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Each week this section will list funds available for academic researchers. Details should be submitted to research@thesis.co.uk

NATURAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA

Visiting Fellowships in Canadian Government Laboratories

This program provides promising young scientists and engineers with the opportunity to work with research groups or leaders in Canadian government laboratories and research institutions. The number of awards varies according to the budgets of participating departments and agencies. To apply, submit an application for an NSERC scholarship or fellowship (Form 200), which is available from the Visiting Fellowships Office, NSERC, Ottawa, Canada K1A 1H5. There are no deadlines for application to this program; applications are processed and reviewed as they are received. Applicants registered in a doctoral program should apply within six months of the expect completion date of the program. Only one application can be made in a one-year period. Doctoral degree must be obtained in the natural sciences or engineering from a recognized university within the past five years. Application will be accepted from those who are currently enrolled in a doctoral program; however, applicants are expected to complete all requirements for the degree within six months of submitting an application.

NATURAL

ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

Marine Microbial

Biodiversity: Assessment and Exploitation

Marine Microbial Biodiversity is a new 5 year thematic programme. Its aims are: to develop and use new techniques to define microbial interactions in the marine environment; to assess the ecological role of these interactions; and to investigate their potential for biotechnological exploitation. Phase I of the programme is directed at two main areas, with science funding of around Pounds 3M: Innovative microbiology, including: novel culturing systems; new approaches to microbial consortia and interactions; and novel microbial physiology - Microbial ecology, including: microbial diversity (taxonomic, functional and genetic); biogenic gas production and fate; microbial community analysis; biogeochemical cycles and theoretical studies. Outline proposal deadline: October 11. Applicants may wish to discuss their ideas with the Acting Science Coordinator, Dr Phil Williamson (tel. 01793 411636; email: pwil@nerc.ac.uk), before submitting their outline bid. Contact the Programme Administrator, Dr Lisa Hole (tel: 01793 411536; Email: l.hole@nerc.ac.uk), if you have any general queries. Information on application procedures, including application forms and regulations are available on the NERC Awards and Training website: /awards/. Full applications (developed from the shortlisted outline bids) will need to be submitted by February 1, 2000.

EUROPEAN

COMMISSION

Programme of Community action on the prevention of AIDS and certain other communicable diseases (1996 to 2000). The Programme, covering a five-year period, has been allocated a budget of 49.6 million euro. The Commission now calls for the actions to be implemented under the programmes, covering the following four areas: Surveillance and monitoring of communicable diseases; Combating transmission; Information, education and training; Support for persons with HIV/AIDS and combating discrimination. Priority will be given to projects involving public bodies and/or non-governmental organisations able to demonstrate sufficiently their competence in the field concerned.

Deadline: 15 September 15. For further information, please contact: European Commission, Programme "AIDS and other communicable diseases", DG V/F/4, Batiment Jean Monnet, Plateau du Kirchberg, L-2920 Luxembourg; Fax +352-4301-33248 All correspondence concerning this call for proposals must state the reference number VP/19996/006.

THE NATURAL

HISTORY MUSEUM

Bioresource

Through the European Commission's Training and Mobility of Researchers (TMR) Programme, funds have been made available to provide access to European researchers to undertake short visits to utilise the facilities of The Natural History Museum and its associates for research purposes. Visits of up to three months are permissable. Deadline: September The application form can be downloaded from the website or requested from: Research & Consulting Office, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD; Fax: 0207 942 5841

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Deep Space Systems Program including Europa Orbiter, Pluto-Kuiper Express, and Solar Probe

This Announcement Of Opportunity will solicit proposals for investigations that require the

development of space flight instruments on the three different missions.

In addition, the AO will solicit scientific participation as a member of

facility science teams for the Europa Orbiter mission. Deadlines for the three missions will be staggered at approximately 90 day intervals: December 10, 1999 (Europa Orbiter), March 9, 2000 (Pluto-Kuiper Express), and June 6, 2000 (Solar Probe).

