UKABCS Graduation Project Capacity Building Grants

UK Association for Biotechnology and Computational Science (UKABCS) Programme: Graduation Project Capacity Building Grants Application Window: 15 June – 15 July (one month, annually) Contact: Programmes-Grants@ukabcs.co.uk

1. Introduction

In light of the profound transformations currently shaping global academia and research, it has become clear that the future of science increasingly depends on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computational technologies across all disciplines. Research is no longer confined to traditional laboratories or costly experimentation; every researcher, university, and student must now acquire the computational skillset necessary to interpret results accurately, analyse data, and enhance scientific output.Against this backdrop, the UK Association for Biotechnology and Computational Science (UKABCS) is proud to launch the next cycle of its Graduation Project Capacity Building Grants. This initiative enables universities and higher education institutions worldwide to support senior undergraduate students in executing high-impact, computationally driven graduation projects. It represents a strategic step toward empowering the next generation of researchers and cultivating an academic culture capable of competing on the global stage.This new phase of the programme is launched following the outstanding success and impact of the first grant cycle. In its inaugural cycle, the grant was successfully awarded to prestigious institutions across the globe, including:

• Kordofan University (Sudan)
• Omdurman University (Sudan)
• Cairo University (Egypt)
• Capital University (formerly Helwan University) (Egypt)
• Basra University (Iraq)
• Al-Hujjah University (Yemen)
• Assiut University (Al-Azhar) (Egypt)
• Al-Azhar University (Egypt)
• University of Guadalajara (Brazil)
• And other partner institutions that participated in the initial capacity-building framework.

The expansion and restructuring of this grant program is based on a strategic proposal submitted by Dr. Nourhan Hassan, who serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) at the Faculty of Science, Cairo University. Dr. Nourhan is a highly distinguished scholar (holding a PhD with highest honors, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Münster, Germany, a postdoctoral researcher at the University Hospital of Cologne in the BIOMET4D project, a Falling Walls Young Talent awardee, and a Life Science Editors JEDI Award recipient in 2025). As a previous recipient of the UKABCS Capacity Building Grant, Dr. Nourhan proposed a comprehensive initiative to support, fund, and provide academic and industrial exemptions for graduation projects of undergraduate students across different universities. The proposal was reviewed and evaluated across various departments of the Association, receiving unanimous approval and prompting this structured expansion.The programme transforms traditional undergraduate graduation projects into structured scientific, computational, AI-assisted, and innovation-driven ecosystems. Each participating institution may enrol up to 20 graduation projects, with each project team comprising exactly 10 undergraduate students.

2. Vision of UKABCS

Through this initiative, UKABCS seeks to strengthen institutional academic and research capacity at the undergraduate level, foster cross-border scientific collaboration, and empower students across diverse disciplines. The programme aims to embed a new academic culture in which computational methods and AI become a natural extension of undergraduate research.The Association's vision is built upon:

• Embedding computational approaches as a core element of undergraduate graduation projects across all disciplines.
• Creating a sustainable academic environment that supports innovation and accelerates discovery from the grassroots university level.
• Enhancing international collaboration between universities and researchers across the Global North and South.
• Enabling non-profit organisations and scientific societies to benefit from the programme, ensuring inclusivity.
• Improving the quality of undergraduate scientific research outputs, positioning universities as globally competitive institutions.

3. Programme Benefits & Objectives

This programme represents a strategic investment in strengthening institutional research capacity by transforming traditional graduation projects into structured scientific, computational, and innovation-driven ecosystems. It is intentionally designed not only to enhance students' academic competencies, but also to ensure long-term scientific capacity building, employability, and sustainable knowledge transfer at the institutional level.Key objectives include:

• Enhancing research quality — improving the accuracy and scientific interpretation of undergraduate research through AI, computational methodologies, and digital scientific workflows.
• Reducing research costs — minimising reliance on costly laboratory experimentation through computational methods, cloud-based systems, and digital execution.
• Accelerating scientific discovery — shortening the research cycle from conception to dissemination, publication, and applied implementation.
• Institutional empowerment — embedding computational and AI-assisted expertise as a sustainable institutional capability.
• Global integration — enabling students to participate in international scientific environments and globally recognised research ecosystems.
• Bridging academia with employability — preparing students for scientific freelancing, research consultancy, software development, and scientific entrepreneurship.

4. Programme Structure — A Two-Phase Framework

(In alignment with UKRI transparency, research integrity, and accountability standards)To ensure full transparency and ethical governance, the Graduation Project Capacity Building Grant is intentionally designed as a two-phase structured framework. This ensures students are academically and technically prepared before entering the funded graduation project stage.

