VALIDATE Fellowships
**Round 4 is now closed**
The VALIDATE Network aims to accelerate vaccine research and development for three groups of complex neglected intracellular pathogens that cause significant mortality and morbidity throughout the world, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs): Mycobacteria (causing tuberculosis, leprosy and other diseases), Leishmania (causing leishmaniasis) and Burkholderia pseudomallei (causing melioidosis). A second, important aim of the VALIDATE Network is to facilitate career progression for its members, particularly Early Career Researchers (ECRs), and (recognising career progression inequity) researchers from LMICs and researchers identifying as female and/or non-binary.
To support these aims, we are running a VALIDATE Fellowships 2024 call. The VALIDATE Fellowships will fund two years’ independent scientific research, with the aim of producing initial/pilot data and a funding and experience track record that can be used by the Fellow to go on to obtain independent external funding and launch their career as a Principal Investigator and/or Group Leader.
The Fellow’s proposed research must be scientifically excellent, and fall within the VALIDATE remit. Any aspect of research that will accelerate development of an efficacious vaccine for our focus pathogens is eligible, including biological, physical and social sciences, and humanities.
Applicants must:
- Be an Associate member of VALIDATE
- Not have received a prior VALIDATE Fellowship
We strongly advise you to get input and seek help/guidance from more experienced Senior Scientists in your institute to review, and help you improve, your application prior to your submission. Ensure your application is focused, has clear objectives that are achievable within the timeframe, and that your hypothesis and methods are scientifically rigorous. You may need Institution/finance approval sign off for your application so ensure you leave plenty of time to obtain this prior to the call deadline.
Fellowships are via competitive application to the VALIDATE Network Management Board (NMB). Please submit your application form and associated documents as one pdf document by 4pm GMT on the closing date to the Network Management Team at VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk.
It is important that you read the further details about this award and how to apply, in our Resources section below, and follow this guidance. Do contact the VALIDATE Team (VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk) with any further queries. There will be an online Q&A session about this Fellowship call on 17th January 2024 at 1400 GMT (recording here).
Please note that successful VALIDATE Fellows will be invited to present their project plans at the 2024 VALIDATE Annual Meeting (costs to attend will be covered by VALIDATE) – so please hold the date in your diaries!
Please contact VALIDATE Executive Manager, Sam Vermaak, at VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk with any queries about the grant call.
LMIC Support
To encourage and support LMIC applications to this call, VALIDATE is offering the following to LMIC-based applicants:
- VALIDATE can connect you with a grant writing mentor who will support you with your grant planning and writing. Please register your interest in this support by emailing VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk by 31 January 2024.
- If English is not your first language, we may be able to offer translation services, if this would be helpful – contact VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk to find out more.
Resources
UK Government information on ODA strategic objectives
List of LMIC countries
Recording of call Q&A seminar on 17 January 2024
Fellowship call deadlines
Round 4 (open):
Call opens: 8 January 2024
Q&A seminar: 17 January 2024 at 1400 GMT
Call closes: 8 April 2024 (1600 UK time)
NMB review meeting: 7 May 2024
Interview: tbc (May 2024)
Fellowships start: June/July 2024
Round 3 (closed):
Call opens: 20 Sept 2021
Call closes: 15 Nov 2021 (4pm UK [BST] time)
NMB review meeting: Dec 2021
Interview: 15 Dec 2021
Fellowships start: Jan 2022
Round 2 (closed and awarded)
Call opens: 5 February 2018
Call closes: 30 April 2018 (4pm UK time)
NMB review meeting: June/July 2018
Interview: July/Aug 2018
Fellowships start: Sept/Oct 2018
Round 1 (closed - no grants awarded) - 2017
