The Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) has invited institutions to begin their internal triage processes for the Academy’s competitive Springboard Awards – Round 11.
Springboard offers a bespoke package of support to biomedical researchers at the start of their first independent post to help launch their research careers. This scheme is targeted at those who are in the early stages of their first independent research position and have not yet obtained substantial research funding support from other sources, such as large research grants or large fellowships. Proposals are accepted across the breadth of biomedical research as long as the research aims to improve human health.
The award for Round 11 will provide funding of up to £125,000 over two years to support research costs (excluding applicant salary) and professional development. The award also gives access to the Academy's one-to-one mentoring scheme and a programme of events and activities developed for awardee’s benefit.
Eligibility criteria:
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Hold a salaried academic position that incorporates research.
- Have sufficient time remaining on their contract to complete the proposed Springboard project.
- Be in their first independent position (i.e. group-leader level, line managed not supervised).
- Have been appointed within the last 5 years (FTE; exceptions made for career breaks) to this position.
Candidates must not:
- Hold a clinical contract.
- Be in receipt of substantial research funding as the Principal or Co- Investigator exceeding £150,000 for the two-year Springboard award (excluding your personal salary, overhead and indirect costs).
- Have already secured a significant fellowship – please see the internal application form for a full list.
- Be a postdoctoral researcher employed on a grant awarded in the name of another Principal Investigator.
- Hold a Research Associate position where they are under someone’s supervision.
- Have already secured a promotion onto a second independent post.
An applicant’s eligibility with respect to career stage and length of contract must be confirmed in the HoD letter for the internal selection step. If you are uncertain about any aspects of eligibility, please contact the Research Strategy Office at researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk
University Internal selection:
The University can make up to four nominations for Round 11. Therefore, this call is managed according to the University’s restricted calls policy.
To take part in the internal selection process, please complete the online AMS Springboard Round 11 form by 8th April 2025. If asked to log-in, please use your Raven details. The online form cannot be saved and returned to, therefore for your convenience the attached document outlines the questions asked in the form.
Please note: The form can be completed only by current members of staff/PhD students. External applicants are welcome to contact the Research Strategy Office at researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk to discuss alternative ways of submitting an application.
Assessment criteria that will be used in the internal selection process:
- Applicant’s track record
- Potential benefit to applicant’s career
- Career aspirations
- Importance and relevance of the research
- Quality and appropriateness of research methodology
- Degree of innovation
Funder deadlines:
- 29th April 2025: deadline for the University to notify the Academy of the outcome of the University’s triage process.
- 4th June 2025: deadline for submission to the funder
If you have any questions, please contact us at researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk.