PATT travel claim for competitively awarded observation time

This funding opportunity allows UK-based researchers at eligible institutions to claim back travel and subsistence costs when visiting an astronomy telescope for competitively awarded science observation time. The visit must be essential to the observing programme and the researcher must not already hold or have access to a travel grant from the Panel for the Allocation of Telescope Time (PATT). All trips must be approved in advance before claims can be submitted. The observing facility must be a telescope that is either in direct receipt of STFC funds (such as e-MERLIN, ING, and Liverpool Telescope) or approved by PATT. UKRI covers 100% of the full economic cost for travel and subsistence, administered as non-employee expenses. The programme requires researchers to submit a travel request at least four weeks before the observing run, keep all receipts during the trip, and submit the claim form within two months of completion. If a research group's combined claims exceed £7,500 in a year, they should apply for a PATT travel grant instead. This is an open opportunity with no closing date, allowing researchers to claim expenses throughout the year as needed for their approved observation time.