Stage 1 - outline proposals

This outline call is closed to applications

Next outline proposal deadline: TBC

How to apply

Submit your proposal through the Research Councils' Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) system by 4pm on the closing date. Late applications will not be accepted.

The form is accessed by:

Log into Je-S
Select 'New Document'
Select Council - 'BBSRC'
Select Document Type - 'Outline Proposal'
Select Scheme - 'Standard Outline'
Select Call - 'Strategic LoLa Outlines - 18 April 2013'

Click 'Create Document' and follow the on screen instructions to complete the form.

Guidance on completing the outline submission can be found on the Je-S help.

Applications should not exceed the page limits described below. Submissions which exceed the page limits will be withdrawn.

Eligibility

Standard eligibility rules apply, as described in our grants guide (see related links). In addition:

For applications falling outside the identified specific areas of IBBE, Endemic diseases of farmed animals (EDFA) and Ageing across the lifecourse (AAL), applicants must have a track record of securing BBSRC funding as the lead Principal Investigator (PI). This should be at least 3 competitively awarded BBSRC research grants over the past 10 years or an equivalent track record in an institute strategically funded by BBSRC. Final report evaluations of these grants will be taken into account during the assessment process. Senior scientists returning to the UK from overseas must have an equivalent track record. (Please note: BBSRC Research Equipment Initiative grants, studentships, outlines and awards that have not been competitively awarded will not be considered as part of the applicant's BBSRC track record)
To further encourage applications within IBBE, EDFA and AAL areas, principal investigators applying in this area who do not meet the formal track record requirements above will be considered eligible provided they can clearly explain how their previous experience demonstrates the appropriate competence to conduct the proposed project.
The PI must commit at least 8 hours per week on the sLoLa project
The PI must not already be lead PI on an existing LoLa or sLoLa (unless the grant is in its final year)

Remit

All proposals must be within our remit. We encourage multidisciplinary proposals but we strongly advise potential applicants to contact us beforehand to discuss the application if aspects of the proposal are outside of our remit.

Attachments

The following attachments must be included:

Case for support (see below)
CVs of all applicants (maximum 2 pages per applicant)

The PI's CV should include the applicant's grant funding track record (up to the past 10 years) and outline the involvement of the applicant in those grants
CVs of Co-Investigators should contain the top 5 relevant papers only

No other attachments, e.g. covering letter, letters of support, etc, will be accepted.

At a minimum, font size 11 in Arial or other sans serif typeface of equivalent size to Arial font size 11 must be used for the entire case for support and CVs (excluding text on diagrams and the use of mathematical symbols). A minimum of single line spacing and standard character spacing must be used, with margins of no less than 2cm.

Case for support format

The case for support (maximum 6 sides of A4) should be submitted as a single document containing each of the sections described below. The page limits refer to each separate section and may not be combined.

Section 1: Strategic case (up to 1 page)

State the relevance of the proposed research to our mission and strategic priorities and to the priorities of the applicants' institution(s)

Section 2: Science case (up to 2 pages)

A clear statement of the problem being addressed
State 3-5 clear objectives. These must appear unchanged in the full proposal unless feedback from the Strategic LoLa committee requests otherwise
Outline how the problem will be tackled

Section 3: Social and economic impact plus skills and capability case (up to 1 page)

What is the likely social and economic impact over the timescale of the project?
How will the project address training needs and the development of skills?
Is there an anticipated industrial contribution to the project? If so, at what stage of the project will this be realised and how will the industrial partner be engaged?

Section 4: Justification for strategic LoLa (up to 2 pages)

This should include:

A statement on the need for a strategic LoLa rather than individual project grants, demonstrating a clear added benefit to funding this work as a single project
A statement on project management, including, where appropriate, justification for a project manager
A clear statement on the scientific and leadership role of the PI
A statement on the contribution to the project of each named co-Investigator. This must include a clear time commitment for each Co-I

Resources

The proforma should include a summary of requested resources. Detailed justification of this request is not required at the outline stage. It is expected that the resources requested in a full application, if invited, reflect those in the outline application.

Contact

bbsrc.lolagrants@bbsrc.ac.uk
tel: 01793 414657