2025 FUNDING CALL

Outline proposals call for 2025-26 Psi-k activities

Psi-k  is a worldwide network of researchers working on the advancement of  first-principles computational materials science. Its mission is to  develop fundamental theory, algorithms, and computer codes in order to  understand, predict, and design materials properties and functions. Key  activities of Psi-k are the organization of conferences, workshops,  tutorials and training schools as well as the dissemination of  scientific thinking in society [Excerpt from the mission statement at http://psi-k.net/].

Psi-k typically funds schools (1-2 weeks), workshops (2-3 days), international conferences (2-5 days), and codes/methods tutorials  (3 days-1 week), with a focus on electronic-structure methods,  developments, and applications. Funding is of the order of  4,000/8,000/12,000 €, depending on size and duration (as a guideline, 30  €/expected participant/day); Psi-k funds around 20-30 activities for  every call (see here http://psi-k.net/workshops/  for the 2024-25 activities). The average funding amount for 2024-25 activities was around 5,000 € per event.

We particularly encourage activities that benefit PhD students and early career researchers, as well as the ingenious development of remote delivery methods where appropriate, to widen the benefit of our activities to groups where the cost of in-person attendance may be a barrier.

We have a two-step application process to simplify and streamline applications, elicit more original proposals, improve planning, and avoid duplication of efforts. The present call for outline proposals is for events that will take place between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026. Activities proposed to take place between 28 July 2025 and 26 September 2025 will not be supported due to the proximity to the Psi-k Conference 2025 in Lausanne (25-28 August 2025).

Outline proposals should be SUBMITTED ONLINE  by Monday 22 July 2024 (midnight UK time), describing the planned event (download a draft of the form to see a preview of the questions that you will be asked here). Psi-k Working Groups (http://psi-k.net/groups ) and Trustees (http://psi-k.net/admin/ )  will either approve this outline proposal for full submission, reject it,  or suggest a merger between different activities – you are very welcome  to contact the relevant Working Group leaders or members beforehand.

Feedback will be provided the week of Monday 16 September 2024.  Outline proposals that have been approved or mergers that have been successfully negotiated will then be invited to submit a full proposal by Monday 14 October 2024. These proposals will then be  evaluated and approved – with full or partial funding – or declined at  the meeting of the Trustees, Scientific Advisory Committee (http://psi-k.net/scientific-advisory-committee/) and Working Group leaders on Friday 22 November 2024.

The evaluation of the outline proposals and full proposals will be based on

• the relevance to the Psi-k mission statement;
• the scientific quality of the proposal;
• the intellectual inclusivity, geographical spread and diversity of the proposed participants, including efforts to widen participation beyond established groups;
• the scientific merit, geographical spread and diversity of the organizers; and
• the appropriateness of budget

NOTES

• in case of events that can interest different Working Groups please name the primary Working Group and then any related groups
• if the event does not relate to any current Working Group, applicants should contact in advance Psi-k at [email protected].

 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Financial Support from the Psi-k Charity
If the funding for your event is provided by the Psi-k Charity you will receive 80% of your allocated financial support before the workshop takes place and the remaining 20% after the event.

The invoice for the initial 80% of your funding can be sent at any time before the start of your event. In order to claim the 80% payment you will need to send an invoice to:

Psi-k
SciTech Daresbury
Warrington
WA4 4AD
UK

Electronic copies of invoices are acceptable and can be emailed to Pankaj Pathania.

After the workshop has taken place you will need to submit the following information:

1. A report of your event as a single PDF document. This should include a short summary, the programme, the abstracts of the presented papers, and the list of participants. You may optionally include photographs from the event. An example of what is required can be seen here. Please note that as we transition to a new website, your report should not be submitted to the website as was the case in previous years, but rather you should email it to Pankaj Pathania. Please use the naming convention: <surname-of-main-organiser>_<short-event-title>_event-report.PDF for your file. Please also ensure that you include the following information in the body of your email: Name, affiliation and email address of the workshop organiser, workshop title, start and end dates, and location.
2. A completed finance report (templates for Excel, Word, and PDF) which should be emailed to Pankaj Pathania. Please use the naming convention: <surname-of-main-organiser>_<short-event-title>_finance-report.PDF for your file.

Only upon completion of these reports will the remaining 20% of the funds be released. Once your reports have been approved you will then need to send another invoice to the address above, or by email to Pankaj Pathania.

Questions about workshop funding from the Psi-k Charity should be addressed to Pankaj Pathania.

Psi-k Logo for Advertising

Please feel free to download a copy of the Psi-k logo to include on workshop advertising, conference material or web sites.
[Logo designed by Michiel van Setten, UC Louvain]

LARGE

MEDIUM

SMALL