This online course is run by the Researcher Academy as part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences N-Trans Training Programme

Target Audience: Postgraduate Research Students in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences undertaking the N-trans training programme and ideally in the mid to latter stages of their doctoral studies. 

Research-only staff in the Faculty of M&HS may also attend these sessions. 

Booking for this sandpit will be closed from 11am on 11 June 2021.

Description: 

This N-trans sandpit will be lead by academic facilitators and will focus on all aspects of funding; where to look for opportunities, how and who can apply, fellowships and critiquing funding proposals.

To attend the sandpit, all attendees must complete the pre-session tasks (duration 8 hours) in advance of joining the live sandpit (3 hours). 

What is translational research? 

Translational research is an approach to life sciences and biomedical research that is intended to accelerate outcomes applicable to healthcare. Translational research has its focus on removing barriers to multi-disciplinary collaboration. Translational research techniques allow physicians, physiologists and pharmacologists to utilise cross-disciplinary expertise to accelerate progress towards tangible healthcare outcomes. It is through the meaningful collaboration between clinicians, researchers and operational staff that research endeavour is most effectively apportioned to those with the most suitable expertise; an understanding of the possibilities, expertise and needs of adjacent disciplines is required to allow such fruitful cross-disciplinary research, and a common language assists in open communication. 

Sandpit 3: Opportunities and Skills Development in Applying for Funding 

The online sandpit will be a forum for discussion on translational research with a particular focus on funding. The sandpit will be streamed live via Microsoft Teams and has 8 hours of self-study tasks for completion in advance. 
 
Participants will be required to undertake several pre-session tasks with associated deadlines. The tasks will be available through this Moodle page and made available at the beginning of May. There will be several deadlines running up to the live sandpit. Expected duration of tasks is approximately 8 hours. 
 
Please note this sandpit has been moved to an online environment due to the current Covid-19 situation. 
 
The sandpit will be interactive, with discussions and tutor-led delivery of course materials. 
 
Please note this sandpit has 2 training points allotted to it, which takes into consideration the pre-task and live sandpit time commitment 

There are three N-trans sandpits per year. It is recommended, to attend this sandpit in the mid-late stage of your doctorate when you have started to collect data/have a good understanding of your research project.  

This sandpit is part of an annual series: 

• N-trans online sandpit 1: Research presentations 
• N-trans online sandpit 2: Impact focussed 
• N-trans online sandpit 3: Funding focussed 

For details of the other sandpits, visit https://moodle.nottingham.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=79284  

Process:

The sandpit comprises 2 parts, 

1. Pre-sandpit tasks:  
   • prepare a short 2 page draft fellowship funding proposal using the session template (approximately 4-5 hours) Deadline 14 June
   • Act as a reviewer: read and score submitted funding proposals (approximately 3 hours) deadline 25 June
2. Live sandpit on 29 June 2021: During the 3 hour sandpit attendees will actively discuss the pre-session task and should have both microphone/speaker functionality and ideally although not essential webcam. 

The draft proposals will be circulated to the sandpit participants for review. Each proposal will be scored and the best 4 proposers will be asked to pitch their idea at the sandpit.  

During the live sandpit session held on Microsoft Teams, the top four scoring proposals will be delivered by the proposers as 3 minute elevator pitches (no slides, just oration). The sandpit attendees will discuss and then vote for their top proposal. 
This session will be interactive, with discussions and tutor-led delivery of course materials 

All participants of the sandpit must submit a draft proposal. By booking a place on the sandpit you are agreeing to submit a proposal and for others to read and provide feedback on it. In addition to treat all the proposals circulated confidentiality and not to plagiarise others work for your own future purposes.

Course Accessibility

The following table shows a summary of what is needed to participate in the course. 

If you feel you will experience any difficulties participating, please let us know via the ‘special requirements’ tab, providing as much information as possible. The special requirements tab can be completed when you book your place. Alternatively, you can contact us directly at ra-training@nottingham.ac.uk.

Access and/or complete self-study/ pre-course tasks prior to main session(s) on Moodle
Access Moodle for pre-task
Access MS Teams for live sandpit
Attend the sandpit at the specified date and time
Participate in several online platforms at one time
Use MS Teams chat box function during the sandpit
Engage with online materials
Watch and listen to the course tutor(s) and/or other attendees
Follow presentation slides during the course
Take part in group activities/ discussions

Booking Conditions  

Our webinars/ online courses are very popular, especially in the current period and we are experiencing large volumes of people on our waiting lists.   

Please do let us know if you would like to cancel your place on this course so we can offer your place to another delegate.  

Please note this course has a pre-task and the self-enrolment for the course's Moodle page will deactivate shortly before the draft fellowship proposal submission deadline at 8am on 14 June.  

This session may be recorded. If a recording is kept of the session, then please note, that it may be made available to the wider University of Nottingham researcher community. 

Pre-requisite Tasks

The scheduled timeslot is for the live section of the sandpit. The sandpit also includes pre-work, with associated deadlines.  

Please log in to Moodle (using the above link) as soon as possible to access the sandpit page for details about the pre-session tasks and sandpit programme.  

This sandpit’s self-enrolment link will deactivate shortly after the abstract submission deadline.