Attaining research funding for UK-based researchers is increasingly competitive. Much of this funding is inaccessible to individuals not employed on permanent academic contracts or those with non-traditional roles. This disproportionately affects early-career researchers (ECRs) on fixed-term contracts, returners and technical staff.

Additionally, the rigid cycle of fixed deadlines associated with many of the large awards made by UK funding organisations means that researchers returning from a career break, or an extended period of ill-health, can be unable to apply for funding at key points in their careers.

Funding Information

• The Society envisages awarding no more than five grants within the funding period, with the average award expected to be between the range of £50,000 - £75,000.
• Grant applications with a total value of more than £100,000 are not suitable for this scheme.
• The funding period for each grant is expected to range in duration from 12 – 24 months.

Disability Support

• They welcome applications from disabled applicants and will accommodate adjustments to the procedures to ensure that these applicants are able to participate fully in the selection process. Adjustments to the application procedure could include:
  • Extension of the application deadline
  • Additional support to complete the application form
  • Technical support during interviews for candidates with hearing or visual impairments
  • Support during interviews for neurodiverse candidates and candidates with mental health conditions

Expectations of the Successful Awardee

• It is a condition of award funding that the awardee produces a yearly report of the activities undertaken, as well as at the end of the period of funded work. Awardees will also be asked to attend quarterly meetings to discuss research progress with their peers.
• Interim reports should include a summary of geological findings and an assessment of how the funding has supported the awardee in achieving their research aims.
• Quarterly financial statements detailing how awarded funds have been spent will also be required for funds to be paid (in arrears) to the host institution.
• Any published or unpublished report resulting from the grant funding should acknowledge the financial support.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Fermor Seed Corn Fund is open to individuals who belong to the following groups:
  • Early Career Researchers (<10 years from completing a PhD), technical staff, or research assistants who are ineligible as lead investigators on standard UKRI grant applications.
  • Researchers who are returning to work following a career break or long-term illness
  • Early-career researchers working in India, or with plans to foster collaboration with Indian research organisations as part of this funded project (please note a letter of support from the in-country participant(s) will be required).
• The scheme is open to all fellows regardless of geographic location. All applicants must have a PhD by the time that the funded period starts. Applicants that have not yet completed their PhD at the time of application should submit a supporting letter from the host institution where they intend to conduct the relevant research, confirming a contract and position for the duration of the project period.
• The Fermor Seed Corn Fund grants are intended to support individuals who cannot easily apply for funding by other means. This is likely to be an individual on a fixed-term academic contract, or a non-academic contract with research capacity, to complete a period of novel academic research. Further, the Fermor Seed Corn Fund grants are primarily intended to fund a research project by otherwise employed researchers who are not able to access other forms of research funding, rather than to form the basis for, and support the salary of, a new position.
• This is a research grant, rather than a fellowship, so it is not intended to support the staff costs of research. Should an extension be requested, we would expect no more than 50% of the salary costs to be requested in any application for the panel to review, with applicable justification. Any salary costs would need to be matched by the host institution and would not include overheads.
• The fund is not intended as additional funding to support an applicant who is otherwise employed to conduct an ongoing research project, i.e. research fellows or permanent academic appointments where there have been no interruptions to careers.
• Host organisation:
  • Funded research must be conducted at suitable host organisations such as universities or research institutions. The awards will be payable to the host organisation, as opposed to the individual, in arrears and upon submission of quarterly claims against approved expenditure. Therefore, awards will require evidence that an agreement with the desired host organisation is in place at the point of submission, in the form of a letter of support.
  • Please note, this does not need to be the applicant’s current institution or department, where the applicant intends to move if awarded funding. In this case, a letter of support will be required prior to an award being made.

Assessment Criteria

• The application form asks applicants to consider a range of information. In addition to a project rationale, awardees will be asked to consider:
  • The desired impact of their research within their academic field.
  • The project plan and cost breakdown of their proposed research.
  • The sustainability and environmental impact of the project.
  • Make equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility considerations.
  • Discuss outputs in terms of open access publications and data management.
  • Training/development – have you identified any training opportunities within the scope of this project.
  • If the outcome of the project will entail a proprietary product or patent, then please detail how these will be held and made available to the community. This also applies if there is a commercial partner for the research project.

For more information, visit The Geological Society.

https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/careers-and-training/grants-and-bursaries/the-fermor-seed-corn-fund/