Enhancing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in BBSRC-Funded Networks

We are delighted to announce that PoLNET and BioImagingUK have received funding through BBSRC’s ‘Enhancing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in BBSRC-Funded Networks’ initiative.

With support from the Royal Microscopical Society (RMS), the Institute of Physics (IoP), and other partners, this initiative highlights a collective commitment to tackling underrepresentation by breaking down barriers and fostering more inclusive research communities. This grant success underscores our shared dedication to equity and inclusion in science, aiming to enrich our network communities with diverse perspectives, skills, and expertise.

The initiative focuses on tackling underrepresentation through:

1. Gender Disparity in Conference Presentations: Providing women scientists with tailored presentation skills training and coaching to build confidence and reduce anxiety.
2. Socioeconomic Barriers for Undergraduates: Offering financial support and pre-sourced project opportunities through summer studentships for students from low-income backgrounds.
3. Challenges for Parents and Carers: Launching a carers’ bursary scheme to help scientists with caregiving responsibilities attend professional meetings.

As part of this grant, we are offering the following opportunities to UK based members of the Physics of Life and BioImaging communities: 

• Presentation Skills Training: There will be an open call for women aiming to enhance their presentation skills through orgnaised workshops and coaching sessions. More detail to follow. 
• Carers’ Bursaries: 20 bursaries of up to £500 each will be available to support scientists attending events with caregiving responsibilities. More details to follow. 
• 2025 EDI undergraduate Bursary Scheme, please find further details below.​

​2025 EDI Bursary Scheme

We have now launched our 2025 bursary call to support students from low-income backgrounds. PoLNET and BioImagingUK will provide financial support (including student stipends and contributions towards lab expenses) and curated project opportunities to up to 15 students from low-income backgrounds through these summer studentships.

Some studentships will also align and link directly with the already successfully established GenerationResearch program, which has funded over 100 students in diverse technical and research projects over the past four years. Supported by industry partners like AstraZeneca and Novogene, this program has achieved remarkable outcomes for students such as publications and new career opportunities.

Program Highlights

Student Benefits:

• A stipend (providing living wage salary equivalent) for up to 6 weeks.
• Access to valuable research and technical experience.

Supervisor Benefits:

• A £500 consumables budget to support project-related expenses.

Call for Supervisors

We are now inviting technicians, PIs, PhD students, and postdocs to get involved in this exciting initiative as supervisors. Your participation will help shape the future of inclusive research and provide valuable opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Who Can Apply:

• Technical staff, postdocs, PIs, and early-career fellows from any UK based institution, industry or research facility.
• Supervisors working in any PoL, imaging or STEMM area (for the latter you can be considered under the Generation Research Scheme).

How to apply: 

• Submit your project idea via this Google form (hosted by Generation Research) by Friday, January 10, 2025

What next? 

• Supervisor proposals will be evaluated in January 2025. Projects will be later matched with suitable students (a call for student applications will open in Jan/Feb).
• Supervisors will make the final decision on whether they are happy to host selected students.
• At the time when applications for this scheme open to students, supervisors are welcome to direct known students from low income/underrepresented backgrounds towards this scheme.

Call for Students

Once we have received a full project list of projects from supervisors, we will be in a position to advertise the call to potential students.  Students (from their 2nd year onwards in a STEMM degree) from any UK based institution will be eligible to apply and shortlisting will take place based on widening participation, socioeconomic criteria. More details will follow. 

What about the standard PoL bursary scheme?

We are currently in the process of trying to secure funding for 2025 and beyond, we will share any news when we have it. If we receive funding, supervisors will be able to apply for both bursary schemes.

Still got questions? 

Contact Karis Baker at [email protected] for any inquiries.