EPSRC-WES Opportunity to Support Ambassadors for Women in Engineering

Funding will provide up to 15 researchers with the benefits of Women’s Engineering Society (WES) membership for 12 months.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has partnered with the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) to support researchers with strong motivation to foster equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the engineering research and innovation landscape. The opportunity will provide the applicant with all of the benefits of a WES membership, as well as closer engagement with EPSRC on EDI, and in particular gender issues in engineering.

The initiative aims to promote understanding of gender issues and intersectionality in engineering, and support researchers who wish to become EDI ambassadors in their networks. The awardees are expected to work independently and as a cohort to set an agenda for their personal and collective goals as members of WES, and to advocate creatively for gender inclusivity and equality in engineering, EPSRC and WES.

Applicants must be able to describe how the benefits of this opportunity will help them develop their career, networks etc that would otherwise not be possible. There should be a clear indication of how the membership will be used, such as events that the applicant will attend or involvement in a mentorship scheme, etc.

Eligible applicants will be researchers in an engineering field. Applicants must also be eligible to apply for a WES full membership, although applications are welcomed from investigators who identify as any gender.

Applicants must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding. They must be resident in the UK and meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Be employed at an institution eligible for UKRI funding at a level equivalent to lecturer or above.
  • Hold a fixed-term contract that extends beyond the duration of the membership and the host research organisation is prepared to provide all the support normal for a permanent employee.
  • Be an EPSRC, Royal Society or Royal Academy of Engineering fellowship.
  • Hold fellowships under other schemes (applicants should contact EPSRC to check eligibility, which is considered on a case-by-case basis).

EPSRC will award up to 15 WES memberships. WES provide their members with a number of benefits including mentorship opportunities, access to a network of women engineers, opportunities to apply for bursaries and awards, as well as being able to serve on the WES council.

The remaining funds will be made available to the cohort as a small flexible shared pot. These funds could be used to cover costs for events or activities organised by the cohort and related to their membership.

Applications should be submitted by the 4 May 2023 (16:00) deadline.

(This report was the subject of a ResearchConnect Newsflash.)