research fellowship | Cash for Questions: Research funding, policy and development

A version of this article first appeared in Funding Insight in May 2026 and is reproduced with kind permission of Research Professional͘. For more articles like this, visit www.researchprofessional.com

From obvious red flags to hidden weaknesses

Research funding is a contest, not a test. Apart from a few schemes that use partial randomisation, it’s not about reaching a required standard, it’s about being ranked ahead of others and above the line at which funding runs out. Funding is not an unlimited good like a driving license or a PhD viva where your outcome in the morning has no impact on my chances in the afternoon. No, it’s a limited good, like an Olympic medal. And we can’t all have one.

[A version of this article first appeared in Funding Insight in January 2023 and is reproduced with kind permission of Research Professional͘. For more articles like this, visit https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com ]

Tips on overcoming modesty to present your achievements in the best light

Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in Gilligan and Gould’s ‘Better Call Saul’ (2015) and Gilligan’s ‘Breaking Bad’ (2008)

Talking ourselves up or self-promoting is difficult for most people. But there are ways to make it a little bit easier and do it a little bit better without nearly cringing to death. Some involve writing techniques (of which more later) but others involve ways of thinking that may give you permission to write about yourself.

Tag: research fellowship

Signs of an uncompetitive proposal

The hard sell is hard