Research Fellowship: ISRF First Book Grant

Eligible Applicants

The Independent Social Research Foundation wishes to support recent PhD graduates in their effort to turn their doctoral thesis into a publishable book.

Researchers may apply from across the social sciences and the humanities. The awards are intended to provide a research stipend (to cover living costs) for a period of up to twelve months, plus appropriate research expenses.

Scholars from within Europe† are eligible to apply. Candidates must have been awarded their PhD and should be within three years of PhD award at the time of application  (career breaks, such as periods of medical leave, parental leave, or caring commitments, will be taken into account), and should not already hold a permanent position within academia. The awards are intended as providing a stipend to allow applicants full or partial support for the conversion of their PhD thesis into a book,* and relief from non-academic work (including domestic care) for a period of up to one year.

A final publication contract need not be in place at the time of application. However, applicants should have developed a specific publication plan, and describe any of their preliminary inquiries to publishers.

PLEASE NOTE: Eligibility for ISRF funding opportunities is 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, we are unable to consider applications from those whose home institution is not within Europe. We will accept applications for books written in languages other than English. 

• Early career scholars who hold a permanent academic position are eligible for our Early Career Fellowships - the next such competition is provisionally set to run in 2025.

* This may include the creation of new material, or a re-focusing of your expertise on a contemporary, real-world problem. However, this award is not intended to fund new research. Applicants wishing to embark upon substantially new research should apply for an Early Career or Independent Scholar Fellowship depending on eligibility.

Eligible Research

The ISRF is looking for innovative research that breaks with existing explanatory frameworks 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. Interdisciplinarity in the generation of new investigative initiatives may be achieved by combining, cross-fertilising, and so transforming empirical methods and theoretical insights from the social sciences. 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.

Duration & Timing

The awards are intended as providing a stipend to allow applicants full or partial relief from non-academic duties, for a period of up to one year; alternatively, the award may be sought by those who wish to be bought-out from a non-academic employment contract (in whole or partially), with the prior consent of their current employer. The award period must begin no later than the end of December 2025, and awardees would be expected – by the end of the award period – to have produced a manuscript for submission to publishers.

Value

The amount of an award will depend on individual circumstances – the ISRF expects applications for grants up to a maximum of €41,500 (or GBP equivalent) of which no more than €34,000 may be allocated to the cost-of-living stipend. Up to €7,500 may be requested to cover reasonable research expenses, which might include necessary additional fieldwork trips, transcription, copy-editing, illustration costs etc.. Reasonable childcare or other domestic costs may be considered.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants seeking an affiliation in the UK must apply in GBP (£), up to the limit of £35,000, of which no more than £28,750 may be allocated to the cost-of-living stipend. Applicants seeking an affiliation elsewhere in Europe, including non-Eurozone countries, must apply in EUR (€), up to the limit of €41,500, of which no more than €34,000 may be allocated to the cost-of-living stipend. These limits will not be adjusted in the event of GBP/EUR currency fluctuations. For further information, Terms & Conditions of award, and to apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

The closing date for applications is 5pm GMT on 1st November 2024.