Early-career researchers

Information for ECRs

The BOU has a long history of supporting early-career researchers (ERCs), defined as those who are currently students or within five-years of their last degree.

We offer ECR support in a number of ways, including via reduced subscription rates, Small Research Grants, Career Development Bursaries, Member Conference Attendance Grants, and our Undergraduate Summer Placement Scheme. So, there are a range of funding opportunities for you to undertake your own research and broaden your research experience.

ECRs sit on many of our committees, ensuring that what we deliver is relevant to the whole ornithological research community.

Join the BOU from just £20

Your own personal subscription to IBIS and a host of other benefits from just £20! What are you waiting for!
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Career Development Bursary scheme

The BOU offers funding for your research project. Whilst our long-standing Small Research Grant scheme is open to everyone, our Career Development Bursary scheme is only open to BOU ECR members.
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Small Research Grant scheme

Our small grant scheme provides funding up to £2000 per application and is open to all members. PhD students can apply for funding from this scheme if the project is to make up a distinct chapter of their thesis.
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Member conference attendance grants

We fund our members to attend key international ornithological meetings to present their work, encouraging low-carbon travel.
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Undergraduate summer placement scheme

Providing financial support for undergraduate students, studying at any UK higher education institute, to carry out small summer ornithological research projects.
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Reduced rates for BOU conferences or even come for free!

We offer reduced rates and even some free places to BOU ECR members!
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Presenting at BOU conferences

ECRs are encouraged to present at our conferences. Find a conference you’re interested in and submit an abstract!
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Submit a paper to Ibis

Around 60% of the research we publish in IBIS is by early-career researchers, so we are often the first journal early professional researchers submit to.

Coupled with our 5* promotion of our own published articles on social media and priority access to #theBOUblog, we ensure your published paper gets seen.
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BRANTA – the BOU Register of Avian Thesis Abstracts

Anyone who is about to undertake, is working on, or has submitted either a Doctoral or a Masters thesis on an ornithological topic anywhere in the world is invited to submit an abstract for inclusion in BRANTA.
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Get involved!

Do you want to do more with the BOU? Contact us . . .