How do you stay informed of the latest research funding opportunities?

1 Subscribe to newsletters

Staying up to date on research funding opportunities is easy when you subscribe to newsletters from relevant organizations and platforms. These newsletters can provide regular information on new and upcoming calls, deadlines, eligibility criteria, and application tips. For example, Research Professional offers a global database of funding opportunities across all disciplines and regions with customizable alerts and news. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the main public funder of research and innovation in the UK, with newsletters covering various themes and sectors. The European Commission has newsletters on various research and innovation programmes, such as Horizon Europe, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, and Erasmus+. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the US government with newsletters on funding opportunities, events, and resources for science and engineering research.

2 Follow social media

If you want to stay abreast of the latest research funding opportunities, following social media accounts of funding agencies, networks, and groups is a great option. Doing so can help you find new and niche funding sources, learn from other researchers' experiences, and interact with potential collaborators and reviewers. Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook are all effective platforms for this purpose. On Twitter, you can follow hashtags such as #funding, #grants, #research, and #phdchat. Additionally, accounts of funding organizations such as @NIH, @ERC_Research, and @WellcomeTrust are worth checking out. LinkedIn is the perfect professional networking site to join groups such as Research Funding Opportunities, Research Grants and Scholarships, and Research Development Professionals. You can also follow pages of funding bodies such as The Royal Society, The British Academy, and The Leverhulme Trust. As for Facebook, you can like pages like Research Councils UK, European Research Council, and National Institutes of Health (NIH). Additionally, joining groups such as Research Funding Opportunities Worldwide, Research Funding for African Researchers, and Research Funding for Women in STEM is beneficial.

4 Attend webinars and workshops

Staying informed of the latest research funding opportunities can be achieved by attending webinars and workshops organized by funding agencies, universities, and professional associations. These events can provide detailed information on specific funding schemes, application processes, and evaluation criteria. Additionally, they offer the opportunity to ask questions, receive feedback, and network with funders and peers. For example, UKRI webinars cover various aspects of UKRI funding and include Q&A sessions and recordings. ERC webinars introduce the ERC funding schemes with presentations, testimonials, and Q&A sessions. NIH workshops explain the NIH grant application and review process via lectures, discussions, and mock reviews. Finally, Vitae workshops support the professional development of researchers with topics such as finding funding, writing proposals, and managing projects.