Are you an early to mid career researcher looking to boost your research skills? The NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award (DSE) could be the right funding for you.
The DSE award is a regularly occurring opportunity, aimed at early to mid-career researchers, to help them develop skills or experience necessary for the next steps in their research career. This could be a great opportunity for those looking to return from a career break, or kick start their academic career!
The NIHR have highlighted that they are keen to award funding to the following professions:
- Nurses
- Midwives
- Allied health professionals
- Healthcare scientists
- Pharmacists
They’re also particularly interested in funding people working in the following areas: health data science, clinical trials, entrepreneurship and working with industry, those just starting their academic career, and anyone returning from a career break.
Key Information
Below is some of the key information you might need to decide whether this funding could help you develop your research skills.
Submission window:
- Opens 2 April 2024
- Closes 26 July 2024
The DSE award could be used for:
- Covering your salary for up to 2 years
- Training and development
- Attending conferences
- Mentoring opportunities
For example, the award could be used to fund training courses, placements in clinical settings, knowledge mobilisation, or skills useful for Patient and Public Involvement work, among many other things!
Eligibility
- The Host Organisation needs to be one of the following: an English HEI, NHS body, or other provider of health and/or care services
- Relevant pre-registration training must be completed (for clinical academic applications)
- You must hold a relevant PhD or MD by the time the award starts
- You need to demonstrate a continued commitment to a research career in line with NIHR’s remit
- You can’t apply if you’ve submitted to the previous DSE window
The award could be a great way to enhance any specific skills or training you might need to stand out in your next funding application!
Does this sound like you? We’d love to hear from you if you’re planning to apply – keep us in the loop on X/Twitter @MHRIncubator.
You can read more about the DSE and find out how to apply here.
You can also find full details and application guidance here.