Apply to Observe a Wellcome Funding Advisory Committee

Wellcome gives a distinctive alternative for researchers to observe its funding advisory committees. If you’re planning to apply for Wellcome funding within the subsequent two years, this may very well be a useful expertise. As an observer, you’ll achieve perception into the committee’s evaluation course of, which may also help you higher perceive how your personal application is perhaps evaluated.

Why Become a Committee Observer?

Observing Wellcome’s funding advisory committees supplies a deeper understanding of how the group evaluates grant functions. As an observer, you’ll be taught:

• How Wellcome committees use their evaluation standards when reviewing functions.
• How totally different elements of the application are thought of in the course of the shortlisting course of.

While being an observer doesn’t make you eligible for Wellcome funding, it gives invaluable insights that may enable you when submitting your personal application. Observers are inspired to share their expertise with different potential candidates, though confidentiality should be maintained relating to the main points of the functions they observe.

What Does Being a Committee Observer Involve?

As a committee observer, you’ll attend an internet shortlisting assembly for half a day. During this assembly, you’ll observe discussions associated to functions for Wellcome’s numerous funding schemes, together with:

• Early-Career Awards
• Career Development Awards
• Discovery Awards

This alternative permits you to see firsthand how funding selections are made and the way the Wellcome funding course of works.

Who Can Apply to Be a Committee Observer?

To apply to be an observer, you should meet the next standards:

• You are a researcher primarily based within the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low- or middle-income nation.
• You plan to apply for a Discovery Research grant inside the subsequent two years.
• You haven’t beforehand held a Wellcome award that required a Wellcome panel interview (excluding PhD studentships).
• You don’t maintain a senior-level award from Wellcome or elsewhere.
• You should not have beforehand been on or noticed a Wellcome committee.
• You should not a PhD pupil, until you’re in your remaining yr and are contemplating making use of for an Early-Career Award.

You will be unable to observe a committee assembly if you’re concerned in an application being assessed throughout the identical spherical, however chances are you’ll be invited to observe a assembly at a totally different time.

How to Apply

Applications at the moment are open for the chance to be a committee observer. The deadline for functions is 14 April 2025. Applications are reviewed as soon as a yr, and house is restricted, so it might take a while earlier than you’re contacted for an invite.

When making use of, you’ll be requested about:

• Your analysis background and site.
• Whether you belong to an underrepresented group in UK analysis.
• Your analysis space and plans to apply for Wellcome funding.
• Your most popular Wellcome scheme for observing.

Although preferences for which committee to observe will likely be thought of, they can’t be assured.

If your application is profitable, you’ll be invited to create a Wellcome Funding account, the place you’ll be required to agree to confidentiality phrases and evaluation related insurance policies earlier than attending the conferences.

Positive Action and Prioritization

In the occasion of extra functions than out there spots, Wellcome will prioritize sure teams by optimistic motion. The precedence will likely be given to:

• Researchers with Bangladeshi, Black, or Pakistani heritage (or Mixed heritage together with these backgrounds) working within the UK.
• Disabled researchers.
• Researchers from low- and middle-income international locations (LMICs).
• Researchers primarily based at much less research-intensive universities (non-Russell Group universities) within the UK.

Remaining locations will likely be allotted randomly by a lottery course of.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Wellcome takes privateness and knowledge safety significantly. All private data submitted as part of the application course of is dealt with in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Observers will want to agree to phrases and situations, together with confidentiality agreements, earlier than taking part.

Conclusion

Observing a Wellcome funding advisory committee is a useful alternative to achieve perception into the funding course of and perceive how selections are made. By taking part, you’ll be higher ready when submitting your personal application for Wellcome funding.

To apply to observe a funding committee, submit your application by 14 April 2025. For extra data on how to apply and the total necessities, visit Wellcome’s official page.

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