Funding
There are several initiatives that provide financial support that for women at every stage of their career in Computer Science. This can range from funding to attend workshops or conferences, to assisting the return from longer-term absences (such as maternity leave), and funding to support early career research.
Students
Scholarships
We are keen to support the application for scholarships that promote women in Computer Science.
Examples of scholarships for women include:
- The Google Women Techmakers Scholars Program (formerly Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship Program).
Research Grants
- Daphne Jackson Fellowships help scientists return to work after a break of 2 or more years.
- These can be supported 50% by a University of Leicester scheme. It is the university's aim to offer two such fellowships every year.
- The Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship Aimed at outstanding scientists at an early career stage, who require flexible working due to personal circumstances, such as parenting or caring responsibilities.
- L'Oreal UK and Ireland Fellowships for Women in Science, fellowships aimed at outstanding female postdoctoral researchers. Provides £15,000 of flexible financial support for 5 postgraduate researchers. Applications for 2018 have now closed; we await details of the 2019 round which should be released in November 2018.
- Travel and Conference Grants
ACM-W Scholarships for Attendance at Research Conferences - Six annual deadlines depending on the conference dates.
Google EMEA Travel and Conference Grants for Women in Technology - Up to 1000 EUR towards travel and accommodation costs.University Funding
Events
There are many events to support women in Science (both within academia and industry). Organisations such as WISE provide regular listings.
To apply for departmental support to attend an event for women in Computer Science, please email, giving details of the event and the costs that you would like covered. Funding is not restricted to women, but a clear interest in women’s issues must be demonstrated.
Examples of such events include:
- Target Jobs IT's not just for the boys - Career event for female students in STEM subjects.
- ACM_WomENcourage - ACM Celebration of Women in Computing. Offers participation scholarships, opportunity to present posters, Hackathon, workshops, and career fair.
- ACM-W UK Inspire Conference - Identity, Impact, and Voice. Aims to encourage careers of women in STEM employment and higher education.
- Lovelace Colloquium - Annual one day conference for Women students of Computing and related subjects.
- London Hopper Colloquium - Annual event for Women in Computer Science; includes the Research Spotlight Competition for female MSc and PhD students to communicate their research in 3.5-minute presentations.
- OxFest - Oxford Society promoting and supporting Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology. Annual conference on gender equality in STEM subjects.
Staff
Carer’s Conference and Training Fund
It has been identified by staff that attendance at external conferences and events and training can pose difficulties for those with caring responsibilities. With this in mind a fund has been identified to which those with caring responsibilities can apply for a small budget (£100 maximum) to fund, for example: additional childcare costs incurred by attending an external training event (which impacts their usual caring responsibilities); contribution to the additional cost of a partner/relative and child joining a member of staff at a conference to provide childcare support.
The funds aims are to:
- Assist those unable to attend external training and conferences due to carer commitments which will require additional financial support.
- Enable continued attendance at external training and conferences which may prove difficult with caring responsibilities.
- Assist staff to sustain effective networking opportunities outside the university.
- Support staff with caring responsibilities to continue interaction, networking and collaboration at a national and (where funds allow) an international level.
This initiative is open to all staff.
HMRC have clarified that such payments are tax exempt. See the Athena Forum website for the full statement.