Deadline: 01-Oct-2025
The Fermor Seed Corn Fund provides seed funding to individuals who are unable to access traditional research grants. The fund is particularly aimed at researchers in non-traditional roles, such as early-career researchers on fixed-term contracts, returners, and technical staff, who are often excluded from major UK research awards due to rigid eligibility criteria.
In the UK, research funding is increasingly competitive and tends to favor those with permanent academic contracts. Fixed deadlines for many major awards also disadvantage those returning from career breaks or health-related absences, preventing timely access to crucial funding opportunities.
The fund will support no more than five grants during the funding period, with awards typically ranging from £50,000 to £75,000. Applications requesting more than £100,000 are not eligible. The grant duration must be between 12 and 24 months.
The fund welcomes applications from disabled applicants and offers accommodations such as extended deadlines, assistance with applications, and interview support tailored to individual needs. This ensures full participation in the selection process.
Award recipients are required to submit annual reports and final summaries of their activities. Quarterly meetings with peers will support ongoing research discussions. Financial statements must be submitted quarterly to receive payments, and any publications from the project must acknowledge the funding support.
Eligible applicants include early-career researchers (within 10 years of completing a PhD), technical staff, and research assistants not eligible as lead investigators on standard UKRI grants. Those returning from long-term illness or career breaks, as well as early-career researchers in India or collaborating with Indian institutions, are also eligible. All applicants must hold a PhD by the project start date or have confirmed institutional support if still completing it.
The fund targets individuals on fixed-term or non-academic contracts who would otherwise be unable to conduct independent research. It is not meant to support full salary costs for new positions, and salary support, if requested, must be matched by the host institution and must not include overheads.
Funding is not intended for those already employed in research positions or on permanent academic contracts without career disruptions. The research must be hosted by a recognized institution, and grants will be disbursed to the host, not directly to individuals. A letter of support from the host institution is required at the application stage.
Applicants must provide a clear research rationale, explain the academic impact, outline a project plan and budget, and address sustainability and equality considerations. They must also detail training opportunities, open-access plans, and management of any proprietary outcomes, including how community access will be maintained when commercial partners are involved.
For more information, visit The Geological Society.
