Investing in research careers

The university continues to invest in building research and knowledge exchange capacity through a range of schemes and initiatives. 

Our initiatives support all aspects of the research and knowledge exchange spectrum. Initiatives are reviewed annually to ensure we address the most pressing societal challenges and continue our commitment to developing our rich research and knowledge exchange environment. Find out more about a small selection of our schemes below:

Great minds initiative

The Great Minds initiative enables researcher to have focused research leave from their substantive role in order to develop and submit a research or knowledge exchange grant, or produce an outstanding output. Awards of up to £10,000, and exceptionally up to £15,000, are offered to buy out time. 

The initiative is open to all staff with a contractual obligation to undertake research and who have at least one year’s continuous service with the University of Brighton. Awards are made on the basis of merit and are awarded by a university panel of research experts.

Not only do these projects add value to each successful applicant's existing contribution to research and/or knowledge exchange within the University, they also result in outcomes that contribute to the University’s research and knowledge exchange ambitions.

Rising stars initiative

The University has been running this internally-funded research scheme since 2013. Awards of up to £10,000 are offered every year to assist researchers to gain experience of leading their own research projects, leveraging external funding and enable a step change in career.

The scheme is a university-wide initiative for academic and research staff from all Schools. Rising stars may be at any stage of their academic career, but priority is given to researchers at the start of their career. Awards are made on the basis of merit and are awarded by a university panel of research experts.

A Rising Stars award may be used as evidence of institutional support for RCUK new investigator grants and is part of a proactive support programme for our new researchers.