RSE IRAS · Royal Society of Edinburgh International Research Awards Scheme

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) runs Fellowship ‎schemes for postdoctoral researchers, the largest and most prestigious of ‎which is the Scottish Government funded scheme for six 5-year ‎Fellowships per year. RSE wishes to enhance this scheme.‎ The support costs provided over the Fellowship period are limited and ‎have to cover equipment, consumables and travel. This constrains ‎mobility of Fellows. RSE wishes to make travel funds available to enable ‎Fellows to spend up to twelve months overseas to encourage them to foster ‎collaborative links with researchers outside the UK. RSE will also ‎support the cost of more skills training for Fellows.‎ The COFUND contribution will be paid in the first two years of the ‎Fellowship so that trans-national mobility occurs early in the Fellowship ‎and networks are developed over the 5-year period. The Fellow will be ‎able to spend quality time with the collaborative partner, and will have ‎time to experience the culture of the host country. These opportunities are ‎valuable in the Fellow’s career and personal development, encouraging ‎the formation of long-term research networks. The COFUND contribution will also enhance an existing RSE ‎international exchange scheme that supports short-term visits before, ‎during and after Research Fellowships. It helps to develop initial contacts, ‎build on previous research collaborations and link with research groups ‎overseas. Collaborative links are supported over the longer term to assist ‎in the development of trans-national research networks. This aspect of the ‎Marie Curie scheme will thus enable overseas collaborators to work in ‎Scotland with the Fellow and assist in the Fellow’s reintegration by ‎reinforcing networks. In the enhanced scheme, experienced researchers will have broader ‎opportunities through their choice of topic, destination and research group ‎to develop multi or interdisciplinary skills enabling them to build long-‎term international partnerships.