Further Information

This is a community led project – if you have a good idea then please let us know! Also, if the barriers to engaging are too high, again, please let us know. We might not be able to address them in the scoping trial, but we need to address challenges of a future large-scale infrastructure.

Who should I work with?

The themes above all involve interactions between different groups. We recognise that this can be a barrier, so we are happy to act as a “matchmaking” service. Should you have a project proposal in mind but are unsure who to collaborate with, prior to application, please contact us (see details below) with a brief outline of your proposal, stating that you wish to be partnered with a suitable collaborator.

We are also putting a ‘shop window’ of facilities on the PhenomUK website, but this is an ongoing process and is not yet complete.

What can be funded?

We want to know the costs associated with operating a distributed phenotyping facility, so need details of all operating costs. Therefore, details should include:

• Infra-structure access and running costs.
• Associated consumables.
• Time for technical expertise to conduct measurements/training (e.g. Research Technical Professionals).
• Transport (of people and equipment – including insurance) and accommodation.

Ineligible costs: Large items of equipment, activities performed outside the UK.

In your application you should provide a full cost breakdown. Costs can include academic staff time at 80% FEC and 100% for everything else.

How much can I apply for?

We have deliberately not set a limit – but we expect most projects to be in the range £5,000-£50,000 (but we can consider smaller or larger projects). If your project is too expensive, we will discuss with you whether a smaller version would still be useful. Note that to be funded a phenotyping installation must provide details of their facilities for inclusion on the PhenomUK site in the form of ‘shop-window’ summary and a completed facilities questionnaire.

What’s the timescale?

The deadline for this round of funding is 5pm 22 nd January 2024. All pilots must be completed, and funds claimed, by 31 st December 2024.

We expect most projects to last 3-4 months – but that might vary depending on the specific activity.

Who can apply?

You need to be based at a UK academic or research institution. Your team could contain academic staff, research technical professionals and early career researchers.

How do I apply?

Please fill in the proforma below – one for each project partner. You then need to send this to PhenomUK (see contact details below)

If you have any queries or questions, please contact us.

Download Proforma

How are decisions made?

The PhenomUK management board will review applications and let you know the outcome as soon as we are able. If we think the project needs amendment, then we will discuss this with you.

We expect that demand will exceed the funding available, but the number of applications in different areas will help define demand for different activities that can be addressed in the full infrastructure bid.

What will I need to deliver?

• A short report which discusses the challenges and successes met by all members of the pilot and any lessons learned. We want to hear what went well, what issues arose and how they might be overcome. To be submitted to enquiries@phenomuk.org.
• A representative from the project to come to a PhenomUK meeting and tell others how it went.
• Datasets need to be made available freely online within a reasonable period. Ideally this will be FAIR but we recognise that this can be challenging for phenomics data at present.

The data generated within the trial is your own. We would encourage publication and further grant applications, but this is at the discretion of the participants.