QUADRAT

Project proposals must meet all of the below criteria to be considered eligible:

• Successful projects must be led by staff member from an existing QUADRAT partner school and must include at least one additional non-QUADRAT school;
• Fall within the NERC science remit and the QUADRAT DTP remit but address a question/problem that is important, significant, and relevant to multiple fields or disciplines;
• Make a significant contribution to the relevant fields and advance knowledge and have impact;
• Articulate the problem which necessitates an interdisciplinary approach;
• Demonstrate creativity and originality in bringing together disciplines to address the research question or problem;
• Demonstrate how interdisciplinary approach will establish new ways of working- away from established/traditional patterns of working;
• Clearly articulate the different methodologies that will be used to address the question and how;
• Demonstrate that the team has the necessary expertise in the relevant disciplines and can effectively collaborate to achieve the project’s objectives.

• Proposals must be submitted by the Lead Supervisor.
• Supervisors must be PI’s grade 7 and above.
• Lead Supervisor’s must be on a minimum of 0.5FTE contract at one of the partner schools.
• You may only submit one application as Lead Supervisor. There are no limits as co-supervisor.
• Lead Supervisors who were awarded a QUADRAT studentship in the last round (cohort 5) are eligible to lead a proposal in this round.
• CASE supported projects are encouraged.
• If shortlisted, you MUST be able to attend & pitch your proposal to a panel on 27th April 09.00-12.00 (you will be allocated a timeslot)
• If successful, you MUST be able to work to the below timeline of key dates.

The expected timeline for this call is as follows:

• Mid-March: call for proposals
• 14th April: deadline for proposals
• 14-21st April: light touch triage of submissions & invitations to pitch proposal to panel
• 27th April, 09.00-12.00: proposal pitching event (held online) – if shortlisted, you MUST be able to attend this date/time
• 28th April: outcomes of pitching event – 5 successful proposals
• W/C 8th May: launch advertising campaign & open for applications
• 9th June: deadline for applications
• 14th June: we aim to have all applications to supervisors by 14th June
• 14-21st June: supervisors to review, shortlist & interview candidates
• W/C 26th June: interviews to take place no later than this week
• W/C 3rd July: supervisors to notify quadrat-admissions@abdn.ac.uk of interview outcomes
• Early July: QUADRAT Admissions to make offers

You must be able to work within the boundaries of this timeframe.

• A light touch triage of proposals will take place after the submission deadline;
• 8-10 proposals will be shortlisted – these supervisors will be invited to pitch their proposal to a panel on 27th April, 09.00-12.00;
• 5 projects will be selected, plus 2 reserve projects;
• The 5 selected projects will be funded and advertised. Students will be recruited directly to these projects (this is a direct funding model);
• Supervisors will arrange interviews for their shortlisted candidates and will notify QUADRAT of the successful candidate;
• All interviews must comply with QUADRAT EDI processes; more information on this is available via the NERC Best Practice Principles and also in our DEI Hub; 
• QUADRAT Admissions will then make studentship offers to these candidates;
• If the top candidate declines, the offer will go to the reserve candidate.