The Talented Researcher Programme (TRP) is part of the INSPIRE initiative from the British Council which aims to increase the sharing of ideas, knowledge and expertise  through international research and teaching collaboration between the UK and selected countries in the Central & South Asia Region: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

The purpose of the Talented Researcher Programme is to support early stage researchers, aimed mainly at doctorate and post graduate level students. It aims to equip individuals with valuable skills they need to build international research careers, sustain research networks and to encourage international collaboration.

Inspire and the Prime Minister’s Initiative (PMI2) are jointly offering a workshop will be held in February 2010 on ‘Building a successful international research career’.  It aims to provide a development opportunity for early-stage researchers and will include:

- Inter-cultural communication for the purpose of collaboration

- Project management for sustainable international collaboration

- Tips and techniques in bidding for external sources of funding

- Strategic skills: influencing, negotiating, presenting and embedding international partnership impact across your institution

- Techniques in developing and maintaining international networks

An early stage researcher must have:

• (in the UK only) either obtained a doctoral qualification or be within 12 months of obtaining a doctoral qualification

• no more than six years overall active researcher experience

• no more than two years full tenure in a current tenured position

Early-stage researcher applicants are invited from universities which have a link between the UK and Central and South Asian countries which is participating in either INSPIRE or PMI2 programme.

For those universities with existing PMI2 links, the offer is also open for Senior Researchers, as well as early-stage researchers. A separate application form for Senior Researchers should be downloaded from our website.

The selections will be based primarily on researchers’ interests and motivation for developing their international careers, and a commitment to disseminating the skills learned during the workshop through cascade trainings for other early stage researchers within their own country. Where applicable, priority will be given to applicants who have finished their PhD between one and three years before the date of the workshop, but this is not an essential criterion for application.

Workshop expenses

The British council will cover all the training, travelling accommodation and meal expenses for the workshop duration in the UK.

Application deadline is Friday 11th December 2009

Download guidelines here

Download application form (for researcher/junior researcher/research student) here

Download application form (for senior researcher for PMI2 link universities only) here

Download CV template here

Please send your completed application and supporting documentation to:  Inspire@britishcouncil.org

For queries regarding applications please contact your local British Council office:

UK – Christopher Leighton – +44 (0)161 957 7420 - Christopher.Leighton@britishcouncil.org

Pakistan – Nishat Riaz - +92 (51) 111 424 424 (Ext: 5226) – Nishat.riaz@britishcouncil.org.pk

Bangladesh - Omar Faruque – +88 028618905-7 - omar.faruque@bd.britishcouncil.org

Afghanistan - Julia Cave Smith – +93 (0)790 000 120 - Julia.cavesmith@britishcouncil.org

Kazakhstan –Ulpash Kanzhigalina - +7 727 720207 - ulpash.kanzhigalina@kz.britishcouncil.org

Uzbekistan - Shukrat Amanov – +998 (71) 1400660 - shukrat.amanov@britishcouncil.uz