This as a live document during this project call period, with additional FAQs being added below under the ‘New FAQs included’ heading..
What is a DLA?
‘DLA’ means Doctoral Landscape Award. These replace the former Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP) and are designed to provide broad, flexible funding for training future generations of leaders in science research and innovation.
How will the change to DLAs affect SWBio4?
The SWBio4 programme itself will remain the same, with the same types of studentships offered (Standard; Standard with Associate Partner; CASE) but project pro-forma and project selection will be changing. There will be a move away from research funding towards positive research culture and strong supervisory support in the project selection system. SWBio4 will ensure that the project selection process maps onto the changing philosophy of the new DLAs:
- To better capture the supervisory team research culture and reward positive supervision and willingness to embrace Continue Professional Development (CPD).
- To enable a fair more streamlined process for both supervisors and project selection panels.
- To integrate ECR supervisors in a fair and supportive way.
What will the SWBio4 project selection process be for ECRs?
We aim for all projects submitted by ECR main supervisors (including ECR supervisors applying for Standard with Associate Partner studentships) will be advertised following eligibility check and panel review. Panel feedback will be provided if required to ensure that the project and supervisory team is suitable.
Will I be considered as an ECR for SWBio4 project selection?
SWBio4 will consider you as an ECR if you are a new Lecturer or Research Fellow with independent funding applying with a project within 3 years of your first academic appointment at the point of project submission.
To be eligible as an ECR for SWBio4, you must have at least 4-years salaried position at the start of the studentship to qualify as a lead supervisor (this is an institutional requirement). This definition therefore excludes Postdoctoral Research Assistants/Associates/Fellows on grants held by others.
Supervisors will be given the opportunity to explain why they feel they should be considered as ECR even if not quite meeting the set criteria (e.g., a start date just outside of the 3-year cut-off; career break(s)/part-time etc.).
What are the significant changes from SWBio3 in the pro-forma?
In line with BBSRC’s strategic aims, we are moving away from focusing on grant funding and towards focusing on research culture and ensuring a supportive supervisory environment for students. When designing our new project pro-forma, reducing application workload has been at the forefront. We hope that this will outweigh the time needed on the new information we are requesting. Main changes:
- Grant funding details – REDUCED. You just need to confirm that you are able to meet anticipated project costs within the studentship budget available (£16k), or to show evidence that the student will be part of a well-funded research group. MOST IMPORTANTLY: You no longer need to have BBSRC funding to apply/boost your application. It is important us to ensure that students have the funding resources to be able to complete the research required for the PhD project.
- Project description. The technical description has been REMOVED. SWBio4 remit will be very broad making it difficult for assessment panels to make objective comparisons across the remit.
- Rotation projects. Information requested will be REDUCED.
- Impact information – REMOVED.
- BBSRC Strategic priority areas – REMOVED. You just need to demonstrate that your project is within BBSRC remit.
- Research culture and supervisor environment. We are INTRODUCING a ‘narrative CV’ format as we feel it best captures information beyond standard metrics to place students in the best possible environment to flourish in their PhD.
What is R4RI and why do we use it?
[Excerpt from UKRI’s Resume for Research and Innovation (R4RI)]: “The R4RI is a flexible narrative CV template. It’s designed to help you, or your team, show evidence of a wider range of skills and experience than a traditional academic CV when applying for UKRI funding opportunities. R4RI is halfway between a CV and cover letter, and provides the space to explain the context of your achievements. It is now in use in all funding opportunities on the UKRI Funding Service that require track record information.”
Many of you will be familiar with these from applying for grants. We have included 2 modules and an opportunity to provide additional information. In line with UKRI aims, we are supporting this approach as we feel it best captures information beyond standard metrics to place students in the best possible environment to flourish in their PhD.
Can I include undergraduate (UG) teaching awards/recognition in the R4RI?
Yes, we would certainly encourage this as it gives us an indication of the environment that your student will be entering and the support/training structure they are likely to encounter.
Why include a supervisor profile?
This is included to help students make informed choices about the project and supervisor package before they make further enquiries/apply. We know that different supervisors have different approaches to supervision, and whilst we are keen to promote flexibility/adaptability, if student needs and supervisor delivery styles are very different, it is better to be aware of this from the outset.
In addition, supervisor profiles can help remove barriers for those who might be less likely to choose to do a PhD, as they are designed to be more open and conversational than e.g., Departmental profile pages.
Who could help me with my application if have queries?
You can contact the DTP hub (swbio-dtp@bristol.ac.uk) or your local institutional DTP reps. There is also further information/resources available on the webpages.