The British Mass Spectrometry Society

Charity Number: 281330

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

Stay updated on changes from The British Mass Spectrometry Society and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £317,679
  • Annual Expenditure: £311,386
  • Success Rate: 58% (Research Support Grants - historical data)
  • Decision Time: 6 weeks (Research Support Grants)
  • Grant Range: £150 - £6,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK-based, with support for international members from low and middle-income countries
  • Charity Number: 281330

Contact Details

Overview

The British Mass Spectrometry Society (BMSS) is a registered charity founded in 1964 that promotes the science of mass spectrometry through meetings, courses, and educational activities. With an annual income of £317,679 and expenditure of £311,386, BMSS provides financial support primarily aimed at younger members studying or in the early days of pursuing a career in mass spectrometry as well as for members new to mass spectrometry. The organisation encourages participation in all aspects of mass spectrometry on the widest basis, promotes knowledge and advancement in the field, and provides a forum for the exchange of views and information. BMSS is committed to ensuring equal opportunities and reflecting the diversity of the society as a whole. Over the past decade, BMSS has been instrumental in developing the case for UK-wide mass spectrometry infrastructure, with backing from more than 40 higher education institutes and 35 industrial partners.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Summer Studentships (Applications open annually, deadline typically 31st January)

  • £3,500 maximum per studentship (6-8 weeks)
  • Joint programme with Chromatographic Society (ChromSoc)
  • Approximately 4 BMSS-funded projects plus up to 2 ChromSoc-funded projects annually
  • Includes complimentary 5-year BMSS/ChromSoc membership, free annual meeting registration, travel grant, and complimentary Introduction to Mass Spectrometry course

Research Support Grants (Annual call typically opens 1st January, deadline typically 10th April)

  • Up to £6,000 per grant (annual budget capped at £12,000 total)
  • Matched funding viewed favourably
  • Decisions normally within 6 weeks of deadline
  • One grant per PI per 12-month period

John Beynon Travel and Conference Fund (Rolling basis, first-come-first-served)

  • Maximum £400 per applicant
  • Applications must be submitted at least 4 weeks before travel
  • One application per person per calendar year
  • Funds typically allocated early in the calendar year

Carers Support Grants (Year-round, first-come-first-served)

  • Typically up to £150 per application (higher amounts by request)
  • One application per calendar year
  • Covers costs of care incurred while attending scientific meetings

Frank Pullen Scholarship (Annual)

  • Supports remote/digital attendance at BMSS annual meetings
  • For members from low and middle-income countries
  • Honours Professor Frank Pullen's legacy of widening participation and outreach

Priority Areas

  • Undergraduate research experience in mass spectrometry and chromatography
  • Pump-priming data for grant applications
  • MS-relevant collaborations and training visits
  • Mass spectrometry taster visits for new users
  • Instrumentation updates, repairs, and new developments
  • Industry-academic partnerships
  • Travel and conference attendance for students and early-career researchers
  • Widening participation from underrepresented communities and low/middle-income countries
  • Supporting carers and parents to participate in scientific meetings

What They Don't Fund

Research Support Grants explicitly exclude:

  • Summer studentships (separate programme)
  • Conference travel (covered by John Beynon Fund)
  • PhD research
  • Salary support
  • Personal payments to Principal Investigators
Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for The British Mass Spectrometry Society?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save hours and increase your success rate.

Learn more >

Governance and Leadership

The British Mass Spectrometry Society is managed by an Executive Committee consisting of Officers and General Members who also serve as Trustees. The organisation is led by 13 trustees and supported by 5 volunteers.

The Executive Committee consists of 10 officers: Chair, Vice-Chair, General Secretary, Treasurer, Education Officer, Publicity Secretary, Papers Secretary, Meetings Secretary, SIG Coordinator, and Digital Communications Officer, along with General Members and Co-opted Members.

Current committee membership details are available on the BMSS website.

