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.

The Foundation intends to make a small number of awards to support original interdisciplinary research, across the range of the social sciences, to be held from a start date no later than the end of December 2020. Scholars from within Europe are eligible to apply.

The award is intended to enable a scholar at the early-career stage to pursue his/her research full-time, for a period of up to 12 months; applications may be made by those whose sole or principal post is a part-time equivalent. The amount will be offered to buy out the costs of replacing all teaching and associated administration in the applicant’s home institution, and will be considered to a maximum of £50,000* per successful applicant. Within that sum, reasonable support for research expenses may be considered on a matched-funding basis with the host institution.

The applicant should normally hold a salaried position at an institution of higher education and research, and be within 10 years of PhD award. Career breaks may be taken into account.

*Applicants based in the UK must apply in GBP (£), up to the limit of £50,000. All other applicants must apply in EUR (€), up to a limit to be fixed – and stated on the relevant page of the ISRF Website – on 1st January 2019. The EUR (€) limit will not subsequently be adjusted in the event of GBP/EUR currency fluctuations.