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Deadline was 4 May 2023; this round is closed. UKRI page now directs applicants to a new responsive mode round.
ESRC New Investigator Grants is sponsored by Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Aimed at early career researchers, these grants support high-quality, original social science research. This is an excellent opportunity for new investigators looking to establish their research careers in areas related to higher education, social mobility, and inequality.
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ESRC new investigator grant – UKRI Funding opportunity: ESRC new investigator grant Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Award range: £100,000 - £300,000 4 May 2023 4:00pm UK time We award new investigator grants to support new researchers at the start of their careers, based at research organisations eligible for UKRI funding, to become independent researchers through gaining experience of managing and leading research projects and teams.
In addition, they will provide applicants with an opportunity not only to support their own skill development, but also the skill development of research staff employed on the grant. Grants range from £100,000 to £300,000 for a period of up to five years. Funding is based on the full economic costs of the research, with ESRC providing 80% of the cost and the research organisation covering the balance.
Proposals can cover any research area, but the social sciences must represent more than 50% of the research focus and effort.
You can apply for funding if: you are an early career researcher you are the principal investigator you are an established member of an approved research organisation, or have an agreement with a recognised research organisation to work there and have access to appropriate research facilities for the duration of the grant.
You cannot apply for funding if: you are not an early career researcher you are a current or former principal investigator on ESRC or other UKRI grants, except ESRC postdoctoral fellowships. Funding is available for individuals based at approved universities and independent research organisations in the UK. Co-investigators from business, third sector or government can be included in the proposal.
We encourage active collaboration between UK researchers and those in other countries, and co-investigators based in overseas research organisations can be included through our international co-investigators policy .
ESRC funds research within the social sciences, including: area and development studies economic and social history management and business studies political science and international relations science and technology studies social statistics, computing and methods New investigator grants will support new researchers and academics at the start of their careers to become independent researchers through gaining experience of managing and leading research projects and teams.
In addition, they will provide applicants with an opportunity not only to support their own skill development, but also the skill development of research staff employed on the grant. Proposals could be for a range of activities such as standard research projects, surveys and other infrastructure projects and methodological developments.
We welcome proposals across the full disciplinary range of the social sciences and extending to the wider sciences, but the social sciences must represent at least 50% of the research focus and effort. You can no longer apply to this funding opportunity through the Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) system. Please visit ESRC responsive mode: new investigator grants round one for details of how to apply via the Funding Service.
How we will assess your application Your application will be assessed against the following criteria: originality and potential contribution to knowledge research design and methods outputs, dissemination and impact the applicant and their skill development programme. The proposal will be sent to a minimum of three reviewers primarily drawn from ESRC’s peer review college.
We may include reviewers from outside the college if college members lack necessary knowledge and expertise for a particular application, and ask for comments from non-academic research users, such as businesses or charities. We encourage you to nominate two academic and two non-academic or user reviewers to respond to peer review comments.
The application, reviewers’ comments and your responses will be considered by a grant assessment panel, which will agree a prioritised list of proposals that it recommends for funding. The list will then be considered by ESRC’s grants delivery group, which makes the final funding decisions. For further queries please email esrcenquiries@esrc.
ukri. org . For help with the Je-S application please email jeshelp@je-s.
ukri. org . ESRC research funding guide This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK.
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Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Intended for early career researchers based at eligible UK research organisations. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Varies Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
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Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Research Grants is sponsored by The Leakey Foundation. The Leakey Foundation Research Grants support both PhD dissertation research and post-PhD research across multiple disciplines related to human origins, evolution, and behavior. They prioritize funding for exploratory phases of promising new research projects and innovative, multidisciplinary approaches that expand the boundaries of current understanding. Relevant disciplines include archaeology, biological anthropology, paleoanthropology, primate behavioral ecology, genetics, geology, anatomy, morphology, paleobotany, and paleoclimatology. Current funding focus areas include the paleoanthropology of the Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene; primates (evolution, behavior, morphology, ecology, endocrinology, genetics, isotope studies); and modern hunter-gatherer groups.
Fire Science Innovations through Research and Education (FIRE) program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program invites innovative multidisciplinary and multisector investigations focused on convergent research and education activities in wildland fire. It supports research that can inform risk management and response, adaptation, and resilience across infrastructures, communities, cultures, and natural environments. Relevant topics include developing novel materials and methods for retrofitting existing buildings and remediating buildings following wildfire and smoke events.