Junior researchers offered bespoke support to help launch their careers


Early career researchers at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) are being offered the chance to apply for up to £100,000 funding and a bespoke package of mentorship to support their work. 

DMU has been accepted on to the Academy of Medical Science (AMS) Springboard, which gives new academics a chance to establish their research careers. 

AMS

The scheme is targeted at those who are in the early stages of their first independent research position and have not yet obtained substantial research funding support from other sources. 

It enables early career researchers to apply for up to £100,000 to support their research over two years. The funds can be spent on research costs and professional development, including the employment of support staff, purchase of consumables and equipment, and access to technical support, training and travel. 

“Joining the AMS Springboard further reinforces DMU’s commitment to supporting the career development of our researchers,” said Professor Anwar Baydoun, Associate Dean Research and Innovation and Professor of Pharmacology at DMU. 

Professor Baydoun will be DMU’s Springboard Institutional Champion, helping the university to identify and shortlist four suitable candidates every year for consideration by the AMS Springboard. 

“We have seen a growth in our early career researcher cohort in recent years and it is important that we support and nurture them on their journey to becoming our future research leaders,” he added. 

AMS Springboard applicants who are put forward by their institution are invited to participate in the Academy's one-to-one mentoring scheme, with a bespoke programme of events and activities that are tailored for their benefit. 

“To be able to offer our academics access to exclusive mentoring and career development programmes with experts in their research area will be hugely beneficial,” continued Professor Baydoun. “It gives them the opportunity to build their network from the very beginning and better understand how to strengthen their research by working with experienced academics and industry professionals.” 

Research pic

DMU has a longstanding commitment to supporting its researchers as they start out in their careers through its own Future Research Leaders (FRL) programme, which identifies rising research stars and develops their research leadership skills, setting out a path to senior positions which several have already achieved. 

Professor David Mba, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, said: “We support our researchers to develop and progress throughout their careers and are committed to building a community of experienced academics who are conducting impactful research in their respective fields. 

“Joining the AMS Springboard is another example of our commitment to supporting our colleagues’ career progression and I look forward to seeing the research opportunities that arise through the scheme.”   

Established in 2015 in partnership with the Wellcome Trust, the AMS Springboard’s overarching mission is to improve health through research. Today, the funding consortium is made up of the British Heart Foundation and the Government Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Diabetes UK. 

Posted on Tuesday 2 February 2021

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