Jean Cater, Assistant Director

…. scholarships for the purpose of education and research…..

Annual expenditure is c. £60M a year across some 14 funding schemes, largely funding research in the UK higher education sector, funding people and their direct research costs, not overheads/FEC

William Hesketh Lever (1851-1925)

The Leverhulme Trust Board

Clearly defined by the WillNine members of Unilever senior management

from diverse, international backgrounds meeting 4 times a year

The Trust is, however, an independent and autonomous charity

Experience of spotting potential and qualityFashion resistant!Relies on expert peer review

Research Programmes: up to £1.75M, normally 2 themes chosen – for periods up to 5 years for research teams – 2013 themes “Nature of knots” and “Innovation for sustainable living” - closing date 3 October 2013!

Research Project Grants: normally up to £250k over 2 or 3 years but possible to bid for up to £500k for up to 5 years

= At least 75% for research staff salaries (research assistants, postgraduate students) and up to 25% on associated costs

Research grants

Fellowships Study Abroad Studentships: 1 or 2 years for

postgraduate study/research abroad Early Career: 3 year-awards, within 5 years of

doctorate - matching funding with host institution Research: up to 2 years for established researchers,

£45,000, replacement costs/research expenses International Academic Fellowships: up to 1 year for

academic staff, £22,000, replacement costs/research expenses

Major Research: 2 or 3 years, for well-established researchers in humanities/social sciences, funding a replacement post during the award – not only for Professors!

Emeritus: up to 2 years for retired academics, £22,000 research expenses

Other awards

International Networks: normally up to £125k and up to 3 years. Explicit justification for why a network is the best mechanism for addressing the chosen research theme and

Visiting Professorships: 3-10 months for distinguished overseas academics to enhance the skills of the UK host institution

Philip Leverhulme Prizes: six subject areas, up to £70k for outstanding early-mid career scholars

Artists in Residence (contrasting disciplines) Occasional exceptional award schemes – nothing for

2013!

Percentage distribution of funds 2012

Academy Fellowships

Visiting Professors/Fellows

Philip Leverhulme Prizes

Research Programme Grants

Major Research Fellowships

Exceptional Awards

Research Awards Advisory Committee

Arts Scholarships/Bursaries

Research Leadership Awards

Research Project Grants and Networks

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Two-stage process for Research Project Grants, International Networks - c. 1000 Outline Applications received p.a.

Stage one = peer review (c. 12 weeks and c. 50% success rate)

Positive recommendation → invitation to submit a Detailed Application (3 deadlines a year: September, December, March)

Stage two = detailed applications submitted for peer review to nominated and independent referees → decisions by Trust Board (c. 50% success rate). Therefore, overall c. 25% success rate.

All other schemes (except Visiting Professors) have a one-stage application process, normally annually, with decisions delegated to expert panels

See www.leverhulme.ac.uk for exact timings

Application processes

The originality of the proposed work beyond incremental development and beyond the immediate subject – curiosity-driven research attractive

The removal of barriers between disciplines

Providing support for the gifted individual: outstanding talent, vision, intellectual curiosity, and the willingness to take appropriate risks

A refreshing departure from existing working patterns of the applicant or discipline: fresh direction

The responsive mode: the choice of topic lying with the applicant in the vast majority of cases

Special attention is given to…

Quality: excellence of the project and the applicant, clarity of expression, sound methodology, clear strategy for outcomes and dissemination

Why the Leverhulme Trust? Could/would/should this work be funded elsewhere? Maybe not for the Trust!

Original, creative research transcending traditional boundaries welcomed

Respect and reliance on robust peer review: choose referees wisely!

All disciplines are eligible, but the Trust avoids assuming the tasks of other specialist agencies, e.g. medicine and RC priority areas

Responsive mode – 90% plus

To sum up…

The claim to status or significance measured purely in metrics/”impact”/H-indices/institutional standing

The supposition of a hidden agenda/quota system or a preference for certain subjects/types of research

Failure to write in transparent terminology where you are requested to use language for the lay person – avoid jargon!

Lack of clear definition of the research idea, an overly descriptive background/literature review and a lack of a clear research design/methodology: what, why, how!

Common errors…..

Recent grants Multiscale biomechanical investigation of engineered tissue Landscape dynamics and Bannockburn 1314: scientific

answers to historical problems The molecular logic of gustation in bees Old wine in new bottles'. English Gascony (1360-1453) for

the digital future Changes in British election news reporting (1918-2010) Stories of subsistence: people and coast over the last 6000

years in the Limfjord, Denmark Combating young disabled people's worklessness: an

international network Social alienation and uncertain growth: a pre- and post-

reform analysis in India

1 Pemberton RowLondon

EC4A 3BGTel: 020 7042 9888

www.leverhulme.ac.uk

twitter.com/leverhulmetrust

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