institution in the UK and Republic of Ireland (eg University, Charity-funded research institute or Research Council institution). The bulk of the research must be conducted in the UK or Republic of Ireland, but research with some overseas’ studies is acceptable, and awards are transferable between institutions. Research can be in any area of biomedical research. Applicants may be scientifically or medically trained and will have their personal salary provided from either their host institution or another source such as a Fellowship. For further information see How to Apply and also Is it for me?
Eligibility
The Lister Institute seeks diversity amongst its Prize –winners – there is no stereotype for the ideal candidate but there are some eligibility criteria:
Research training – the Lister Prize Fellowships are open to both scientifically and clinically trained applicants.
Research Area – the research undertaken may be in any area of biomedical research in its broadest context.
Research experience – every applicant should have a minimum of three and less than ten years’ post-doctoral experience by 1 October 2015. Post-doctoral experience will be taken from the date that a PhD or MD is awarded or the earlier if the candidate holds both degrees. Allowance will be made for ‘time-out’ from research such as for maternity leave or full-time clinical training, in addition the Institute will consider other personal circumstances that may have limited research time or might in the future. Details may be provided on the form or advice sought from the Institute’s Administrator before application.
Location – the Lister Institute will fund research in the UK and the Republic of Ireland provided that it is undertaken in a not-for-profit organization such as (but not exclusively) a University, Research Council Unit or Charity-funded Institute.
Employment – the Lister Prize Fellowship funding must not be used to provide or augment the applicant’s salary. Therefore, regardless of nationality the applicant must be employed by a UK or Republic of Ireland not-for-profit organization and have guaranteed funding for the first three years of the Lister award. Since the Lister Prize Fellowship does not provide a personal salary the holders of Fellowships from other organizations are, of course, eligible to apply.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.lister-institute.org.uk/research-prizes/what-are-they/