Academic Justification for the Prerequisite Phase

The grant program is strategically built around supporting graduation projects. However, to execute a successful, high-quality graduation project in computational science, bioinformatics, and AI, students must possess foundational scientific and computational skills. To bridge this knowledge gap, the preparatory training phase (Phase I) was established. It ensures that students are equipped with the necessary methodologies and technical skills to implement their graduation projects successfully, turning traditional projects into high-value scientific output. Students are accepted into the grant program from the very beginning, but their active grant status is contingent on completing this prerequisite preparatory training.

At a glance: Phase I — Mandatory Preparatory Training is non-grant-funded, independent, and a prerequisite. Phase II — Graduation Project Implementation is fully supported at no cost to accepted students.

Phase I — Mandatory Preparatory Training Programmes (Non-Grant-Funded)

Before entering the implementation stage, all participating students must complete, or be actively enrolled in, one of the approved preparatory training programmes selected according to their project pathway. This phase is mandatory, prerequisite, and independent from grant funding, and serves as an eligibility requirement for grant activation. The training is specifically designed for undergraduate students in their third (Junior) or fourth (Senior) year.The training phase prepares students in:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications for scientific research execution and optimisation.
• Computational methodologies and digital scientific workflows.
• Introductory Bio-Coding foundations using accessible Low-Code and Zero-Code systems.
• Scientific communication and participation in international research environments.
• Practical preparation for advanced graduation project execution.

Duration

• Standard Programmes: 3 months
• Scientific Research + AI Hybrid Intensive Programme: 5 months

Study Model — Full-time

• 5 study days per week
• Approximately 75 guided training hours
• Academic sessions and industrial supervision
• Continuous milestone monitoring and progress evaluation

Language of CommunicationAll scientific and professional communication is conducted in English, preparing students for international scientific meetings, conferences, research collaborations, and communication with foreign institutions and volunteer supporting companies.

Training Fees & Payment Policy

The preparatory training programmes form an independent phase, separate from grant funding, while remaining a mandatory prerequisite.

• Training fee: £100 per student, paid independently by the student.
• Recipient of Payment: All training fees are paid directly to the industrial partner, Bioinformatics Gate Egypt, for their educational services. No portion of these fees is paid to or received by the association (UKABCS).
• Flexible Installment Plans: To ensure the program is accessible and does not pose a financial barrier to participation, Bioinformatics Gate Egypt provides flexible installment options allowing students to pay in installments rather than a lump sum. This installment plan is a mandatory requirement set by the association.
• Project Administration & Hosting Fee: A flat fee of £20 to £25 per student is paid directly to the implementing partner, Bioinformatics Gate Egypt, for the project execution and supervision in Phase II (covering server hosting, domain setup, infrastructure, and technical coordination). It is paid solely to the executing company for these operational services, and is not paid by the student or the PI to register or apply for the grant itself. No portion of this fee goes to the association (UKABCS), ensuring full compliance with UKRI guidelines.
• Accepted grant participants receive a 25% Training Support Discount (resulting in a final training fee of £75 per student instead of £100) through an official UKABCS grant winner discount code.
• This discount represents a generous voluntary contribution toward student capacity building donated by our official Industrial Partner, Bioinformatics Gate Egypt.
• UKABCS extends its sincere gratitude to Dr. Nourhan Hassan for her leadership in proposing this training-integrated model, and to Dr. Esraa M. Shamekh, the Director of Bioinformatics Gate Egypt, who signed and approved the formal donation decision. This 25% discount is provided to encourage and support Dr. Nourhan’s vision, satisfying the mandatory requirement for an industrial partner to bring this capacity-building framework to life.
• This discount must not be interpreted as direct grant funding.

No grant application fees. No hidden costs. No association operational charges.

Phase II — Fully Supported Graduation Project Implementation

Following successful completion of the preparatory phase, students proceed to the graduation project implementation phase.Duration: 3 monthsImplementation Model — Full-time

• 5 working days per week
• Approximately 75 supervised execution hours
• Academic supervision and technical mentoring
• Milestone evaluation, scientific reporting, and project deliverables

Students pay zero implementation fees. Accepted teams receive access to a comprehensive in-kind support ecosystem (see Section 6).

