The NIHR Southampton BRC Open Day will take place on Tuesday the 5th of May 2025 and will be held in person at St Mary’s Football Stadium, Southampton. The event will showcase research from across the BRC and its partner organisations, highlighting the breadth and impact of our ongoing work. Register to attend

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Competition Outline 

 

We invite Early Career Researchers (ECRs) from UoS, UHS and affiliated organisations to submit an abstract and postcard for consideration. This includes postgraduate research students, pre- and post-doctoral researchers and clinical academic trainees.

 

ECRs are strongly encouraged to submit an abstract for the opportunity to present their work during the dedicated ECR hour at the Open Day and to communicate their research to a broad scientific and public audience.

 

ECR Session Format and Submission Details

 

The BRC Capacity & Capability team will be chairing an ‘ECR Hour’ as part of the day’s agenda. Winning abstract submissions will be invited to orally present their work within this time as outlined below:

 

• The top 3 abstracts will be awarded £700 (1st winner), £450 (2nd winner) and £200 (3rd winner) prize. All three winners will deliver 8-minute oral presentations and have an additional 2 minutes for questions.

 

Up to 15 shortlisted applicants will be invited to take part in a ‘Research by Postcard’ contest where they will be able to showcase their research to the day’s audience. Postcards will be submitted at the same time as their completed application form.

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• As part of the submission requirements for this call, participants will design a double-sided A5 postcard.

  • Front: a visual representation of their research (e.g. infographic, schematic, graphical abstract, or outline illustration).

  • Back: An accessible, lay English description of their work in a maximum of 150 words written for a non-scientific audience.

  • Postcards must be formatted using the postcard template and submitted in PPTX format. Shortlisted postcards will be printed for you.
     

Postcard presenters will also deliver a short 1-2minute verbal pitch during the second half of the ECR session supported by a single slide to briefly explain and expand on the research shown on their postcard. The three highest-scoring postcard presentations, judged on the day, will each receive a £50 prize in recognition of presentation quality and scientific merit.

 

This structure of the ECR hour is designed to support both scientific communication and public engagement.

 

Eligibility

 

Only ECRs (as defined above) are eligible to submit abstracts. Senior researchers or those acting as principal investigators will not be considered.

 

Abstract content

 

Abstracts should consist of the following:

• Title

• Full names of co-authors

• A scientific abstract (maximum 300 words) structured as:

• Background

• Aims

• Methods

• Results

• Conclusions

• A lay summary (maximum 150 words) describing research for a non-scientific audience

 

Abstract selection criteria

 

The following criteria will be considered as part of the abstract selection process:

• Scientific quality

• Completeness of the project

• Quality and clarity of results

• Appropriateness of sample size and study design

• Evidence of suitable statistical analysis where relevant

• Clarity and structure of writing

• Accessibility of the presented research to a non-scientific audience

 

Intellectual Property

 

Please note that this is an open meeting. Information that may form part of future patent applications or commercially sensitive data should not be included. Applicants must ensure they have permission from their supervisor before submitting an abstract.

 

How to apply

 

Only research undertaken within the BRC and/or collaborative organisations should be submitted.

 

To apply, please submit:

 

• A completed application form using the link provided here: Abstract Contest MS Form

• A completed postcard formatted using the requirements above sent to BRC-applications@uhs.nhs.uk

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Deadline for applications

 

Friday 20th March  at 12:00 PM

 

Please note that applicants will be selected by the beginning of April.

 

For questions regarding eligibility or submission, please contact Beckie Miles, BRC Capacity & Capability Manager: rebecca.miles2@uhs.nhs.uk

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