The Independent Social Research Foundation wishes to support independent-minded researchers to explore and present original research ideas which take new approaches, and suggest new solutions, to real world social problems. Such work would be unlikely to be funded by existing funding bodies.
Please read these details carefully – and consult the FAQs – before commencing an application or contacting the ISRF with a query. Applications must be submitted before 5pm (BST) on 8th October 2021. Applicants are strongly advised to submit applications well in advance of this deadline – late submissions will not be considered. If you have any technical issues, please notify Stuart Wilson immediately.
Scholars from within Europe† are eligible to apply as Principal Investigator(s) to lead a small group of 2-10 scholars (which may include graduate students). Applicants should hold a PhD and will normally have a permanent appointment at an institution of higher education and research. Applications may be made by those whose sole or principal post is a part-time equivalent. Independent scholars with an academic affiliation may also apply. The awards are intended as providing flexible support (for instance: relief from teaching &/or administration, research and travel expenses, fieldwork and practical work) for a period of (up to) one year, for the activities of the research group. Stipends are not provided.
PLEASE NOTE: Eligibility for ISRF funding opportunities remain unaffected by Brexit. We continue to encourage applications from scholars working within Europe (geographically defined – so, including those at UK institutions).
† There is no limitation on nationality – however, the Principal Investigator(s) should be affiliated to a European institution, through which the award would be processed.
Innovative research which crosses established disciplinary boundaries and critically challenges incumbent theories and approaches, so as to address afresh empirical problems with no currently adequate theory or investigative methodology. Innovation may also come from controversial theoretical approaches motivated by critical challenge of incumbent theories. Projects ranging across the breadth of the social scientific disciplines and interdisciplinary research fields are welcome, and relevant applications from scholars working within the humanities are also encouraged.
The awards are intended as enabling one or more short periods of face-to-face* joint group work such as workshops, working-in-pairs, or short academic visits over a period of up to one year, and must be taken up (i.e. commencing) no later than end of December 2022.
* Whilst contingency plans may be necessary to mitigate possible Covid-19-related obstacles to face-to-face working, applicants are encouraged to plan for in-person collaboration wherever possible, though current circumstances will require flexibility and – at the very least – provision for virtual participation for those who may not be able to travel or engage in in-person collaboration. In this regard, it may be helpful to note that projects need not commence until the end of December 2022. Furthermore, given the unpredictability of ongoing circumstances, successful applicants may be afforded extra flexibility in the timing of their project, and appropriate requests for no-cost extensions and/or re-allocation of funding will be considered.
The amount of an award depends on the nature of the work proposed and individual circumstances – the ISRF expects applications for grants up to a maximum of €5,850 (or GBP equivalent).†
† PLEASE NOTE: Applicants with based in the UK must apply in GBP (£), up to the limit of £5,000. All other applicants must apply in EUR (€), up to the limit of €5,850. These amounts are fixed as of 2nd August 2021, and will not be adjusted in the event of GBP/EUR currency fluctuations.
The ISRF reserves the right to extend the deadline for the competition. A short final report will be required.† Award holders may be invited to present their findings in person to the Foundation’s academic representatives. ISRF’s support to be acknowledged in all public presentation of research. Full Terms & Conditions governing awards will be provided to successful applicants in their formal offer, based on the draft general terms and conditions available on the ISRF website. Formal acceptance of the award must be completed by the end of July 2022.
† The ISRF does not require a lengthy report on your work, although reflections and comments are welcome as an addendum/appendix; for our records we require a short (no more than 500 words) report on the main features of your work: a short recap/outline of research aims and work plan; changes in research plans with reasons; new or surprising findings or results; what was achieved and how; outputs (presentations, publications etc); lessons learned; collaborations, partnerships, networks that have resulted; further plans/projects that arise from research.
The competition is open to individual researchers who wish to bring together and to cooperate with others (to be named in the proposal), on a specific project: this may be at the pilot stage. There will normally be one principal applicant but joint applications by two colleagues are acceptable. In such cases, the application should be submitted by one of the PI’s, and the other should be clearly labelled as co-PI when details of collaborators are entered in the application form. CV’s for both PI’s must be submitted.
Applicants may apply without prejudice to other funding bodies. If applications for identical projects were successful it would be expected that only one award (i.e. either the ISRF or another) would be accepted. If applications for either wholly or partly different projects are successful there should be no duplication in the budget headings funded by the ISRF and another body.
All applicants will be expected to provide the following details as part of their proposal:
This will be read by academic evaluators who are social scientists but not necessarily in the applicant’s own field; applicants should bear this in mind when writing their application. Our Assessment Procedure is set out online.
In order to be considered for the award, all applications must comprise the following:
Applicants must confirm that their home institution is aware of their application, and should provide the contact details for the relevant Administrative Officer.
Applicants are expected to submit their complete application electronically via the online application system, in English.
Completed applications must arrive – via the online application system – no later than 5:00pm (BST) on 8th October 2021.
A candidate may submit only one application. Applicants can expect to be informed of the result of their applications by email by the end of February 2021.
Please consult the FAQ’s before contacting us directly.
Academic queries should be directed to Dr Lars Cornelissen (Academic Editor) at lars.cornelissen@isrf.org.
Queries relating to Eligibility, the Terms & Conditions of award, or about the online application system, should be directed to Stuart Wilson (Administrator) at stuart.wilson@isrf.org.