5. The 5 Verified Faculty Training Programmes

(Delivered under the Bioinformatics Gate academic–industrial framework)The qualifying prerequisite programmes are structured under a comprehensive academic–industrial framework developed by Bioinformatics Gate Egypt and its industrial partners. All five programmes are mandatory preparatory pathways and serve as the required stage prior to grant activation. These pathways are specifically tailored for third-year (Junior) and fourth-year (Senior) undergraduate students to support their transition into high-impact research.This preparatory framework is designed to help students achieve four main outcomes:

1. Graduation Requirements & Faculty Verified Training: The training is structured to satisfy the official field/practical training (التدريب الميداني) standards of Egyptian and regional universities.
2. Exemption and Graduation Prerequisites: Upon successful completion, students receive a verified certificate that they can submit to their faculties to fulfill university graduation requirements.
3. Free Project Implementation: Once the prerequisite training phase is completed, accepted teams proceed to Phase II to implement their graduation projects completely free of charge.
4. Employability & Client Matching: The programmes qualify students for the scientific labor market by teaching them freelancing, research workflow, and analysis skills. Crucially, Bioinformatics Gate Egypt is committed to supporting graduating students by connecting them directly with international freelance clients (client matching) to start their professional careers.

Programme details, duration, fees, eligibility, and registration links are available through the official programme pages.To ensure clarity of outcomes and institutional alignment, the five programmes are organised into three categories, each with a distinct scientific and professional output.

Category I — Academic & Scientific Research Tracks

(Output: Scientific Poster + Publication)Focuses on computational scientific execution, AI-assisted research methodologies, and scientific analysis.Programmes:

1. Computational Drug Design & Analysis Services Programme
2. Applied Bioinformatics & Research Execution Programme

Expected outputs:

• International scientific poster
• Peer-reviewed scientific publication
• Scientific portfolio
• List of Analyses for future scientific service delivery
• Freelancing readiness in scientific analysis services

Students additionally learn: AI-assisted scientific execution, computational workflows, introductory bio-coding foundations, and scientific communication in English.

Category II — Scientific Product Development & Technical Innovation Tracks

(Output: Software / Web App / AI Tool)Focuses on transforming scientific knowledge into digital products and technical solutions.Programmes:

1. AI-Powered Scientific Product Development Programme
2. Advanced Scientific Freelancing & Client Delivery Programme

Expected outputs:

• Scientific software tool
• Web application
• AI scientific assistant
• Research automation system
• Technical scientific portfolio
• Freelancing and client-delivery capability

Students additionally learn: product prototyping, zero-code and AI-based system development, scientific digital entrepreneurship, and scientific workflow execution.

Category III — Scientific Research + AI Hybrid Intensive Track

(Output: BOTH academic + software)Combines scientific research and technical development in a single advanced pathway.Programme:

1. Scientific Research + AI Hybrid Track Programme

Duration: 5 months intensive trainingExpected outputs:

• International scientific poster
• Peer-reviewed scientific publication
• Scientific software tool
• Web application
• AI scientific assistant
• Research automation system
• Professional scientific portfolio

This pathway is designed for students seeking advanced interdisciplinary scientific and technical execution.

6. Equivalent Grant Support Value Per Team

(In-Kind Scientific, Educational & Digital Support Framework)As part of its commitment to strengthening undergraduate research capacity, UKABCS ensures that each graduation project team receives an equivalent support package valued at £3,000+ per team for the implementation phase (exceeding £3,200+ per team overall including preparatory training support).This support is delivered as in-kind scientific, educational, technical, and digital support — not as a direct cash transfer. It is provided voluntarily by participating implementation companies and technical partners through access to digital platforms, research systems, scientific software, and specialised infrastructure.Each funded team consists of 10 undergraduate students.

Financial Breakdown of Equivalent Support Per Team

Platform values are expressed in GBP for institutional clarity. Figures are rounded and provided for equivalence purposes only.

Equivalent total value: Combining the Phase II platform and service contributions (£800 + £500 + £700 + £1,000 = £3,000 per team) with the Phase I preparatory training support discount (£250), the total equivalent support is £3,250 per team along with fully-included digital infrastructure and academic supervision.

UKABCS supports each team through this equivalent scientific funding ecosystem — an in-kind package, not a cash transfer.

Why Is This Support Model Provided?

The grant is designed not only to support project execution, but to help students build a long-term scientific and professional pathway after graduation. Through access to scientific platforms, AI-powered systems, and professional research environments, students are empowered to:

• Execute internationally aligned graduation projects.
• Integrate AI into scientific research execution.
• Improve scientific reading, literature review, and research comprehension.
• Strengthen collaborative research and teamwork.
• Develop scientific freelancing competencies and service-delivery capabilities.
• Build professional Lists of Analyses and scientific service packages.
• Bridge academic knowledge with real-world scientific and industrial needs.

As a result, students graduate with a completed project and practical experience, professional readiness, digital research tools, and career sustainability skills.

