UKRI has announced the Doctoral Focal Awards in AI and Data in the Biosciences and the Doctoral Focal Awards in Engineering Biology. Introduced by UKRI in January 2024, Doctoral Focal Awards fund research training for doctoral students in specific, tightly focused themes or challenges with a focus on a highly tailored training programme.
For the AI and Data in the Biosciences scheme, the aim is to train the next generation of leaders in computational approaches for bioscience research and innovation, including data science, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The inclusion of AI/ML as a thematic area is mandatory for all applications. Applications are expected to cover a range of basic and applied bioscience challenges within your chosen thematic area or areas and be within BBSRC remit, rather than exclusively on a singular topic. There is funding available for up to a maximum of 20 notional studentships per intake over the course of three annual intakes. BBSRC expects to fund a minimum of one and a maximum of two doctoral focal awards on AI and data in the biosciences.
For the Engineering Biology scheme, the aim is to train the next generation of leaders across the emerging field of engineering biology. Training programmes should aim to focus on harnessing the transformative potential of discovery-driven research and its application to address a diverse range of major global grand challenges which align to the National Engineering Biology Programme (NEBP). There is funding available from BBSRC, EPSRC, NERC and MRC for up to a maximum of 33 notional studentships per intake over the course of three annual intakes.
For both calls, applications can be submitted by a single institution or by multiple institutions. UKRI encourages applications which feature a consortia of different research organisations. The project lead organisation will act as the training grant award holder, if successful. Project lead organisations will provide the principal base (host) for a minimum of one student per year of intake. The funder expects institutions to support a minimum cohort size of five studentships per year, equating to a minimum of 15 studentships total across the lifetime of the award. The funder/s will fund 100% of the full economic cost (FEC).
UKRI will host a webinar for both calls on Thursday 30 January at 10:30 am. Please register here to attend.
For full information about each award, please see the call pages for each award (Doctoral Focal Awards in AI and Data in the Biosciences and the Doctoral Focal Awards in Engineering Biology).
University Internal selection:
Institutions can only act as project lead on only 1 application. Therefore, this call will be managed according to the University’s restricted calls procedure. Please note that an institution can act as project co-lead on any number of applications.
To take part in the internal selection, please complete our online form by 3 March, 2025. (NB: if asked to log-in, please use your crsid/Raven details; note that a Form cannot be saved and returned to).
You will need the following documents and information to complete the Form:
- A list of the names and institutions of Cambridge team members and project co-leads and project partners, as applicable.
- Project summary focussing on thematic area/s, vision and capability to deliver (maximum 800 words). The form is a slightly shorter version of the funder's notification of intent.
- Thematic area/s: please include details of the thematic area/s your training programme will cover. See the scope section of each funding call for more details. (approx. 100 words)
- Your vision: what is the training grant going to achieve and why is it important for UKRI to support it. (approx. 350 words)
- Your capability to deliver: who will lead and deliver the training grant (approx. 350 words)
- A support letter from the Head of the Department that will host the proposed Doctoral focal award confirming their support for the project and agreement to host the award.
Internal Assessment Criteria:
Please note that the assessment of internal applications will focus on the following core funder criteria:
- Vision: what is the training grant going to achieve and why is it important for UKRI to support it
- Capability to deliver: who will lead and deliver the training grant
Funder deadlines:
- 3 March, 2025 for Mandatory Notification of Intent. Note, again, that we aim to run our internal selection process in tandem with the funder's notification of intent process. Therefore, please also submit the funder's mandatory notification of intent form if you are leading a bid as project lead.
- 10 April, 2025 for full application deadline
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk.