ESRC Doctoral focal award plus: innovating in data-driven research meeting
About the opportunity
Doctoral Focal Award in data-intensive sciences
The University of Warwick is exploring the development of an institutional proposal to the UKRI ESRC Doctoral Focal Award Plus: Innovating in Data-Driven Research funding opportunity. This initiative will support the development of a new generation of social scientists with the skills required to use data-driven research approaches in innovative and impactful ways. The award combines doctoral training with targeted skills development and capacity-building activities for researchers across career stages. The successful award holder must deliver a broader programme of targeted training, skills development and capacity-building activities for researchers across multiple career stages.
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) will invest up to £5.85 million in a single award. Applications may be led by a single institution or a consortium of organisations with the capacity to deliver high-quality doctoral training and researcher development.
Please note that ESRC has placed demand management on this scheme: organisations can only apply as the project lead on one application but can be a co-lead or project partner on any number of applications.
This meeting will bring together colleagues from across Warwick with expertise in data-driven research, social science, data science, digital methods, artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and doctoral training to explore the opportunity and assess Warwick's potential to lead or participate in a competitive bid.
The session will provide a forum for discussion, networking, and identification of potential collaborators, themes, and training innovations that could contribute to a strong institutional proposal.
The session will focus on:
Exploring how Warwick's strengths align with the objectives of the funding opportunity.
Identifying potential research and training themes in data-driven social science.
Discussing opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and faculties.
Exploring partnerships with external organisations and non-academic stakeholders.
Considering innovative approaches to doctoral training, skills development, and capacity building.
Assessing interest and commitment to developing a single institution-wide Warwick-led proposal.
We welcome colleagues with interests and expertise in:
Data-driven social science research
Computational social science
Big Data
Data science and analytics
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Digital research methods
Research software and digital infrastructure
Interdisciplinary research
Doctoral training and researcher development
Industry, government, and third-sector engagement
Researchers from all faculties who can contribute to the development of an innovative training and capacity-building programme are encouraged to attend.
Given the scale and ambition of this funding opportunity, a successful application will require substantial collaboration across disciplines, departments, and external partners.
This meeting is therefore intended not only to raise awareness of the opportunity, but also to identify colleagues who are interested in actively contributing to the development of a potential Warwick bid and supporting the design and delivery of a future doctoral training programme. The meeting will also be recorded so it can be shared with those who are unable to attend.
Given that Warwick can only submit a single application as lead institution, all colleagues interested in this funding opportunity are asked to complete the webform, even if they are unable to attend the online workshop.
Given that Warwick can only submit a single application as lead institution, all colleagues interested in this funding opportunity are asked to complete the webform, even if they are unable to attend the online workshop.
