Scope
This opportunity is for UK academics to host a summer school for PhD students in the field of quantum technologies.
The summer schools should:
- connect with institutions in the UK and Canada or the US (or both)
- invite students from Canada or the US to attend (or both), as well as UK-based students.
The purpose is to facilitate international engagement and collaboration between the UK, the US and Canada. It is hoped that this will encourage further future summer schools to be hosted in each of these countries, forming long-term research partnerships in quantum technologies between the UK and North America.
International summer schools are a highly effective way of sharing resources to draw upon a wider talent pool, developing essential skills and knowledge and initiating strong international partnerships, which can form the basis of larger future research programmes.
The summer schools must be in the area of quantum technologies.
Quantum technologies are those that involve the creation, control and manipulation of sensitive and fragile quantum effects within single systems.
Although many current and future technologies are described by quantum theory, the focus of this opportunity is on expanding capabilities focused on the direct exploitation of quantum phenomena, such as superposition or entanglement.
This includes:
- quantum computing and simulation
- quantum sensing and timing
- quantum imaging
- quantum communication
- quantum components.
Proposals must be at least 50% within the remit of the EPSRC quantum technologies theme.
Funding available
The funding available for this opportunity is £100,000.
This funding can cover the investigator’s time spent on setting up and managing the summer school, travel and subsistence, workshops and administrative support. All costs must be fully justified.
EPSRC will fund 100% of the full economic cost of proposals.
Summer schools must be for a duration of between one to two weeks and take place in 2023.
Summer school students must be PhD students at the time of the summer school.
Whilst all costs listed below are eligible claims, it is expected that you will seek sponsorship, direct cash or in-kind support where possible from host organisations, industry or North American partners:
- lecturers may claim:
- fees up to a maximum of £170 per day or £85 per half day, as appropriate
- travel expenses
- accommodation
- meals and refreshments
- UK and international students may claim:
- accommodation
- travel expenses
- meals and refreshments
- other costs that can be claimed include:
- room and equipment hire
- course material
- admin and consumable costs
- publicity
- secretarial and technical support
- postdoctoral and PhD students may be employed to assist with the running of the school. You may either claim these costs at the appropriate hourly rate or claim a one off £500 management fee
- schools may host up to one social excursion or dinner for delegates. The maximum for any social excursion or summer school dinner should be £50 per student (or £60 in London)
- contingency costs should be 5% of the total cost or £1,000 (whichever is the least).
EPSRC is committed to ensuring that its policies and practices reflect the diverse needs and experiences of its employees and other stakeholders.
Accordingly, organisers of an EPSRC-funded summer school are required to ensure that the arrangements for the school comply with the EPSRC equality, diversity and inclusion policy, in particular that they place no barriers in the way of participation by students from any of the protected groups and involve no discrimination or bias against any of the protected groups in the selection of lecturers.
Furthermore, recognising the important part played by role models in retaining underrepresented groups in the EPSRC-funded community, organisers should seek to ensure that the diversity of lecturers reflects that of the wider community. In addition to gender balance and underrepresented group consideration, please ensure the tutors or lecturers have the required experience to deliver the sessions. Please consider the equality, diversity and inclusion support that is available to EPSRC applicants.
Tutors should have some element of training or briefing, particularly if early career researchers are responsible for delivering content and placed in positions of authority over students.
Reporting
If successful, organisers are required to provide a report to EPSRC upon completion of the summer school. The report should include student feedback and aggregated student diversity data. The report will be used to inform future funding opportunities, and a template will be provided.
Responsible innovation
You are expected to work within the EPSRC framework for responsible innovation.
International collaboration
Applicants planning to include international collaborators on their proposal should visit Trusted Research for guidance on getting the most out of international collaboration whilst protecting intellectual property, sensitive research and personal information.
