ARO Travel Fellowships

Deafness Research UK has committed a provisional sum to support attendance at the ARO midwinter meeting.

The deadline for applications was Friday 26th October 2007.

NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED.

Prioritisation of applications

The scheme has now established itself and is very popular with the auditory community, with the result that it attracts increasing numbers of applications. In order that Deafness Research UK can make a significant contribution, some applicants are not successful each year and, in order to maintain transparency, the following criteria were developed to guide the decision making process.

First priority

2nd and 3rd year PhD students and postdoctoral research fellows

These are the young scientists that are at the stage of their career when they will most benefit from the breadth and depth of the ARO midwinter meeting. The meeting acts as a showcase for their research work at a time when they are looking for their next career move.

Second priority

Other PhD students

In the past, no applications were possible from first year PhD students as the abstract deadline was usually the day of commencement of their research. It is now the case that as a result of Wellcome funding, some students in their first year may be continuing a research project from the previous year and therefore have data to present. Given the number of applications and the limited budget such applications will only be funded when funds are available.

Third priority

Established researchers

The low priority reflects the fact that established researchers often have other possible sources of funding. However, applications for top-up funds or even full support will be considered where appropriate. All such cases are considered on merit.

Fourth priority

Those who have received a Deafness Research UK ARO Travelling fellowship in the immediate past

If funds are available there is no reason why support from Deafness Research UK should not be awarded in successive years. However, if the scheme continues and continues to attract the level of applications it has in previous years (which seems likely) we would not expect to be able fund an individual (or group where this has been the funding mode) in successive years.

Where there is flexibility possible, it is the intention to spread the funding as widely as possible across the UK hearing community.