The British Mass Spectrometry Society

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

• Website: www.bmss.org.uk
• Email: admin@bmss.org.uk
• Phone: +44 (0)1606 810562
• General Secretary: gensec@bmss.org.uk

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 organization 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 Programs

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

• £3,500 maximum per studentship (6-8 weeks)
• Joint program 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 (2026 call opens: 1st January, deadline: 10th April)

• Up to £6,000 per grant (annual budget capped at £12,000 total)
• Matched funding viewed favorably
• 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
• Budget for 2025 is fully allocated; reopens January 2026

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
• Honors 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 program)
• Conference travel (covered by John Beynon Fund)
• PhD research
• Salary support
• Personal payments to Principal Investigators

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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 organization is led by 13 trustees and supported by 5 volunteers.

Current Officers

• Chair: Dr Andrew Ray (AstraZeneca)
• Vice-Chair: Dr Mike Morris (Waters Corporation)
• General Secretary: Dr Mark Barrow (University of Warwick)
• Treasurer: Dr Rhodri Owen (Swansea University)
• Education Officer: Dr Andrea F. Lopez-Clavijo (Resolian)
• Publicity Secretary: Dr Krisztina Radi (Protein Metrics Inc.)
• Papers Secretary: Dr Liam Heaney (Loughborough University)
• Meetings Secretary: Dr Kat Hollywood (University of Manchester)
• SIG Coordinator: Dr Chris Titman (Waters Corporation)
• Digital Communications Officer: Dr Jonathan Jones (Genedata)

Non-Executive Officers

• Immediate Past Chair & Chair of Advisory Board: Professor Neil Oldham (University of Nottingham)

General Members

• Professor Caroline Dessent (University of York)
• Dr Adam King (Waters Corporation)
• Dr Aneika Leney (University of Birmingham)
• Dr Patrick Sears (University of Surrey)
• Dr Frank Sobott (Leeds University)

Co-opted Members

• Dr Dan Lane (University of Leicester)
• Dr Meng Li (University of Warwick)
• Dr Sally Shirran (University of St Andrews)

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Summer Studentships:

• Supervisors submit 3-page applications via email to admin@bmss.org.uk
• Deadline: 31st January 2026
• Applications reviewed by BMSS Advisory Board and ChromSoc representatives

Research Support Grants:

• Maximum 3-page document submitted to admin@bmss.org.uk
• 2026 call opens: 1st January 2026
• Deadline: 10th April 2026

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 10th 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 31st January deadline (timeline not specified)

Success Rates

• Research Support Grants: Historical data from 2012 shows 58% success rate (7 funded out of 12 applications totaling £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 favorably)

For Research Support Grants:

• Matched funding looked upon very favorably
• 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 prioritized
• 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 programs 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 programs
• Employment Status: Supervisors must be full-time employees or have full-time collaborator coverage

Common Reasons for Rejection (based on program 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 programs) to ensure eligibility
• Matched Funding Matters: Both Summer Studentships and Research Support Grants explicitly favor applications showing matched funding from other sources
• First-Come, First-Served Programs Fill Quickly: The John Beynon Fund's 2025 budget was fully allocated; apply early in the calendar year 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 prioritizes supporting students, early-career researchers, and those new to mass spectrometry; applications should emphasize 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 program 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

References

• BMSS Official Website -
• BMSS Grants Page -
• Summer Studentships Program -
• Research Support Grants -
• John Beynon Travel and Conference Fund -
• Carers Support Grants -
• Frank Pullen Scholarship -
• BMSS Committee Members -
• BMSS About Us -
• BMSS Constitution -
• UK Charity Commission - Charity 281330 -
• British Mass Spectrometry Society - Wikipedia -