Participation is open to all categories of organizations, US and non-US, including educational institutions, industry and non-profit-organisations. Specific guidance for proposal preparation will be available via the website. Further information about Europa Orbiter and Pluto-Kuiper Express can be

obtained from Dr. Jay Bergstralh, Research Program Management Division, Code SR, Office of Space Science, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC, 20546-0001, USA; Email: (jay.bergstralh@hq.nasa.gov); Tel: 1 (202) 358-0313. Further information about Solar Probe can be obtained from Dr. W. Vernon Jones, Research Program Management Division, Code SR, Office of Space Science, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001; Email: Vernon.Jones@hq.nasa.gov; Tel: 1 (202) 358-0885.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Hepatitis C virus research

As part of the Department of Health's Policy Research Programme on health and personal social services, the Acting Director of Research and Development invites proposals for research on hepatitis C in the following areas: a) Intravenous drug users; b) Clinical impact and implications of co-infection with other types of hepatitis virus. A total of up to Pounds 0.5 million is available for this research programme. To receive a detailed research brief and application form write to: Mr Tim Elliott,Department of Health, Research and Development Division, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LW or email telliott@doh.gov.uk Deadline: noon, September 17.

BRITISH ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Smalll ecological project grants

SEPGs are given to promote all aspects of ecological research and ecological survey. The grant had been extended to enable ecologists to travel from the UK or Eire to a third country, or vice versa, for the purposes of research where alternative sources of funding are inadequate. They are given to people and not to organisations. Support will not normally be given to projects forming part of an expedition proposal as these are covered by Expedition Grants. Although threatened habitats provided the impetus for the SEPG scheme, the scheme has now been widened to include any ecological project. The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) is keen to support small pilot projects, in which cases the grants are viewed as pump priming, hopefully being instrumental in obtaining larger grants from other organisations. Value of the award: up to Pounds 1,000 for travel and up to Pounds 1,000 for other costs.Applications for over Pounds 1,000 must be accompanied by two referee statements. Application forms are available on the website or contact: British Ecological Society

26, Blades Court

Deodar Road , Putney

London SW15 2NU;

Tel: 0181 871 9797; Fax: 0181 871 9779;

Email: general@ecology.demon.co.uk

Deadlines: January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.

WALES OFFICE OF R&D FOR HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Social Care Research & Development Small Grant Scheme 99 -

call for proposals

The programme is designed to provide information for the development of policies and services in relation to social care in Wales. All projects must demonstrate how they will help to address the issue of social inclusion. The Wales Office of R&D wishes to commission projects on: identifying models of effective social care interventions; identifying effective structures for the provision of social care; identifying effective models of inter-agency working; identifying the needs of carers and effective responses to address those needs. Each proposal will need to demonstrate collaborative arrangements between researchers and service providers. Deadline: September 17. For an application pack contact: Wales Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care, 4th Floor, Hallinans House, 22 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF2 1DB; Tel: (01222) 460015; Fax: (01222) 492046; Email: word@word.wales.nhs.uk

BRITISH COUNCIL,SPAIN

Acciones Integradas Programme

The Acciones Integradas Programme is designed to increase collaboration between research groups in the UK and Spain. Approximately Pounds 400,000 is currently available each year to support the exchange of people between research groups in the UK and Spain working in related fields as part of an agreed collaborative project between groups in publicly funded research and higher education institutions. Funding is provided only to initiate collaboration; it is expected that subsequent funding will be sought from other sources, in particular the European Union. The Acciones Integradas Programme Grants make a contribution towards international travel and accommodation costs. There are no subject priorities for selected projects, but in the past approximately 85 per cent of the funds have been spent within science and engineering disciplines. Application forms can be downloaded from the website, or contact the Science Department at The British Council, Paseo General Martinez Campos, 31, 28010 Madrid, Spain; Tel: 00 34 91337 5031/ 3559; Email:

science@es. britcoun.org Deadline: October 15.

Funding listings are compiled by Sarah Knowles 0171 782 3225 Email: sarah.knowles@ newsint.co.uk