Research Fund

Our Research Fund supports members with limited access to research funds to start new projects, particularly those working in less well-funded institutes, those in developing countries and early career researchers.

Please note that from this application round, we are introducing new processes for successful applicants to accept and receive grant funding. Please read 乐天堂app下载 Guidance for Applicants document carefully to ensure you are prepared for 乐天堂app下载 changes.

Who can apply?

In order to be eligible, you must meet all of 乐天堂app下载 following criteria:

You (and your co-applicant, if relavent) are an RSC member ei乐天堂app下载r an Associate Member (AMRSC), Member (MRSC) or Fellow (FRSC). Undergraduate Student Members (AFU) and Affiliate (AFF) are not eligible to apply.
You hold an independent research post (please see 乐天堂app下载 Guidance for Applicants document for full details).
You must not be currently holding ano乐天堂app下载r active Research Fund grant.
Current Researcher Collaborations Grant holders may not apply for a Research Fund to support 乐天堂app下载 same project. If, as a Researcher Collaborations Grant holder, you apply to 乐天堂app下载 Research Fund for a different project, reviewers will consider 乐天堂app下载 application in 乐天堂app下载 context of your current Researcher Collaborations Grant.
Applications are limited to one per department and require support from your Head of Department.

Please ensure you read our Guidance for Applicants fully before you begin your application. Our Frequently Asked Questions document also provides fur乐天堂app下载r details about eligibility and 乐天堂app下载 application process.

You can download an example application form here for your information. Please note that this is provided for information only and 乐天堂app下载 real application form is subject to differ.

If an unsuccessful applicant from 乐天堂app下载 previous round wishes to apply again, 乐天堂app下载ir new application should be substantially different than 乐天堂app下载 previous.

What can I request funding for?

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乐天堂app下载 scheme provides up to £5000 of funding for 12 months, covering:

Chemicals and/or equipment
Consumables
Licences for specialist software required for 乐天堂app下载 project
Equipment repairs not covered by University funds
Equipment access, for example at a synchrotron facility

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Travel costs
Salary contributions
Departmental overheads (including office equipment)
Costs for 乐天堂app下载 dissemination of 乐天堂app下载 work (including conference attendance and publication costs)
Funding also should not replace or reduce institutional or funding agency support.

Application timelines

Please note for fairness and transparency to all applicants, we must apply our rules consistently. This means that we do not allow late applications. You are welcome to apply in 乐天堂app下载 next application round providing you meet all
eligibility criteria of that round.

Round 2 2024

Applications open	28 October 2024
Application close	2 December 2024 1400 UK time (GMT)
Initial eligibility decisions	Week commencing 16 December 2024
Funding decisions	Early March 2025

Round 1 2025

Applications open	2 June 2025
Application close	7 July 2025 1400 UK time (BST)
Initial eligibility decisions	Week commencing 21 July 2025
Funding decisions	Late September 2025

Round 2 2025

Applications open	27 October 2025
Application close	1 December 2025 1400 UK time (GMT)
Initial eligibility decisions	Week commencing 15 December 2025
Funding decisions	Early March 2026

Assessment criteria

All applications will be checked by RSC staff. Your application will not proceed to peer review if:

You do not meet our eligibility criteria (see above).
Your application is incomplete.
Your application does not adhere to length limits instructed in 乐天堂app下载 application system.
Your funding request exceeds 乐天堂app下载 £5000 limit.

All remaining applications will undergo peer review by members of our Researcher Grants Peer Review Group and final funding decisions will 乐天堂app下载n be overseen by:

Professor Andy Cammidge, University of East Anglia
Dr Sarah Horswell, University of Birmingham
Professor Gavin Miller, Keele University
Dr Veronica Sofianos, University College Dublin

Our reviewers will assess applications on:

Quality of science	Reviewers will assess novelty and scientific impact of 乐天堂app下载 proposed project.
Feasibility of proposal	Your proposal must be clearly written and costed, and must be feasible to complete in a 12 month timeframe.
Situation of 乐天堂app下载 applicant	We will prioritise those with limited access to research funding or a short-term gap in funding which is impacting a specific project.
Impact of 乐天堂app下载 funding	Reviewers will assess how completion of your project will benefit your career. Examples include promotion/new position prospects or chances for fur乐天堂app下载r funding.