Call for Fighting Blindness Career Development Award 2026 (Ireland)

Deadline: 26-Oct-2026

The Fighting Blindness Career Development Award provides funding of up to €1,500 to support early-stage researchers and clinicians working in vision research. The award is designed to help emerging professionals strengthen their skills, gain international experience, present their research, and build research collaborations. Established by Fighting Blindness, the Career Development Award supports professional development activities such as training courses, laboratory-based technical training, conference participation, workshops, and international networking opportunities. Funded activities must take place between January 2027 and December 2027.

About the Fighting Blindness Career Development Award

The Career Development Award aims to foster the growth of early-stage researchers and clinicians involved in vision research. The award focuses on professional development and international engagement, helping researchers access opportunities that can strengthen their research skills, broaden their professional networks, and support collaboration across institutions and countries. How Much Funding Is Available? Successful applicants can receive a maximum total award of €1,500. The funding can be used toward eligible expenses associated with approved professional development and research-related activities, including: - Registration costs. - Travel expenses. - Accommodation. - Subsistence costs. - Activity fees. Applicants should ensure that their requested funding is directly connected to the eligible activity they intend to undertake. What Activities Can the Award Support? The Fighting Blindness Career Development Award supports several types of professional development and international engagement. Training Courses Funding can support attendance at official training courses, whether they are delivered in person or virtually. These opportunities can help early-stage researchers and clinicians develop knowledge and skills relevant to their vision research careers. Laboratory-Based Training Applicants may use the award to undertake training in another laboratory to learn specific research techniques. This provides an opportunity to gain practical experience and develop technical skills that can contribute to ongoing or future vision research. Conferences and Workshops The award can support applicants who want to present their research at national or international conferences and workshops. Conference participation can help early-career professionals communicate their findings while engaging with researchers and clinicians working in related areas. International Networking and Collaboration Funding can also support participation in international networking and collaboration activities. These activities are intended to encourage professional connections and international engagement among people working in vision research. Who Is Eligible to Apply? Eligibility is specifically focused on early-stage researchers and clinicians working in vision research.

Eligible applicants include:

- PhD students working in vision research. - Early-career postdoctoral researchers working in vision research. - Early-career clinicians working in vision research. Applicants should ensure that they fall within the relevant early-career category and that their proposed activity is connected to vision research. When Must the Funded Activity Take Place? The activity supported by the award must take place during the 2027 calendar year. Eligible activities must therefore occur between: - January 2027 - December 2027 Applicants should plan their training, conference, laboratory, networking, or collaboration activity within this period. What Costs Can the Award Cover? The maximum award of €1,500 may contribute toward eligible costs associated with the funded activity.

These include:

- Registration fees. - Travel. - Accommodation. - Subsistence. - Activity fees. The award is intended to facilitate professional development and international engagement rather than provide general research funding. How to Prepare a Strong Application Applicants should clearly explain how the proposed activity will contribute to their professional development in vision research.

A strong application should demonstrate:

- The applicant’s early-career status. - Their involvement in vision research. - The activity they intend to undertake. - Why the training, conference, laboratory placement, or networking opportunity is relevant. - How the activity will strengthen their research or clinical development. - How the funding will be used. - That the activity will take place between January and December 2027. Applicants requesting support for international activities should also clearly explain the value of the international engagement or collaboration to their career development. Why Apply for the Career Development Award? The Fighting Blindness Career Development Award provides early-stage professionals with financial support to access opportunities that may otherwise be difficult to undertake.

The award can help recipients:

- Develop specialist research skills. - Learn techniques in another laboratory. - Present research at conferences and workshops. - Participate in official training courses. - Build international professional networks. - Develop research collaborations. - Strengthen their early research or clinical career. With funding of up to €1,500, the award can provide targeted support for a specific professional development opportunity. Key Facts About the Fighting Blindness Career Development Award

- Maximum funding: €1,500

- Field: Vision research

- Eligible applicants: PhD students, early-career postdoctoral researchers, and early-career clinicians

- Purpose: Career development, training, conference participation, and international engagement

- Training: Official in-person or virtual courses

- Laboratory training: Training in another laboratory on specific techniques

- Conference support: National and international con