STFC: Gravitational Waves consolidated grants: 2024

21/03/2024

06/08/2024

Apply for funding to support gravitational waves research. STFC provides support for the gravitational waves programme through consolidated grants, which were first introduced in 2010. Each university Institution (or equivalent sub-unit with the university) may submit one consolidated grant proposal per subject area every three years. This grants round will consider consolidated grant requests in the ground based gravitational waves subject area, with a specific focus on activities within the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. Where more than one department/group at a university is involved in the same subject area a single consolidated grant proposal should be submitted. All activities funded within this funding opportunity must meet STFC’s revised remit for Gravitational Waves research. The current total allocated budget for the 2024 gravitational wave consolidated grant round is up to £10 million (including £300,000 for capital equipment) subject to future spending review settlements.

Requests can be made for the following activities: research and development (R&D) for current programme: R&D for the current LIGO programme which supports the continuous improvement, optimisation and development of the existing LIGO detectors. This requires a focus on the LIGO programme but may also be of benefit to next generation detectors operations: maintenance and operation of detectors to ensure continuity of observation and improved level of sensitivity of observations (including detector characterisation). This includes on site detector support and shifts undertaken by UK groups, as well as provision of computing resources for gravitational wave searches and parameter estimation exploitation: exploitation activities within the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (such as, modelling tools, data pipeline development, signal processing, data analysis within the collaboration). This list is not exhaustive, and other areas that align with LIGO Scientific Collaboration programme may be eligible. Please contact STFC if you want to discuss this further before submitting your application.

Eligibility Note Researchers employed by UK institutions eligible for UKRI funding are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity. Please note that each university institution (or equivalent sub-unit with the university) may submit one consolidated grant proposal to this funding opportunity. Groups from different institutions working collaboratively in the same well-defined research area may apply for a consolidated research grant as a consortium. This is intended to allow members of such consortia the opportunity to bid for shared resources, that they might not otherwise be able to secure on their own, perhaps due to the size and/or scope of their activity. This requires the submission of a single application by the lead research organisation on behalf of the consortium. Where successful, the lead research organisation will be responsible for distributing the agreed funding to consortium partners.