Applications must be submitted using the research councils’ Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) system.
Submitting your application
Before starting an application, you will need to log in or create an account in Je-S.
When applying:
- Select ‘documents’, then ‘new document’.
- Select ‘call search’.
- To find the opportunity, search for: ‘Knowledge Exchange Fellowships (KE JUNE23)’.
This will populate:
- Council: NERC
- Document Type: Standard Proposal
- Scheme: Innovation People
- Call/Type/Mode: ‘Knowledge Exchange Fellowships (KE JUN23)’
To use the Je-S system, the research organisation must be registered as a Je-S user. Full details are available on the Je-S website.
Deadline
The knowledge exchange fellowship funding opportunity will close on 14 June 2023 at 4:00pm UK time.
It will not be possible to submit to the funding opportunity after this time.
You should leave enough time for your application to pass through your organisation’s Je-S submission route before this date.
Any application that is incomplete or does not meet NERC’s eligibility criteria or follow NERC’s submission rules (see NERC grants handbook), will be office rejected and will not be considered.
Attachments
All attachments, with the exception of services, facilities or equipment quotes, submitted through the Je-S system must be completed in single-spaced typescript of minimum font size 11 point (Arial or other sans serif typeface of equivalent size to Arial 11), with margins of at least 2cm.
Please note that Arial narrow, Calibri and Times New Roman are not allowable font types and any proposal which has used either of these font types within their submission will be rejected.
References and footnotes should also be at least 11 point font and should be in the same font type as the rest of the document. Headers and footers should not be used for references or information relating to the scientific case. Applicants referring to websites should note that referees may choose not to use them.
You should ensure that your proposal conforms to all eligibility and submission rules, otherwise your proposal may be rejected without peer review. More details on NERC’s submission rules can be found in:
Please note that on submission to the council, all non-PDF documents are converted to PDF. The use of non-standard fonts may result in errors or font conversion, which could affect the overall length of the document.
Additionally, where non-standard fonts are present, and even if the converted PDF document may look unaffected in the Je-S system, when it is imported into the research councils grants system some information may be removed.
We therefore recommend that where a document contains any non-standard fonts (scientific notation, diagrams and so on), the document should be converted to PDF prior to attaching it to the proposal.
Résumé for Research and Innovation
The Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) is a narrative CV based on the Royal Society’s Resume for Researchers. This funding opportunity is one of a number of pilots of the format across UKRI. If you have any feedback on the format or guidance provided, please email culture@ukri.org
The R4RI template is designed to allow you to showcase the relevant skills and experience you have. The template encourages applicants to include a wide range of contributions to the research and innovation landscape so that these can be recognised and rewarded as part of the assessment process.
We encourage you to be specific and only highlight outputs that are directly relevant to the funding opportunity being applied for or that provide evidence of your (or your team’s) ability to deliver the proposal.
R4RI is assessed as a whole and therefore it is of no consequence which heading you include a piece of evidence under. The modules are simply designed to help you consider all aspects of your work.
You will not be penalised for leaving sections blank, but it is recommended you carefully consider the breadth of your experience.
The R4RI should be completed as a narrative. Lists should be avoided where possible. The assessment process is not based on metrics (numbers of publications, impact factors or amounts of past funding, for example). Publication references within the application should be provided as Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) wherever possible.
The R4RI template is designed to be used across many different funding opportunities. Therefore, it is important that you carefully read the funding opportunity-specific guidance for details on how it will be assessed.
The ‘additions’ box is included for you to provide additional information, such as details of career breaks, which you feel may give context to the R4RI or wider application. Please note that this is not a requirement and you may leave this box blank if you wish. All comments written here will be seen by panel members and may also be shared with UKRI colleagues for evaluation purposes.
R4RI should be focused and only include information relevant to the funding opportunity.
Further guidance on the use of R4RI.
No associated studentships can be requested under this funding opportunity.
Notes on completing the Je-S form
Fellow details
Knowledge exchange fellowships are awarded 100% of costs with no provision for overheads.
Beneficiaries
Identify, as relevant, the key stakeholders, partners and user communities you will interact with and will benefit from your programme of work. Identify what impacts this may generate.
You should consider how your project will enhance the impact of the NERC remit science related to the wider community. Think about how you will connect with the most suitable stakeholders to generate impact (as described by the Research Excellence Framework) in terms of either (or both):
- reach (how widely the impact has been felt)
- significance (how much difference was made to the beneficiaries)
Resources
Tick the ‘exceptions’ box.
Attachments
These are the only attachments we require.
Case for support
The case for support should be split into two parts.
For the first part of the case for support you should use the R4RI template.
The second part of the case for support should be the body of the fellowship application in which you must outline how you meet the fellowship criteria.
Please pay close attention to the assessment criteria set out in the funding opportunity. Use the case for support to ensure that all elements are addressed in full taking account of information provided elsewhere in the application.
You should use the case for support to describe support from organisations who are offering support in cash or support in kind and who will be engaged in the programme of work
The second part of the case for support should be a maximum of five sides A4.
Justification of resources
Two sides A4 maximum.
Explain why you need funds for activities making reference to your project objectives.
Head of department statement
Two sides A4 maximum.
The head of department of the host institution will be required to demonstrate the availability of structured institutional support, and opportunities for personal development available to the fellow.