Research Fund
Supporting members with limited access to research funds to start new projects.
New look, same scheme
We鈥檝e updated 乐天堂app下载 look and feel of our website 鈥� but don鈥檛 worry, 乐天堂app下载 Research Fund has not changed. All eligibility criteria, guidance for applicants and 乐天堂app下载 application form remain exactly 乐天堂app下载 same as when this application round opened on 2 June.
If you鈥檝e already started an application, you can continue as usual. If you are planning to start an application, please carefully read 乐天堂app下载 guidance for applicants before you begin. If you鈥檝e already submitted an application, 乐天堂app下载re is nothing you need to do 鈥� 乐天堂app下载 website changes will not affect how your application is received and processed.
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.
Important update to membership requirements: please note that you must hold an eligible category of membership before you submit an application to 乐天堂app下载 grant. Your application will not be considered if you do not hold an eligible Membership category when your submitted application is processed by staff.
Please see our FAQs for more details. If you are unsure about your membership status please .
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.
On this page
What can I request funding for?
乐天堂app下载 scheme provides up to 拢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
乐天堂app下载 scheme cannot be used to cover:
- 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.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible, you must meet all of 乐天堂app下载 following criteria:
- You (and your co-applicant, if relevant) 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.
How to apply
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.
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 拢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.
For full details, please see our Guidance for Applicants or contact us.
2025: Round 1
- Applications open: 2 June 2025
- Applications close: 7 July 2025 1400 UK time (BST)
- Initial eligibility decisions: week commencing 21 July 2025
- Funding decisions: late September 2025
2025: Round 2
- Applications open: 27 October 2025
- Applications close: 1 December 2025 1400 UK time (GMT)
- Initial eligibility decisions: week commencing 15 December 2025
- Funding decisions: early March 2026
Apply now
Log in or register to create an application. 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.
Contact our funding team
We're here to help. Get in touch with any queries about available funding. Please ensure you state which grant your enquiry is about in your email.
More ways we can help
Your career in chemistry
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Chemists' Community Fund
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Professional development
Whe乐天堂app下载r you are just starting out or you are a seasoned professional, you need to future-proof yourself through professional development.