MUSSI and Faculty of Social Science Co-funded Small Research Grants (2020-2021)

Monday, September 14, 2020 - 15:45

Faculty of Social Science staff have demonstrated significant levels of flexibility since the Covid-19 restrictions impacted on our work.  As a result of the continued restrictions, it has become necessary to introduce a range of new processes for how we will engage with students in terms of teaching, assessment and engagement in the next semester.  It is likely that these will take up a greater proportion of faculty time than usual over the next academic year.  As research remains essential to the work of the university, MUSSI and the FSS have allocated new funding (€20,000) for the current academic year to help support members of the faculty to maintain their research productivity. 
 
It is proposed to make small faculty research grants available to individual faculty members or teams of researchers for amounts ranging from €1000 to €4000 to fund the cost of specific research related activities in the Social Sciences.  These include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  •           Data collection or purchase of datasets
  •           Technical training
  •           Transcriptions
  •           Analysis
  •           Writing and editing assistance
  •           Grant application writing
  •           Networking costs (professional or academic association memberships, conferences, networking activities for the socialization of research or the development of industry contacts etc).It will be possible to apply for funding to employ Research Assistants to assist with any of the above, but these must be in line with current Maynooth University HR policies.  We regret that it is not possible to use this funding to apply for the buy-out of teaching time.  

 
Joint funding proposals from colleagues within the FSS are welcomed; particularly those where a colleague collaborates with an early career colleague. 
 
Funding proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by a panel.   Applicants are asked to address in the application template (provided below):
 

  • The names and departmental affiliation of applicants.  In case of joint applications, early stage career colleagues should be clearly identified.  
  • A clear statement of how much funding they have applied for.
  • A summary of how this budget will be spent. 
  • Statement of all recent research funding received.
  • The anticipated outputs of the research (publications, conferences, network building, future grant awards, etc.) 
  • The estimated number of FTEs at undergraduate and taught postgraduate level you are scheduled to teach in the coming academic year 2020/2021.  If these are not available, please estimate these based on the class sizes of the modules you have taught in the previous years.  If you will co-teach these with a colleague  or colleagues, please indicate what percentage of the module you will teach.  
  • Student-oriented service roles currently held which are likely to reduce the amount of research time available to applicants in the coming academic year
  • A statement of how the proposed research project(s) for which funding is sought will meet the strategic aims of the institute and university.  

 
 
TO APPLY:
 
Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute and Faculty of Social Science
 
Research Awards - Call
 
The aim of the scheme is to provide initial seed funding (€1,000-4,000) to bring ideas and concepts to a stage whereby publications or funding applications can be undertaken (that will be submitted through MU SSI to external agencies). The scheme is open to all academic staff members who are members of the Institute. The deadline for applications is 5pm 15th October 2020. The grant must be spent by 30th September 2021.
 
 
A folder submitted to mussi@mu.ie should contain the applicant’s proposal (template below), CV (max. 1 page) and budget (max. 1 page). 
 
PROPOSAL TEMPLATE 
 
Cover Page: Provide the names and departmental affiliation of applicants.  In case of joint applications, early stage career colleagues should be clearly identified.  
 
1. State of the Research Field (max. 500 words)
 
2. Project Description:
 
(a) Objectives (max. 500 words)
 
(b) Methodology (max. 500 words)
 
(c) Future Funding Roadmap (max. 500 words)
 
(d) Impact, Benefits & Dissemination (max. 500 words)
 
3. How the research proposed enhances MU SSI’s and FSS research profile and agenda (max. 500 words)
 
4. Workload
 
Outline:
(a) The estimated number of FTEs at undergraduate and taught postgraduate level you are scheduled to teach in the coming academic year 2020/2021.  If these are not available, please estimate these based on the class sizes of the modules you have taught in the previous years.  If you will co-teach these with a colleague  or colleagues, please indicate what percentage of the module you will teach.  
 
(b)  Student-oriented service roles currently held which are likely to reduce the amount of research time available to applicants in the coming academic year
 

Terms:

 The Fund aims to enable applicants to successfully complete the early phase of a project. Allowable costs include:
 

  • Data collection or purchase of datasets
  • Technical training
  • Transcriptions
  • Analysis
  • Writing and editing assistance
  • Grant application writing
  •  Networking costs (professional or academic association memberships, conferences, networking activities for the socialization of research or the development of industry contacts etc). 

 
Proposals will be reviewed by a panel which includes senior academics from within the University who have experience of grant review for external agencies.
 
Ineligible Costs
 

  • Teaching buyout
  • Gap funding to bridge support between external grants or contracts is not eligible.  

 
All related applications for funding and any activities funded by this grant (including publications) must name MUSSI and FSS as the funder
 
The grant cannot be used to fund miscellaneous expenses not identified in the application
 
Only vouched expenses can be refunded
 
The same project must not be funded twice by Maynooth University research support schemes. The applicant must inform MUSSI if such funding has been obtained from any department or RDO