EPSRC Capital Award for Core Equipment 2020 University of Birmingham

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The University of Birmingham's strategic vision, Birmingham 2026, is to grow research activity and to achieve this through investment in brilliant people, outstanding facilities and strong collaborative networks. Our goal now is to do more and better research, tackling the great challenges of our day, breaking new ground and making important things happen.The University of Birmingham has put in place a robust and transparent process for the allocation of the EPSRC Capital Award for Core Equipment. We propose to invest in 8 different items spanning the breadth of research themes aligned to EPSRC remit across the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) at Birmingham. We will invest in upgrades to existing equipment (PCB Plotter, Nanoscribe, cryo equipment for trapping highly charged ions), procurement of items new to Birmingham (Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar, Vicon motion capture system, LumenX grayscale bioprinter, isothermal titration calorimeter) and a state of the art magnetic particle tacking system unique to the UK research community. As well as investing in our research capabilities we seek to prioritise benefit to early career researchers, helping to promote a culture of collaboration, internally and externally.Prof Constantinos Constantinou (Director of Research, EPS), having responsibility for the equipment strategy, is the project's Principal Investigator. Each item of equipment has a Co-Investigator who has responsibility for that specific item, from procurement through to utilisation including training. Technical support is specific to each item and delivered locally. The success of the equipment will be monitored through usage and other metrics such as initiation of new collaborations, grant applications, journal papers, conference presentations, industry user engagement and teaching related activities (PhD, MSc or UG projects). Again, the Co-Is will lead on their respective equipment.