SSHB | Undergraduate Research Bursary Scheme

The Society for the Study of Human Biology (SSHB) is offering financial grants to support undergraduate research bursaries in human biology. It is anticipated that a maximum of two awards will be made in 2021. Each award will be up to £1500 (£210 per week student bursary for a maximum of six weeks, plus up to £240 in total for incidental and consumable costs; it is expected that other research costs, if any, will be met by the supervisor’s institution). Students supported by an undergraduate bursary will also be given a complementary student membership of the Society.

The purpose of the bursaries is to give undergraduates (normally between the second and third years of study) the opportunity to undertake a specific supervised research project during the summer vacation. The research project must fall within the remit of the SSHB (the general advancement and promotion of research in the biology of human populations in all its branches, including human variability and genetics, human adaptability and ecology, and human evolution). Retrospective applications are not permitted. Successful applicants must submit a report within one month of completion of the project. Those who receive an undergraduate research bursary are encouraged strongly to present their work at a meeting of the Society.

Eligibility

The scheme is open to full members of the Society who currently supervise, or have the opportunity to supervise, undergraduate project students. Applicants may be based in any organisation that undertakes research into human biology, including (but not confined to) universities, museums and NGOs, provided that adequate supervisorial, research and infrastructure support are available and outlined in the application. The undergraduate project student must be named but is not eligible to apply directly to the scheme; the supervisor applies on behalf of the student. Applicants who are not full members of the Society are permitted to apply for full membership at the same time as they submit their application. Membership application forms can be found HERE.

How to apply

Applications include a short abstract (250 words) and a 1000 word summary of the proposed project (see form below). The supervisor’s experience in supervising undergraduate and other students should also be detailed, along with the research environment and facilities for the research. A brief CV of supervisor (no longer than 2 pages of A4, including education, employment history, and publications) and named project student (including assessment transcript) should also be uploaded on the form.

Applications will be assessed in relation to the quality of the work submitted, the suitability of the student to undertake the proposed project, the suitability of the applicant to supervise the project, and the relevance of the topic to the aims and scope of the SSHB. Applications that fail to adhere to the guidelines will not be considered. All applications will be reviewed by referees appointed by the SSHB committee.

Deadline and submission

Applications should be submitted online, on the official application form available on the Undergraduate Bursary scheme section of the SSHB website by Wednesday, 31 March 2021. Decisions will be communicated to applicants no later than the 31of May 2021.

FILL IN THE FORM BELOW

Section 1. Details of applicant
To be completed by the applicant (i.e. the project supervisor at the sponsoring institution).
Name*
Prefix First Last
Title of current post*
Email*
Institution full postal address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Phone
Will there be co-supervisors?*
Will a member of your research group, other than you, be providing close day-to-day supervision of the student?
If there will be co-supervisors please provide details
Please add title, name, surname, current post and institution of the individual(s) who will co-supervising the student
Have you applied elsewhere?
Have you applied elsewhere for an undergraduate research bursary this year? If yes, to which organisation and when will you know the result?
Have you held other UG research bursaries?
Have you previously held an undergraduate research bursary funded by another funding agency? If yes, please provide details including the outcome of the project and the destination of the student after graduation (if known).
Upload your CV*
Please upload here your CV (no longer than 2 pages of A4, including education, employment history, and publications)
Section 2. Project details
To be completed by the applicant
Title of the research project*
Abstract of the research project*
Include: i) Background, ii) Aims and objectives, iii) What you hope to achieve during the period of research, iv) Methods and experimental design, v) Outline of the planned timetable of work, vi) if requesting consumables add details of and justification for request
Other support documentation
Add here any documentation of support if needed
Length of project*
(Min 4 weeks; max 6 weeks)
Proposed start date*
Date Format: MM slash DD slash YYYY
Funding requested*
Please detail: Stipend (£210 per week); Consumables (£240 max); Total requested (£1500 max).
Section 3. Details about student
To be completed by the student
Name*
Prefix First Last
Student's email*
Name and address of University/College*
(currently attending)
Type and title of degree*
(e.g. BSc Human Biology, MBBS, etc)
Date degree course commenced*
Year of course*
(eg. 2nd year of a 3 year course= 2/3)
Summary of university courses/modules taken and completed*
Upload transcripts and other relevant documents in the field below
Upload relevant documents/transcripts
(upload up to 3 files)
Drop files here or
Section 4. Supporting information
To be completed by the student.
Research experience to date*
Please outline your research experience to date, explain why you wish to apply for this bursary and why you are interested in the proposed project.
Plans for the future*
What are your career intentions and how will this bursary contribute to your career development?
Section 5. Ethics and regulatory issues
Project participants*
Does the project involve the use of human participants, biological samples, or personal data?
Human participants*
If this project involves human participants, biological samples, or personal data, please state by whom the project will be, or has been, ethically reviewed. Please specify any other regulatory approval that have been, or will be obtained. Funding will not be provided unless appropriate ethical/regulatory approval is in place.
Will this project involve the use of animals or animal tissue?*
If yes, does the proposal include procedures that require a Home Office licence?
Certificate of Designation under the Animals Act 1986
Does the Institution, where the animal work is to be carried out, hold a Certificate of Designation under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986?
Does the supervisor hold the appropriate project and personal licences?*
NB: Work can only proceed if the appropriate licenses and approvals are in place
Name*
Prefix First Last
Section 6. Contact details - Award administration
To be completed by the applicant. Add below the contact details for the person, within the institution, responsible for administering any award, if successful.
Name*
Prefix First Last
Award administrator's email*
Award administrator's position*
Award administrator's phone number*
Award administrator's address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Section 7. Conflict of interests
I confirm that any conflicts of interest arising in relation to this application have been detailed below (e.g. Applicant/project supervisor being an officer/committee member of the SSHB).
Conflict of interest declaration*
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Undergraduate Research Bursary Scheme

Section 1. Details of applicant

Section 2. Project details

Section 3. Details about student

Section 4. Supporting information

Section 5. Ethics and regulatory issues

Section 6. Contact details - Award administration

Section 7. Conflict of interests

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