Zinc builds research-rich, mission-focused start-ups that respond to big societal challenges. Our start-ups create new products and services intended to address unmet needs in Zinc's four mission areas to: improve mental health; support healthy ageing; unlock new opportunities for people in places hard hit by globalisation and automation; and reduce people’s negative impacts on the environment. Research and development is central to our approach and our R&D team is expanding and diversifying ways to promote the mobility of both people and ideas between academia and early-stage innovation.
First opportunity - a PhD placements scheme to run from early May to early August. We can accept applications to that from any student whose funding arrangements include support for an industry placement, and would love to increase the number of Arts, Humanities and Social Science students in the cohort (although students from any discipline may apply). Interns can apply either to work with one of our portfolio companies (all of which are working on issues to do with mental health, healthy ageing or the future of work), or to join Zinc's central R&D team in supporting ventures in the final phase of our current venture-builder mission to improve the mental and emotional health of children and young people. In either case, they will gain first-hand insight into and experience of what it takes to develop a research-led, mission-focused company from scratch, and to build “science-rich” products and services to address complex social problems. Their work will be fast-paced and creative, but research-led and with a strong emphasis on building evidence-based products that respond to social need.
Anyone interested can find much more information (including about applying) on our Workable platform: https://bit.ly/33VJVG4
For an informal discussion about the placements, students are very welcome to contact Dr Sal Malik - Salman@zinc.vc
Second opportunity - we're keen to recruit Arts, Humanities and Social Science scholars is the next round of the UKRI Healthy Ageing Catalyst Awards, for which Zinc is the delivery partner. These are open to researchers in any discipline who are interested in applying their research insights to the development of scalable products or services supporting healthy ageing. Further information is provided below.
£62.5k Funding opportunity for researchers interested in healthy ageing
UKRI and Zinc have announced the 3rd funding round for the Healthy Ageing Catalyst Awards. Researchers are encouraged to apply for this £62,500 (fEC) grant from UKRI and 9-month structured programme of support from Zinc, to translate their research into impactful and scalable products, services, and interventions that add quality to later life.
The call for expressions of interest opens on 1st February and closes on 22nd February 2022. You can access the expression of interest guidance, plus further resources here. If you have any questions, please visit zinc.vc/catalyst or email the team at catalyst@zinc.vc
