Imperial has recently undertaken a body of work to highlight the crucial role of quality-related research funding.
Quality-related funding, or QR for short, is awarded to universities on the basis of their results in the Research Excellence Framework exercise. As Imperial President Professor Hugh Brady outlined in his President's Address, QR funding is the envy of the world and is the largest source of investment in the second pillar of the UK's 'dual-funding' research system.
The largest stream of QR is unhypothecated in nature, which means that universities can utilise the funding to pursue new and groundbreaking research, to make vital investments in facilities and research infrastructure, or to create more research roles across departments and faculties.
To highlight the impact at Imperial, Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise), has launched an initiative to showcase some of the examples of research across campuses that have been enabled by QR. A new 'Imperial QR' logo has been developed, which is now deployed in physical signage within some of the facilities supported by QR funding, and in digital form in screens across campus. Further information on the initiative, and selected examples of how the funding has driven work at Imperial, can be found on our dedicated new webpage.
Developing world-class research and infrastructure
The Future Vaccine Manufacturing Research (FVMR) Hub is a multidisciplinary international consortium focused on developing disruptive vaccine manufacturing technologies for deployment in low- and middle-income countries in order to reduce costs, increase availability and accelerate the public health response to emerging threats. During the Covid-19 pandemic FVMR research led directly to the trials of the first self-amplifying RNA vaccines for SARS-Cov-2.
"Through this initiative, we want to show the crucial nature of this unique funding stream in driving world-class research at Imperial. QR is an essential part of our research funding mix and is the foundations on which we stand." Professor Mary Ryan
FVMR Hub activities at Imperial were underpinned by QR funding, including the support of a senior lecturer in vaccinology who was central to the clinical assessment of these next generation vaccines.
QR funding enabled Imperial to purchase a Faraday Cage, an enclosure to block electromagnetic fields from interfering with highly sensitive microscopy equipment in Imperial's Centre for Cryo Microscopy of Materials facility.
This Centre was established by a £10.3m grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), creating a globally unique facility for characterisation of environmentally sensitive materials for the energy transition. Without our ability to purchase the Faraday Cage from QR funding, in addition to further refurbishments of Imperial facilities, the Centre would not be able to fully deliver on ambitious goals.
Supporting Imperial's early-career research community
QR funding provides Imperial with the opportunity to offer Imperial College Research Fellowships (ICRF) to some of the most outstanding early-career researchers. Available to post-doctoral researchers from inside and outside of Imperial, these fellowships intend to support individuals to establish their independent research careers and act as a springboard towards permanent lectureships.
Dr Agi Brandt-Talbot was awarded an ICRF in 2017, after she had initially joined Imperial to study for her PhD in the Department of Chemistry and Life Sciences. Her research focuses on the creation of low-cost renewable materials, and efficiently recycle them, to support the creation of a truly circular economy.
"The ICRF gave me the ability to learn important skills to become a research group leader – helping to reduce the gap in my transition to group leader and lectureship roles at Imperial." Dr Agi Brandt-Talbot Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Materials Chemistry
During her ICRF award, Dr Brandt-Talbot co-founded a spinout company called Lixea, which invented a new innovative method for producing valuable and sustainable biochemicals. The flexibility of the fellowship allowed Dr Brandt-Talbot to not only undertake the research that is related to the company's technology but also meet with and discuss Lixea with investors and contribute to key strategic decisions as a company director, which was pivotal to the success of the company's 2019 funding round. Lixea has since gone on to establish a pilot manufacturing plant for their patented technology process.
Dr Mirabelle Muûls was awarded an Imperial Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the previous name for ICRF, at Imperial College Business School following postdoctoral work in the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment. The JRF award allowed Dr Muûls to collaborate with colleagues across Imperial's faculties, creating lasting relationships and opportunities to learn from senior academics.
"Being awarded a Junior Research Fellowship enabled me to advance into an academic career while raising young children, in a field where most economists typically transition directly into tenured positions." Dr Mirabelle Muûls Associate Professor of Economics
Dr Muûls' research focuses on the economics of climate change, seeking to understand the impact of climate change policies and climate change on firms' emissions, innovation, and performance. Her research also explores the determinants of households' energy demand flexibility.
The JRF award provided her with valuable training to prepare for a future career as a lecturer, as well as the independence to establish her research autonomously. Dr Muûls is now a Co-Director of the Hitachi-Imperial Centre for Decarbonisation and Natural Climate Solutions, driving research in the transition to net-zero pollution, and a Co-Director of the new Climate, Energy and Sustainability School of Convergence Science.
