The British Academy /Wolfson Research Professorships

Deadline: 8 December 2021

Apply to the British Academy/Wolfson Foundation for support for extended research leave to concentrate on a significant research programme, while freed from normal teaching and administrative commitments. It is expected that four Research Professorships will be awarded on this occasion. There are no quotas for numbers of awards in the humanities and social sciences. Emphasis is placed by the Academy and the Wolfson Foundation on the importance of award-holders communicating their plans and results to a broad audience. For further details on applying, see the scheme guidance notes. 

Eligibility
These awards are designed primarily for established UK based scholars who already have a significant track record of publication of works of distinction in their field, and who have a major programme of research which would benefit from the uninterrupted concentration offered by the award of the Research Professorships. The principal purpose of the awards is to enable concentrated effort to be directed towards working on and bringing to completion a significant piece of research likely to enhance the discipline. Candidates need not already hold the title of ‘Professor’ before applying, but those who do not should bear in mind that there is no commitment placed on the employing institution to regrade their post on their return to ordinary duties.

Duration and Value
The value of each award is a fixed sum of £204,000, (£63,000pa for time buy-out for each of three years plus £5,000pa for travel and research expenses for each of three years). Funding is expected to be used primarily to meet the costs of replacement teaching, with only a limited sum available to the award-holder as research expenses. The earliest start date is 1 September 2022, and the latest start date is 1 January 2023.

How to Apply and Deadlines
Applications can only be submitted online using the British Academy’s Grant Management System, Flexi-Grant. All applicants are required to list four external evaluators who are experts within the applicant's field, who are available to be contacted to provide an assessment of the research proposal. Applicants are also required to nominate one referee (from outside their own employing institution), who is as independent from the applicant as possible. The referee is not intended to be an advocate for the applicant – rather their role is expected to help provide a rounded assessment of the proposal indicating both strengths and weaknesses. The applicant should ensure that the supporting statement from their chosen referee is submitted on the British Academy Flexi-Grant® Grant Management System (GMS) as early as possible, to allow enough time for applicants to meet any internal deadlines set by their employing institution. The reference must be submitted before the application can be approved. Any application without a supporting reference will not be able to be submitted. The deadline for application approval by your employing institution is 5pm (GMT) on 08 December 2021.