Nature of the Support

All support outlined above is voluntarily provided by participating implementation companies and technical partners as part of their commitment to scientific education and research capacity building. These partners receive no direct financial compensation from this grant; they contribute through voluntary in-kind access to their platforms, software, systems, and infrastructure. This framework ensures full compliance with transparency, equal opportunity, research integrity, ethical governance, and UKRI accountability standards.No administrative, operational, or hidden fees are imposed on participating universities or accepted students at any stage.

7. Why This Programme Is Critical for Universities

(Strategic Institutional Value & Long-Term Academic Impact)The programme goes beyond the traditional model of graduation project support, functioning as a strategic framework that produces measurable academic, scientific, and professional outcomes.1. High-Performance Undergraduate Research Teams. Universities transform conventional graduation projects into high-performance research teams of 10 undergraduate students, working within a structured ecosystem built around AI, computational methodologies, applied research execution, and modern digital workflows.2. Guaranteed Measurable Outputs. Every team produces clear, professionally structured outputs — scientific posters, peer-reviewed publications, validated portfolios, web applications, software tools, AI assistants, research automation systems, and scientific dashboards.3. Stronger University Rankings & Global Visibility. By supporting 20 graduation projects per institution, universities generate substantial academic outputs that increase research productivity, international visibility, collaboration opportunities, and ranking performance.4. AI Integration into Undergraduate Education. The programme embeds AI into undergraduate education in a structured, practical manner, giving students hands-on experience in AI-assisted execution, computational data interpretation, and research optimisation — positioning institutions within the global transition to AI-augmented higher education.5. Employability — Research-to-Career Pathway. Students are equipped to deliver professional scientific services, engage in scientific freelancing, perform computational analyses, and develop scientific software, building career-oriented portfolios that improve employability and career sustainability.6. Industry–Academia Collaboration. The programme strengthens collaboration between universities and scientific/technology partners, giving students exposure to scientific companies, international experts, professional platforms, and real-world implementation environments.7. Sustainable Research Capacity. Rather than supporting a single short-term activity, the programme builds researchers capable of continuing beyond graduation through scientific training, digital tools, academic supervision, AI systems, and professional preparation.Conclusion: This initiative is a strategic investment in academic quality, research excellence, employability, technological innovation, and institutional competitiveness. By transforming graduation projects into structured scientific ecosystems, universities contribute more effectively to developing the next generation of researchers, innovators, and scientific leaders.

8. Research Governance, Compliance & Sustainability

All activities conducted under the grant must comply with internationally recognised standards of research governance, ethical scientific conduct, transparency, and institutional accountability.

Compliance with International Standards

All programme activities operate in accordance with:

• UKRI Policy and Guidelines on the Governance of Good Research Conduct
• UK Data Protection Act 2018
• Local university academic regulations
• Institutional ethical and research governance frameworks
• Responsible scientific communication and publication standards

Ethical Scientific Conduct & Academic Integrity

The programme maintains a strict commitment to academic integrity, responsible AI use, ethical data handling, scientific transparency, fair authorship practices, and professional collaboration. Students are expected to use AI as a research enhancement tool — not a replacement for scientific understanding, critical thinking, or academic responsibility. All outputs must maintain appropriate standards of originality, accuracy, and responsible interpretation.

Environmental Sustainability

Participating institutions are encouraged to support sustainable scientific practices — cloud-based analysis, digital collaboration, remote supervision, reduction of unnecessary laboratory waste, and digital documentation — lowering the environmental footprint of graduation project activities while maintaining high-quality outcomes.

Volunteer Partner Model

The programme is supported by volunteer implementation companies and scientific partners who contribute digital platforms, technical systems, educational technologies, workflow tools, research infrastructure, and supervision support. These partners receive no direct financial compensation through this grant. Their participation is based on voluntary in-kind support aligned with the programme's educational mission.

Institutional & Student Responsibilities

Institutions ensure compliance with programme requirements, support student participation, facilitate supervision, and maintain ethical and academic standards.Students maintain full participation, attend required sessions, respect timelines and deliverables, maintain professional and English-language scientific communication, and respect platform and partner policies.Failure to maintain programme requirements or professional conduct may affect continuation eligibility and may result in programme review where necessary to preserve fairness and quality.

Transparency & No Hidden Costs

In alignment with UKRI transparency and accountability principles, the programme confirms that no administrative, operational, or hidden fees are imposed on participating institutions or accepted students during the graduation project implementation phase. All support is delivered transparently and in accordance with the programme's educational and scientific mission.

9. Eligibility, Selection Criteria & Required Documents

Only applications meeting all mandatory conditions will be considered.