How to Apply to The British Mass Spectrometry Society

How to Apply

Summer Studentships:

  • Supervisors submit 3-page applications via email to admin@bmss.org.uk
  • Deadline typically 31st January
  • Applications reviewed by BMSS Advisory Board and ChromSoc representatives

Research Support Grants:

  • Maximum 3-page document submitted to admin@bmss.org.uk
  • Annual call typically opens 1st January
  • Deadline typically 10th April

John Beynon Travel and Conference Fund:

  • Apply at least 4 weeks before travel
  • Applications via General Secretary: gensec@bmss.org.uk
  • First-come, first-served basis

Carers Support Grants:

  • Apply before attending the event (retrospective applications not accepted)
  • Year-round on first-come, first-served basis
  • Application link available on the grants page

Frank Pullen Scholarship:

  • Annual call (check website for specific dates)
  • For members from low and middle-income countries

Decision Timeline

  • Research Support Grants: Decisions normally within 6 weeks of the April deadline
  • John Beynon Travel and Conference Fund: First-come, first-served (apply at least 4 weeks before travel)
  • Carers Support Grants: First-come, first-served (payment within 30 working days of expense submission)
  • Summer Studentships: Decisions following the January deadline

Success Rates

  • Research Support Grants: Historical data from 2012 shows 58% success rate (7 funded out of 12 applications totalling £13.5k)
  • The scheme was reviewed and closed in 2015 but has since been reinstated with updated parameters

Reapplication Policy

  • Late reports may negatively affect chances of future applications for any BMSS funding
  • Research Support Grants: Generally one grant per PI per 12-month period
  • John Beynon Travel Fund: One application per person per calendar year
  • Carers Support Grants: One application per calendar year (January-December)

Application Success Factors

BMSS provides specific evaluation criteria and guidance for applicants:

For Summer Studentships, the selection committee evaluates:

  • Mass spectrometry and/or chromatography content
  • Relevance to current topics
  • Novelty of the project
  • Clear deliverables
  • Student development opportunities
  • Student experience quality
  • Matched funding (viewed favourably)

For Research Support Grants:

  • Matched funding looked upon very favourably
  • Must demonstrate how the grant supports small research endeavours
  • Clear project timeline with dates
  • Institutional approval or supervisor sign-off
  • Must include detailed budget breakdown
  • Projects that generate pump-priming data for larger grant applications are prioritised
  • Industry-academic partnerships are encouraged

Key Application Requirements:

  • Membership Standing: Research Support Grants require 12 months BMSS membership; Summer Studentships and John Beynon Fund require 3 months; Carers Grants require 3 months
  • Reporting Obligations: All programmes require post-award reports (2,000-2,500 words for Research Support Grants, 2-3 pages for Summer Studentships, travel reports for others)
  • Timely Submission: Late reports harm future funding prospects across all BMSS programmes
  • Employment Status: Supervisors must be full-time employees or have full-time collaborator coverage

Common Reasons for Rejection (based on programme guidelines):

  • Applications from supervisors submitting more than one application per round (Summer Studentships)
  • Retrospective applications (John Beynon Fund, Carers Support Grants)
  • Applications requesting funding for excluded items (PhD research, salaries, conference travel under Research Support Grants)
  • Insufficient membership standing at time of application

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Membership is Essential: Join BMSS well in advance (12 months for Research Support Grants, 3 months for most other programmes) to ensure eligibility
  • Matched Funding Matters: Both Summer Studentships and Research Support Grants explicitly favour applications showing matched funding from other sources
  • First-Come, First-Served Programmes Fill Quickly: The John Beynon Fund typically allocates its budget early in the calendar year; apply early for best chances
  • Reporting Compliance Affects Future Applications: Late or missing reports from previous awards will harm your chances for future BMSS funding - this is explicitly stated
  • Focus on Career Development: BMSS prioritises supporting students, early-career researchers, and those new to mass spectrometry; applications should emphasise developmental benefits
  • Industry-Academic Collaboration: Research Support Grants encourage partnerships between industry and academia
  • Plan Around Decision Timelines: Research Support Grants have a 6-week decision timeline from the April deadline; factor this into your project planning
  • Read Requirements Carefully: Each programme has specific exclusions and eligibility criteria; ensure your project aligns before applying
  • Acknowledge BMSS: All funded recipients must acknowledge BMSS in presentations/publications using their logo
  • Submit Complete Applications: Missing institutional approval, supervisor letters, or budget details will likely result in rejection

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get 2 free AI applicationsLearn More

References

Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know