Research Grants for Science for Humanitarian Emergencies & Resilience (SHEAR) Research Programme, 2015

Natural Environment Research Council invites applications for research grants available as part of the Science for Humanitarian Emergencies & Resilience (SHEAR) research program.
SHEAR is a five year international, interdisciplinary programme which aims to support improved disaster resilience and humanitarian response by advancing monitoring, assessment and prediction of natural hazards and risks across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and through working with users, bring this into use in reducing the impacts of disasters.

Scholarship Provider/ Funding Agency

UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

Study Area

SHEAR’s research should contribute knowledge and evidence to enhance the resilience of sub Saharan African and South Asian people to natural hazards.

Scholarship open for

International Researchers

Scholarship Level

Research

Eligibility

• Principal Investigators: Principal Investigators may be from any type of organisation that meets the eligibility criteria. UK Principal Investigators from Research Council eligible organisations are required to meet the standard NERC eligibility criteria stated in the NERC Grants Handbook. Non-UK Principal Investigators and PIs from organisations not normally eligible for UK Research Council Funding, should meet the following criteria:
• have at least three years of relevant post-doctoral experience, or an appropriate equivalent level of research experience;
• be employed—at the time of application—by the Research Organisation submitting the proposal, or if not employed (i) have an existing formal arrangement with the organisation that enables him or her to carry out research there and receive all necessary management and infrastructure support from the organisation or (ii) be scheduled to move to the submitting organisation before the proposed start date of the grant in such a way that would ensure that the criterion stated above is met by the time the grant starts;
• have an assurance from the submitting organisation—at the time of application— that should the proposal be successful, the contract of employment, or formal commitment to provide support if not employed, will extend at least three months beyond the end date of the grant.
• Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI): The eligibility requirements for a Co-PI are the same as those for a PI.
• Co-Investigator (Co-I): Co-Investigators may be from any organisation, including those that do not meet the eligibility criteria to directly receive funds from the awarding body because their organisation will not be receiving money directly. However, such organisations will still be expected to meet minimum financial and management due diligence criteria. UK based Co-Investigators from Research Council eligible organisations are required to meet the standard NERC eligibility criteria stated in the NERC Grants Handbook NERC Grants Handbook. Non-UK based Co-Investigators and Co-Is from organisations not normally eligible for UK Research Council Funding should meet the following criteria:
• have at least three years of relevant post-doctoral experience, or an appropriate equivalent level of research experience 20 ;
• be employed—at the time of application—by the Research Organisation submitting the proposal, or if not employed (i) have an existing formal arrangement with the organisation that enables him or her to carry out research there and receive all necessary management and infrastructure support from the organisation or (ii) be scheduled to move to the submitting organisation before the proposed start date of the grant in such a way that would ensure that the criterion stated above is met by the time the grant starts;
• have an assurance from the submitting organisation—at the time of application— that, if the proposal is successful, the contract of employment, or formal commitment to provide support if not employed, will extend at least three months beyond the end date of the grant.
• Researcher Co-I: A Researcher Co-I is a specifically named post-doctoral research assistant (PDRA), or other suitably experienced staff member, who has at least two years of relevant post- doctoral experience, or an appropriate equivalent level of research experience, but who is not eligible to be a PI or Co-I. Researcher Co-Is from an organisation that is not the same as the lead organisation will receive any requested funds through the lead organisation and not directly from the awarding body (NERC on behalf of SHEAR funding partners). Researcher Co-Is may be from any organisation, including those that do not meet the eligibility criteria to directly receive funds from the awarding body
• Researchers: The researcher must be from the same organisation as the PI, or one of the Co-Is. The researcher should have a suitable level of experience in order to fulfil the requirements of the project. This may include having a PhD, or having several years’ relevant research or policy experience, as appropriate to the role

Number of Scholarships/Grants

Not Mentioned

Scholarship Duration

4 years

Coverage/Scholarship Benefits

Proposals are invited for funding of up to £2m full economic cost (FEC) per consortium. This call has a total available budget of £8m. Proposals will be funded for a maximum duration of four years with an expected start date of May 2016.

Application Method

The application process for funding of SHEAR 2015 Research Consortia Grants will involve two distinct stages, which are designed to support potential applicants to develop excellent proposals relevant to the call. The first stage of the application process involves production of Outline Proposals. Applicants must complete the SHEAR Consortium Grants 2015 Outline Proposal form. Successful applicants who are invited to produce a Full Proposal will be informed shortly after the Sift Panel (September, 2015) and will be provided with information on how to submit a Consortium Grant Full Proposal at that time. The expectation is that around 3 – 4 projects will be funded, subject to peer- review.

Deadline

1 September 2015.

Click here for further official scholarship information and Application