9.1 Eligibility Criteria

The Graduation Project Capacity Building Grant follows an institutional application model. Individual students are not eligible to apply directly; instead, applications must be submitted on behalf of the university by a designated Principal Investigator (PI) or Lead Academic Supervisor (Doctor).Institutional eligibility — institutions must:

• Be a recognised university or accredited higher education institution.
• Demonstrate commitment to supporting undergraduate scientific research.
• Commit to facilitating between 10 to 20 graduation project teams (institutions submitting fewer than 10 teams or more than 20 teams are ineligible).
• Ensure academic supervision and institutional support throughout execution.
• Agree to the full-time implementation structure.
• Support English-based scientific communication.

Student eligibility — students must:

• Be third-year (Junior) or fourth-year (Senior) undergraduate students in a graduation project year or equivalent stage.
• Participate as part of a graduation project team comprising exactly 10 students working on a single graduation project.
• Enrol in or complete one of the five approved preparatory training programmes.
• Commit to the full-time structure (5 study/work days per week, scientific sessions, supervision meetings, milestone reporting and deliverables).
• Engage in English-language scientific communication.
• Comply with ethical research conduct, timelines, and implementation requirements.

Mandatory prerequisite: All students in funded graduation projects must be enrolled in, or have completed, one of the five approved Bioinformatics Gate Verified Faculty Training Programmes. Failure to satisfy this prerequisite results in automatic ineligibility for grant participation.

9.2 Selection Criteria

Applications are reviewed competitively against:

1. Institutional commitment — to student participation, academic supervision, implementation, and project continuity.
2. Graduation project quality & relevance — scientific relevance, alignment with computational/AI/innovation methodologies, and potential impact.
3. Student readiness & training compliance — active enrolment in or completion of the required preparatory pathway and readiness for full-time execution.
4. Team & university structure compliance — maintaining exactly 10 undergraduate students per team working on a single graduation project, and a total submission of 10 to 20 teams per university.
5. Institutional capacity — availability of academic supervision, PI leadership, and a supportive research environment.

Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Applications are evaluated competitively based on programme capacity, scientific quality, institutional readiness, and alignment with programme objectives.

9.3 Required Documents

1. Official Institutional Application Form — submitted by the PI, containing institutional information, overview of proposed projects, selected pathways/categories, and planned participation structure.
2. Official Institutional Commitment Letter — issued and signed by the University President or Faculty Dean, confirming commitment to participation, support for between 10 to 20 teams, agreement with implementation requirements and the full-time model, and support for English-language communication.
3. Student Training Verification — proof of active enrolment or certificate of completion for one of the five approved programmes, for all participating students.
4. Principal Investigator (PI) / Lead Academic Supervisor CV — academic background, research experience, and supervision experience of the applying academic lead.
5. Team Structure Confirmation — formal confirmation that each team consists of exactly 10 undergraduate students working on a single graduation project.

Only complete applications meeting all requirements proceed to evaluation. Applications may be disqualified for missing documentation, incomplete institutional approval, failure to meet training prerequisites, non-compliance with team structure, or failure to meet participation standards.

10. Application Process & Contact Information

UKABCS invites Principal Investigators (PIs) and Lead Academic Doctors to apply on behalf of their eligible universities and higher education institutions during the official application window with all required documentation and compliance materials.

Official Application Window

15 June – 15 July (one-month official window, annually). Applications submitted outside this period may not be considered unless otherwise announced by UKABCS.

Application Stages

Stage 1 — Institutional Application Submission (15 June – 15 July): The university's designated PI or Lead Academic Doctor submits the official institutional application form, commitment letter (signed by the University President or Faculty Dean), declaring the exact number of graduation project teams (between 10 and 20 teams), and the PI's academic CV. Submsion Portal

Stage 2 — Review & Administrative Verification (15 July – 15 August): UKABCS reviews all submitted institutional applications for eligibility, verifying compliance with the 10-to-20 team limit, and confirming institutional commitment.

Stage 3 — Student Selection & Verification (15 August – 15 September): The PI selects and lists the participating students (exactly 10 students per team). This student list is sent first to UKABCS for registration and validation, and then forwarded to the implementing partner, Bioinformatics Gate Egypt, for training enrollment.

Stage 4 — Onboarding & Training Activation (Starting 15 September): Selected students begin their onboarding and Phase I preparatory training programmes, paving the way for their transition into Phase II implementation.

Contact

Email for official applications & enquiries: Programmes-Grants@ukabcs.co.uk Response timeline: clarifications and responses are typically provided within 10 working days. Incomplete applications, or those failing to meet programme requirements, may not be considered.