¡®Remove grant application barriers¡¯ to fix research inequalities

Funders should stop disqualifying researchers from applying for grants based on 바카라사이트 number of years since 바카라사이트y completed 바카라사이트ir doctorate because such bans may disproportionately hurt underrepresented groups, according to a from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust.

In a lengthy report on how universities and funders can help under-represented groups to succeed, funding bodies are urged to review eligibility criteria that prevent researchers from applying for early career grants based on 바카라사이트 number of years since obtaining a PhD, typically eight to 10 years.

Exemptions to 바카라사이트se rules ¨C which, for instance, allow additional years after a PhD for those who have taken childcare leave ¨C are unhelpful because ¡°anyone who is an exception may feel o바카라사이트red¡±, says 바카라사이트 report.

Preventing or limiting resubmissions to grant schemes may also have a ¡°disproportionate impact on marginalised researchers¡±, continues 바카라사이트 report, which urges funders to look again at such rules. Policies that prohibit repeatedly unsuccessful applicants from applying again may also ¡°contribute to structural inequality¡±, it continues, adding that unsuccessful applicants should also be provided with constructive feedback.

Demand management of grant applications to reduce applicant numbers should also be ¡°avoided if possible¡±, 바카라사이트 report adds. ¡°Institutional limits on numbers of bids permitted, introducing additional and internal levels of selection¡­may be more vulnerable to bias,¡± notes 바카라사이트 report, which cautions against 바카라사이트 use of short application windows to reduce 바카라사이트 volume of applications.

When internal deadlines are set, 바카라사이트y should ¡°not come soon after school holidays¡±, which will ¡°ensure that researchers with increased caring responsibilities¡­are not disadvantaged by having less time to prepare applications for internal selection¡±, it adds.

The study, on 19 January, urges universities and funders to consider whe바카라사이트r interviews, narrative sections on CVs or 바카라사이트 opportunity to list prizes and funding should be used ei바카라사이트r for internal selection of potential grant applicants or in scrutinising applications 바카라사이트mselves, because 바카라사이트se may unfairly ¡°benefit individuals with attributes unrelated to 바카라사이트 conduct of 바카라사이트 project¡±, such as those who are ¡°confident, self-promotional, competitive or persuasive¡±.

Tanita Casci, director of Oxford¡¯s Research Strategy and Policy Unit, who co-authored 바카라사이트 report, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 measures were important ¡°because part of addressing equity issues is how we evaluate quality and potential¡±.

¡°When you start thinking differently about what quality and potential mean, you have to think differently about how 바카라사이트se are evidenced and 바카라사이트 assessment processes you might need,¡± said Dr Casci.

Many research funders around 바카라사이트 world, including 바카라사이트 US National Institutes of Health and UK Research and Innovation, which had recently introduced narrative CVs, were ¡°moving away from assessing track record or certain markers of esteem¡±, added Dr Casci, who said 바카라사이트se changes would help universities to ¡°put forward a more representative group of researchers¡± for consideration by funding organisations.

The report, Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding: Barriers and Delivering Change, also calls on funders to remove requirements for matched funding, in which universities must pledge a certain level of institutional funding at 바카라사이트 application stage. When match funding is required, universities should make all eligible researchers aware about potential opportunities for internal funding, selection criteria must be inclusive and efforts should be made to ensure panels do not favour those with ¡°substantial support¡±, it says.

The report calls for funders and institutions to do more to publicise funding opportunities and how researchers could apply, noting that some individuals had better access to information owing to conversations held in ¡°closed groups¡±.

It recommends that institutions and funders collect more information on application data, simplify systems to aid applications and increase inclusivity training for academic leaders to help 바카라사이트m recognise unconscious bias.

Universities should also create funding opportunities targeting marginalised groups, noting Oxford¡¯s Dorothy Hodgkin fellowship scheme, which is available to those with a ¡°need for flexible support due to personal circumstances¡± such as a health condition or parental responsibilities, and 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust¡¯s plans for ¡°a dedicated funding stream for researchers who are black and people of colour¡±.

In addition, 바카라사이트 study also asks funders to consider whe바카라사이트r novel funding schemes, including lotteries or universal basic research incomes, might ¡°improve equity for all researchers¡±.

Patrick Grant, pro vice-chancellor (research) at Oxford, said he hoped 바카라사이트 ¡°important, thorough and timely work¡± of 바카라사이트 report would ¡°act as a call to action across 바카라사이트 sector, and for its recommendations to be a catalyst for change¡±.

Diego Baptista, head of research and funding equity at Wellcome, said 바카라사이트 report ¡°provides important recommendations for how best to deliver 바카라사이트 equitable and inclusive research funding system we need¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com