Embedded researcher details
Each project will consist of one academic researcher who will undertake the placement embedded in a non-academic host organisation. The researcher will continue to be employed by their academic research institution, but will spend a significant period of time embedded in the host organisation to conduct the research.
It is recognised that great value can be obtained by researchers being embedded within their host by virtue of exposure to a different organisational culture. Virtual or hybrid embedding models are also permitted under this opportunity. The approach should be agreed by the researcher and host in advance and be appropriate to the project opportunity.
Embedded researchers will play a key role in bridging between academics, decision-makers and practitioners. The role may focus on independent research and may also entail signposting to relevant information, collaboration with other embedded researchers and development of additional knowledge brokering mechanisms for example, learning labs.
The successful researchers will be based within their host organisation while undertaking their project. This may be on a full or part-time basis, as agreed for what is appropriate to the project opportunity and all parties. For example, set working pattern or days may be agreed between the researcher and host.
If virtual or hybrid ‘in person’/virtual approaches are undertaken these may be flexible throughout the project’s duration. By being embedded, the researcher will establish a good understanding of day-to-day working, drivers, decision-making contexts and knowledge needs of both sides as well as barriers to action.
By working with both host organisation colleagues and academics, the embedded researchers will have the opportunity to gather relevant data and information, working collaboratively to generate new knowledge, synthesise and communicate findings to promote learning across the relevant science, business and policy domain.
Funding will be awarded as a research grant to the researchers employing university/institution and profiled across 12 months. The anticipated start date of projects is 1 November 2021. However, individual starts date at the host organisation, duration and working pattern of the placement should be flexible and negotiated between the researcher and host organisation as appropriate to each opportunity.
Scope
The exact length of deployment within the host organisation can be negotiated between the applicant and host within the budget allocated for each project but must be no more than 12 months.
The central objectives of the programme, as outlined in the Science Plan are:
- characterising and quantifying climate-related risks
- managing climate-related risks through adaptation
- co-producing climate services.
It is strongly recommended that all applicants read the UK Climate Resilience Science Plan in advance of applying.
Any area relating to climate resilience in the UK is eligible for this scheme. Applications are encouraged from environmental, social and governance; tourism; insurance and finance sectors.
Linking researchers and hosts
Each embedded researcher will have a lead contact person within their host organisation with whom they will collaborate to guide the development of a work plan with flexibility to allow researcher to follow emergent opportunities for the host, as well as their academic ambitions (for example, presentations at conferences, writing papers). Coordination, guidance and support will be provided through regular meetings (virtual and face-to-face) to develop agreed activities, outputs and reports. Support will also be provided by the UK Climate Resilience champions.
Organisations interested in participating in the embedded researcher scheme are now invited to submit research pitches to the champion team (champion@leeds.ac.uk) who will collate these and publicise them to potential applicants through their website and social media. No more than two ideas can be submitted by each organisation at this pitch stage.
The final deadline for submitting research pitches is 28 May 2021.
Pitches should provide information about:
- person to contact to find out more
- interest in climate resilience (200 word limit)
- motivation for being involved in the scheme (200 word limit)
- ideas for research topics or knowledge brokering activities (300 world limit).
Researchers interested in applying to the scheme are advised to visit the UK Climate Resilience website to view the research ideas proposed by host organisations
Forming relationships through the UK Climate Resilience website is not a requirement of the opportunity. Embedded researchers can work with a host that they either already know or form a new relationship through a different route should they wish to. Equally, hosts are not required to submit a pitch as this is not an obligatory step, it only aims to maximise the opportunity where necessary.
Scheme funding
Each researcher (via their employing academic research organisation) can apply for up to £87,500 (UKRI will fund 80% of this, i.e. £70,000).
The host organisation is responsible for all other costs of hosting the applicant, including training, equipment and consumables. Details of the host organisation’s contributions should be included in the applicant’s project partner letter of support, with the host being named as a project partner. This should include details of any direct financial and in-kind support to the project.
Linking to other UK climate resilience activities
It is envisioned that there will be the opportunity to enable sharing of practice across the cohort of embedded researchers funded through this opportunity for example, through meetings and a final workshop to synthesise emerging experience and insight on the knowledge intermediary role for climate resilience across the different embedded researcher contexts. This will be supported by the UK Climate Resilience champions.
During their placement, successful embedded researchers may also be expected to collaborate with other activities funded through the UK Climate Resilience programme where appropriate.
