Introduction

The GREENIN Micro Network Plus is an UKRI (EPSRC) investment to build a new network focussing on determining the best ways to measure the potential benefits of indoor greening and examine how climate change might influence these benefits.  The GREENIN Network is committed to creating innovative opportunities for participants to explore the role of indoor greening and its impact on health, wellbeing, and environmental quality across different sectors through a dedicated secondment programme.

The objectives of the GREENIN Micro Network Plus project are:

1. Build a network of multidisciplinary specialists;

2. Conduct collaborative studies to expand our knowledge of indoor greening;

3. Create practical guidelines for building design and management professionals; and

4. Promote wider use of greening to enhance building environments and public health

We aim to fund four mini-fellowships over two years, allocated through a competitive process with an open call once per year, creating two cohorts. Each placement is expected to last up to six months, with applicants spending a minimum of 20 days at the host institution. Fellows have flexibility to organise their schedule to suit individual circumstances, typically between 1 to 5 days per week over a period of 3–6-months.

Grants of up to £2,000 will be provided to cover non-salary costs for each fellowship. These costs include travel to partners, subsistence, and any modest consumables.

Focus Area

Mini-fellowships will be designed to maximise knowledge exchange between academics, industry, city authorities, and non-governmental and arts- and community-based organisations within the broad subject area of ‘indoor greening’.  Only applications that demonstrate a clear and direct connection to the GREENIN Network's 'indoor greening' focus will be considered. Proposed mini-fellowship projects must feature a clearly defined objective while also allowing scope for independent thought and initiative. The applicant should explain how the mini-fellowships will help to address at least two of the network’s cross-cutting (CC) thematic areas are listed below:

CC1. Fostering multidisciplinary systems thinking

GREENIN will use systems-based conceptual frameworks to integrate indoor greening components to address environmental challenges, enabling holistic decision-making and prioritisation of options.

CC2. Incorporating visual appeal and human requirements in indoor greening design
Bridging aesthetics and functionality by engaging diverse perspectives through co-developed workshops, events, and horizon-scanning activities.

CC3. Upscaling and outscaling via DIY approaches

Accelerating adoption of indoor greening interventions across the UK through replication and dissemination, supported by a comprehensive database of plant characteristics and performance.

CC4. Leveraging existing investments

Leveraging existing on-going and concluded projects to build the platform for mini-fellowship that could include to deploy monitoring instruments, test interventions, and benchmark results against long-term datasets.

Eligibility Criteria

The mini-fellowship call is open to all GREENIN members, who are residents in the UK (international applications cannot be supported under this scheme). Membership is free and an applicant can join using the following link: Become a member today — GREENIN. If you have questions regarding your eligibility, please contact us at greeninmnp@surrey.ac.uk

Priority will be given to early career participants (defined as no more than 8-years professional experience) and span traditional boundaries of expertise, particularly those which link across to business and city authorities/local government/charities/academia. Note that only non-salary expenses are eligible.  

Upon completion, the fellow will agree to write a blogpost to be published on the GREENIN Micro Network Plus website, and to create a short video-piece summarising their experience and knowledge gained during the mini-fellowship within 6 weeks of completing it. As a condition of the award, fellows will be expected to participate in GREENIN workshops and conferences and present their work as part of the network's webinar series. Funds will be arranged as agreed and reimbursed in line with standard University of Surrey expenses procedures.

Awardees are responsible for managing all aspects of their mini-fellowship, including health and safety, insurance costs, ethics, and data management, in accordance with their institution's rules and guidelines

Assessment Criteria

Evaluations of proposals will be based on clearly defined objectives, and general contribution towards the objectives of the GREENIN Network Plus project as outlined in the cross-cutting themes above. Applications will be scored higher where the fellows:

1. The application must fall within the scope of 'indoor greening'.

2. Links organisations of different types

3. Links participants with different expertise;

4. Where each partner clearly outlines what they expect to get out of the mini-fellowship;

5. Where the placement will generate useful information about indoor green infrastructure and indoor environmental quality;

6. Where the placement will help disseminate useful knowledge about indoor green infrastructure;

7. Each applicant has to be a network member.

Application Process

Applications deadline is 31 January 2026. We aim to assess proposals and reply within 4-6 weeks.

To complete an application form please click here. Enquiries may be emailed to  greeninmnp@surrey.ac.uk