Before you start
Research collaborations often start with an existing relationship between researchers, whether that be a former PhD student, colleagues in the same field, or networks developed at conferences. The important thing to remember when building an international team, is that the members have the relevant skills and expertise to justify to the funder why your team is the best to lead on the proposed research. Questions to think about:
- Have you identified a research question and have you co-designed this with your international partners? This will be vital to ensuring not only that the project is successful, but that it can be delivered.
- Have you conducted a literature review, and are you confident that this is a novel idea?
- Have you decided on your methodology and do you have the right configuration of disciplines to answer your research question?
- What scale of funding will you need to complete the project?
- Is your collaborating partner the best person/institution to collaborate with in this field? Do they complement your expertise?
- If this is a new collaboration, do you understand the cultural, political, economic, social context in which your collaborator is working?
FAQs
What if I don’t have an existing contact and want to identify an overseas collaborator?
Contact the Global Research Development Team: internationalresearcher@leeds.ac.uk
How do I scale an existing relationship with researchers in my home country or at a previous institution?
You should speak to your Director of Research and Innovation (DoRI) or Head of School (HoS) in the first instance, to make sure that this is a priority for the School/Faculty and that they are supportive of you building this into your workload.
Where do I start when developing a new interdisciplinary research collaboration?
If you need support bringing colleagues from different disciplines together to develop new ideas, you should contact the Horizons Institute.
How do I know if there are risks associated with travel to a particular country?
Check FCDO travel guidance: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice .
How can I check if there are potential security or reputational risks arising from my international collaboration?
Read the guidance on the staff intranet: Trusted Research.
How do I find out more about the research priorities in a particular country?
Your collaborators will be key to this, but there is a wider context the team needs to understand. To find out more about where the UK government is likely to invest in bilateral opportunities, you should consult the Science and Technology Network (STN). You should also consider frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and priorities set out by international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).
What is an MOU and do I need one?
An MOU is a Memorandum of Understanding. It is not legally binding and is different to the contracts that may need to be put in place once funding has been awarded. Leeds does not require an MoU as a condition of international collaboration, but your international partner may request one. If they do you should read the guidance from the International Office available on the staff intranet:
I have assembled my team; where can we find appropriate funding opportunities?
Refer to the resources in the Knowledge Base: Funding your research.