Applications open for Summer Studentship Programme 2021

We are pleased to announce we now accepting applications for the FRAME Summer Studentship Programme 2021.

Our Summer Studentship Programme focuses on supporting undergraduates to undertake research projects in an area relating to the development of alternative methods. Launched in 2019, the popular Programme provides grant funding for students looking to undertake a summer research project.

Projects often include laboratory work but might also take the form of social science research into behaviour and policy influences on uptake and barriers to achieving change. These projects may not have been planned as an alternative to the use of laboratory animals but should have the potential to advance knowledge or techniques which will help lead to the replacement of animals in research.

Summer Studentship Programme 2021

The annual Summer Studentship awards are offered for any relevant project that will help with the development or implementation of human-relevant scientific methods and/or support the replacement of animals in research and testing. This might include the development of practical laboratory methods or computational techniques; the testing of novel ideas or proof of principle projects; in vitro model development; desk-based research, reviews, or surveys; meta-analysis or systematic reviews; or tools for education or knowledge sharing.

The proposed projects must have the potential to be carried out and completed this year under the current pandemic restrictions. Please consider this before applying for a Summer Studentship grant.

2021 Studentship details

• Two studentship awards will be available for Summer 2021.
• Duration: 6 – 10 weeks
• Stipend: £250 per week
• Consumables & research costs: Up to £1000 maximum.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 30 May 2021. Click here to find out more about the eligibility and application requirements, and to view and download the application form.

2020 Studentship projects

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we were still keen to support undergraduate research projects. Lockdown meant that many grants for practical research projects had to be postponed, as students and supervisors were unable to carry out laboratory work. To ensure we could continue to support students, we decided to redirect the funds during 2020 to allow applications for desk-based research projects and reviews only.

We were pleased to receive a number of interesting applications for our revised grant call and to be able to award three grants due to the reduced costs associated with the desk-based projects.

The funded projects were:

• The use of animal models in respiratory diseases research – Martina Bonassera from Cardiff University.
• Single species testing in pharmaceutical drug development – Caterina Dixon from the University of Cambridge.
• Academic attitudes towards the use of GM (genetically modified) animals – Gréta Utassy from Cardiff University.

Find out more about the 2020 FRAME Summer Studentship Programme projects.