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The International Research Network for the Study of Science and Belief in Society (INSBS) 2022-2023 Grant Programmes

INSBS 2022-23 Grant Schemes are now open for applications

We are excited to launch our 2022-2023 Grant Programmes. There are four schemes now open for applications Seed Funding Grants (deadline Oct 29), Small Research Grants (deadline Nov 12), International Early Career Researcher Mentorship Grants (deadline Nov 26), and International Collaborator Grants (deadline Nov 26). More info about each scheme can be found below. Please visit the Grants page on our website for more information.

Grant Information Webinar (5 October 2021)

We will be holding an informational webinar about these grant programmes on October 5, 2021. If you would like to attend this webinar please inform us here, and we will contact you with further details.

Seed Funding Grants

This programme will fund projects between £1,000-£10,000, for a duration of up to 9 months, between the dates of February 1, 2022–January 31, 2023. Researchers at any career stage who work on the social study of science and religion in society are welcome to apply for this programme by October 29, 2021.

More information about the Seed Funding Grants can be found here.

Small Research Grants

This programme will fund projects between £5,000-£20,000, for a duration of 12 months, between the dates of February 1, 2022–July 31, 2023. Researchers at any career stage who work on the social study of science and religion in society are welcome to apply for this programme by November 12, 2021.

More information about the Small Research Grants can be found here.

International Early Career Researcher Mentorship Grants

This programme will fund up to £5000 for personnel costs for two researchers (mentor/mentee) to collaborate virtually on a defined output on which the mentee will be lead author (e.g. journal article, book chapter, grant application, curriculum development, book proposal or similar). This programme will fund projects for a duration of 6 months, between the dates of February 1, 2022–January 31, 2023.

Up to £1000 of the funding may be used as an honorarium for the mentor, with the rest being used to support the mentee.  Early career researchers who work on the social study of science and religion in society are welcome to apply as PI for this programme by November 26, 2021.

Eligible early career researchers are those who have a PhD or due to submit their thesis before the grant start date, or those who have equivalent career experience; generally applicants will be no more than 7 years post-PhD, although exceptions regarding career breaks will be considered.

More information about the ECR Mentorship Grants can be found here.

International Collaborator Grants

This programme will fund up to £5,000 for personnel costs for two or more researchers to collaborate virtually on a defined output (e.g. journal article, book chapter, grant application, curriculum development, book proposal). This programme will fund projects for a duration of 6 months, between the dates of February 1, 2022–January 31, 2023, and the grant funding should be split between the researchers. Researchers at any career stage who work on the social study of science and religion in society are welcome to apply for this programme by November 26, 2021.

More information about the International Collaborator Grants here.

Please note: Researchers may only be lead applicant on one application, but may apply as co-investigator on multiple applications. If you do not have an institutional affiliation, please contact us for further guidance in advance of submitting your application. We welcome applications from academic researchers based in any country worldwide.

Aims of the INSBS Grant Programmes

The INSBS grant programmes seek to promote the growth of the social study of science and religion globally, by supporting the ongoing development of an international network of active academic researchers.

These grants programmes are designed to stimulate new avenues of individual or collaborative research internationally, and may include research including but not limited to:Small scale quantitative or qualitative research data collection projects (for which we anticipate it may be necessary to collect data largely online due to the current COVID-19 pandemic)Individual or collaborative pilot or trial projects in order to develop ideas for future larger fundingSecondary data analysis or desk-based researchWrite up of data or research for publicationPriority for small research grants will be given to those who are seeking to grow their international research collaborations through this grant scheme. However, this is not an essential requirement of projects proposed within this grant scheme. We welcome applications from academic researchers based in any country worldwide.

Allowable Expenditure

Research grants will be administered by the University of Birmingham and provided to awardees as sub-awards.
Permitted uses of sub-award funding include:Research expenses, such as research participant compensation or incentives, transcription costs, translation costs, reprographics, survey costs, and participant recruitment expensesSalary costs and/or teaching buyoutModest allowance for justifiable equipment, publication charges, software and other suppliesFunding CANNOT support any institutional overheads or indirect costs.

Given current global and local travel restrictions in many countries, we welcome grant applications that include novel ways to collect data, which might include incentives to participants to take part in interviews, or focus groups via digital platforms. Any plans for travel or in-person research should be based on a realistic assessment of COVID-19 risks/regulations. Where Travel or Lodging costs are included they cannot consist of more than 10% of the overall grant requested.

How do you apply?

You may apply for the funding using the relevant application form.

All applications should include:The relevant completed application form:Seed Funding Grant Application FormSmall Research Grant Application FormInternational ECR Mentorship Grant Application FormInternational Collaborator Grant Application FormProject Budget (download the template)Project Timeline (download the template)2-page CV for each applicant and team memberSigned letter of support from your institution(s) For mentoring grants: a letter of support from the mentorFurther Application Guidance can be downloaded here.

Please email your completed applications to insbs@contacts.bham.ac.uk with a subject heading including your name and the title of the funding programme you are applying for (e.g., “John Doe. Seed Funding Application”).

If you have any questions about these funding programmes, or the application process, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at: insbs@contacts.bham.ac.uk.