Researcher Exchange Programme 2024
The Researcher Exchange Programme offers opportunities to academics including PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, senior scientists as well as industry practitioners in conducting collaborative research or educational activities.
The 2024 application cycle will open between 1st April – 31st May and between 1st October and 30th November.
The application cycle is currently OPEN.
Background
The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is an independent, not-for-profit research institute for terrestrial and freshwater science. UKCEH coordinates internationally leading research and expertise in environmental sciences providing infrastructure, training and leadership to the UK hydrological community. The Hydro-JULES programme has built a three-dimensional, open source, community model of the terrestrial water cycle to support and enable collaborative work across the research and academic communities in hydrology and land-surface science. The Hydro-JULES programme is continuing with a comprehensive programme of work aimed at building advanced modelling infrastructure to understand floods and water scarcity in the UK and overseas..
Supporting collaborations
The Researcher Exchange Programme will support collaborations that will share knowledge, advance existing research, stimulate new research areas, allow collective response to scientific initiatives, raise the international profile of UKCEH and enable new relationships to be built in the following environmental research fields:
- quantification of hydro-meteorological risks
- using high-resolution climate predictions for hydrological applications
- calculate the impacts of environmental change on evaporation, transpiration, and soil moisture
- modelling flood inundation over large areas
- representing anthropogenic interventions in the water cycle, and
- application of new techniques including Earth observation and data assimilation
The REP will fund a visit of up to £2,500* per applicant to support work that is aligned to the Hydro-JULES strategy. Hydro-JULES will provide guidance and clarity, but the success of the visit is driven by the researchers’ own goals, interests and objectives.
The goals of the HJ REP program are to promote a cross-institutional exchange, identify future collaborators, welcome scientists into the broader hydrological network, learn new techniques, engage in collaborative discussion for innovative problem solving and face-to-face interaction between scientists.
*Funding of up to £2500 is to support costs associated with the visit (subsistence, accommodation, catering, airfare, visa costs etc.).
How to apply
The 2024 application cycle will open between 1st April – 31st May and between 1st October and 30th November. The application cycle is now CLOSED.
Timings of the visits are flexible, are on a temporary basis and can be from one week up to six months. REP visits should be scheduled within 1-6 months from the date your application is submitted.
Eligibility:
- The successful applicants must agree to the following Terms and Conditions:
- To provide a one-page report to the Project Manager describing the visit and its accomplishments within 30 days of completion of the visit.
- To appear in publicity and promotion materials for UKCEH.
- To acknowledge the support of Hydro-JULES funds in any publications or presentations arising from the exchange.
- To participate in a Knowledge-Sharing Seminar to present a specific topic chosen from their respective field of expertise.
The assessment of each application is based on the following criteria:
- Do the expected deliverables align with HJ Strategy?
- What are the research questions, or gaps in knowledge that would be addressed during the REP.
- What are the benefits / impacts of the proposed research.
- Is the level of innovation likely to lead to significant new understanding?
- How valuable is the new or developing collaboration expected to be to Hydro-JULES / UKCEH?
- Is international travel necessary given the environmental impacts, the amount of time allocated to achieve the outcomes
- Is the applicant’s stated time commitment to the work appropriate and sufficient?
Application checklist 1-2-3
- Researchers should complete a REP application form.
- Provide a short CV.
- Provide a letter from their home institution supporting the application with the understanding that funds are not available as a contribution to salary, research costs, apparatus, or bench fees.
Email your completed REP application form, CV and supporting letter hydrojules@ceh.ac.uk.
Allow between 1-4 weeks for the HJ Team to determine eligibility, match applicants with a HJ Scientist / Sponsor pertaining to their area of research and to approve the application.
Successful applicants should be removed from their usual obligations at their home institution and be available to apply themselves to their research project and participate in the programme activities during the length of their stay.
The application cycle will CLOSE ON 31st May 2024.
If you have any questions about the Researcher Exchange Programme please contact hydrojules@ceh.ac.uk