Research Development and Support team

Our ambition

To provide an integrated, cradle-to-grave support service to our science and projects teams. Our expertise includes identifying and developing new business and research opportunities, supporting the pre- and post-award stages of research grants and postgraduate study, managing large European funded projects, and managing science facilities & laboratories in the UK and the Polar Regions.

The Bonner Laboratory aquarium at Rothera Research Station, Antarctica

Our activities are designed to meet our strategic priorities to grow and diversify research income, to support the effective allocation of science resources and enable access to scientific facilities.

We undertake outward-facing activities to promote our facilities and support capabilities to UK researchers. We guide the development of national and international partnerships for delivering UK polar science. We support the UK Arctic and Antarctic Partnership to provide strategic leadership in polar science.

Team priorities

Seeking Opportunities and Developing Partnerships

• Seek opportunities to increase and diversify our funding for research and innovation
• Guide the development of national and international partnerships for delivering UK polar science
• Manage national and international programme coordination offices, such as the NERC Arctic Office and Antarctic Funding Office
• Provide advice and guidance on how researchers can access NERC/BAS polar facilities
• Administer and support pre- and post-award stages of research grant proposals

Supporting and Coordinating Research in the Arctic – NERC Arctic Office

• Guide and support the UK Arctic science community in developing national and international partnerships and scientific collaborations, and in accessing polar infrastructure & logistics
• Represent UK in international Arctic forums and promote UK Arctic research
• Manage, with BAS Operational Teams, the UK Arctic Research Station at Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard
• Manage NERC’s Arctic Research Programme

Managing Research Projects

• Manage European funded Programme and Project offices
• Provide resource management information and tools to meet our requirements for research portfolio management, planning and financial reporting

Supporting Postgraduate Research

• Manage our Postgraduate Research Programme
• Administer our NERC-funded Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs)
• Organise transferable skills training for students, and training for supervisors

Supporting Science Teams

• Provide administrative support to our science research teams
• Provide support and training in using the UK Shared Business Services (SBS) and Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) systems for travel, procurement, expenses and staff management activities
• Assist in organising and running meetings and scientific conferences

Managing Science Facilities and Providing Technical Support

• Manage a range of BAS science facilities, laboratories and specimen collections in Cambridge UK, Antarctica and on NERC/BAS ships
• Provide a range of analytical and technical services, health & safety guidance and best practice to support our science research teams, students and collaborators

1. Opportunities for Antarctic research – apply now

   Applications to carry out small-scale research projects in the Antarctic in the 2023/24 season are invited from UK-based researchers through the Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS). The Collaborative Antarctic Science […]

   Read more of: Opportunities for Antarctic research – apply now

   

2. PhD opportunities with British Antarctic Survey in 2022

   Applications for PhD projects with British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are now open for October 2022 admission. BAS currently supports over 100 PhD students, working on a huge variety of projects. […]

   Read more of: PhD opportunities with British Antarctic Survey in 2022

   

3. Opportunities for Antarctic research – Apply now

   Applications to carry out small-scale research projects in the Antarctic in the 2021/22 season are invited from UK-based researchers. The Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS) provides fieldwork opportunities for scientists […]

   Read more of: Opportunities for Antarctic research – Apply now

   

4. Do your PhD with British Antarctic Survey in 2021

   Applications for PhD projects with British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are now open for October 2021 admission. There are currently over 100 PhD students associated with BAS, working on a huge variety […]

   Read more of: Do your PhD with British Antarctic Survey in 2021

   

5. Opportunities for Antarctic research 2020 – Apply now

   Applications to carry out small-scale research projects in the Antarctic in the 2020/21 season are invited from UK-based researchers. The Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS) provides fieldwork opportunities for scientists […]

   Read more of: Opportunities for Antarctic research 2020 – Apply now

   

6. PhD projects for 2020

   Applications for BAS PhD projects are now open for 2020 admission. There are currently over 100 PhD students associated with BAS, and nearly half of these students work full time […]

   Read more of: PhD projects for 2020

   

7. Opportunities for Antarctic research – Apply now

   Applications to carry out small-scale research projects in the Antarctic in the 2019/20 season are invited from UK-based researchers. The Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS) provides fieldwork opportunities for scientists […]

   Read more of: Opportunities for Antarctic research – Apply now

   

8. Call for Arctic ship-based research proposals

   Deadline for proposals 5 July 2018

   Read more of: Call for Arctic ship-based research proposals

   

9. Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme – Applications invited

   Applications are invited for the Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS) for Antarctic fieldwork in the 2018/19 field season. The closing date is 5th March 2018. CASS provides opportunities for UK-based […]

   Read more of: Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme – Applications invited

   

10. BAS scientists at 2017 COP23 climate event in Bonn

    This week (10-11 November) leading scientists and experts from EU-funded research programmes engage with political leaders from the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic to examine the economic and social consequences […]

    Read more of: BAS scientists at 2017 COP23 climate event in Bonn

    

11. On the ice opportunity for PhD students and Early Career Researchers

    16 PhD students and Early Career Researchers have a unique opportunity to gain practical skills for working safely and effectively in the polar regions.

    Read more of: On the ice opportunity for PhD students and Early Career Researchers

    

12. NEWS STORY: Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme

    Application deadline approaches The deadline for applications from researchers to the Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme, CASS (formerly known as the Collaborative Gearing Scheme, CGS) is just under three weeks away, […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme

    

13. NEWS STORY: Priorities for Antarctic science

    In April 2014, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) brought together scientists and policy-makers from 22 countries to agree future Antarctic research priorities. Through discussions, debate and voting, the […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: Priorities for Antarctic science

    

1. SHIP BLOG: Rhythm of the night

   Oh look it’s snowing/raining and getting dark… it must be time for the Night Shift. I’m Hilary, the night shift leader on the SO-AntEco scientific cruise to the South Orkney […]

   Read more of: SHIP BLOG: Rhythm of the night

   

2. ANTARCTIC BLOG: meet Ali – Rothera’s lab manager

   I am sat gazing with child-like wonder through my office window at the huge snow-flakes falling outside and, despite the fact that the snowstorm is obscuring my usual spectacular view […]

   Read more of: ANTARCTIC BLOG: meet Ali – Rothera’s lab manager