Deadline: 02-Oct-2026
The Fermor Seed Corn Fund was established to address challenges in the increasingly competitive research funding environment in the United Kingdom.
Many talented researchers experience difficulties accessing traditional funding because they:
- Hold fixed-term academic contracts
- Work in non-traditional research roles
- Are not eligible to act as lead investigators on major grants
- Are returning after career breaks or long-term illness
- Lack access to established funding pathways
The fund provides seed support that enables researchers to develop original research ideas and build stronger future funding opportunities.
Purpose of the Fund
The main purpose of the Fermor Seed Corn Fund is to support researchers who cannot easily access traditional research funding sources.
The fund aims to:
- Enable innovative academic research
- Support independent research development
- Strengthen early-career research careers
- Provide opportunities for underfunded researchers
- Encourage international research collaboration
- Help researchers establish evidence for future funding applications
Research Areas Supported
The fund supports novel academic research projects across disciplines.
Eligible projects should demonstrate:
- Original research ideas
- Clear academic value
- Potential for future development
- Ability to generate meaningful outcomes
The scheme is designed to support research projects rather than create new employment positions.
Key Focus Areas
Support for Early-Career Researchers
The fund supports researchers who are building independent research careers.
Eligible early-career researchers include those who:
- Completed a PhD within the last ten years
- Are developing independent research experience
- Need seed funding to progress research ideas
- Face barriers accessing traditional grant schemes
Support for Technical Staff and Research Assistants
The programme recognises the important contribution of technical and research support staff.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Technical specialists
- Research assistants
- Researchers in non-traditional academic roles
These individuals must typically be unable to apply as lead investigators for standard UKRI funding opportunities.
Support for Researchers Returning After Career Breaks
The fund supports researchers returning after:
- Career breaks
- Extended periods of illness
- Other significant interruptions to research activity
The programme recognises that researchers returning to academia may miss competitive funding cycles and require targeted support to restart their research careers.
Collaboration With Indian Research Organisations
The fund encourages research collaboration involving India.
Eligible applicants include:
- Early-career researchers working in India
- Researchers planning collaborations with Indian research organisations
Applicants involving Indian collaborators must provide:
- A letter of support from the participating Indian organisation
- Details of the planned collaboration
Why the Fund Was Established
Research funding competition has increased significantly, creating challenges for researchers who do not fit traditional academic career pathways.
The fund addresses issues such as:
- Limited access to major grants
- Barriers faced by researchers on fixed-term contracts
- Reduced funding opportunities after career interruptions
- Difficulty establishing independent research profiles
By providing seed funding, the programme helps researchers develop projects that may lead to future research success.
Funding Details
Key funding information includes:
- Expected number of grants: No more than five awards
- Average grant size: £50,000 to £75,000
- Maximum suitable application value: £100,000
- Project duration: 12 to 24 months
Applications requesting more than £100,000 are not considered suitable under this scheme.
Who Is Eligible?
The Fermor Seed Corn Fund is open to researchers who meet specific eligibility requirements.
Eligible applicants include:
- Early-career researchers within ten years of completing their PhD
- Technical staff with research responsibilities
- Research assistants
- Researchers returning after career breaks
- Researchers returning after long-term illness
- Early-career researchers working in India
- Researchers collaborating with Indian research organisations
Geographic Eligibility
The fund is open to applicants regardless of geographic location.
Applicants may be based:
- In the United Kingdom
- Internationally
All applicants must meet the programme’s research and qualification requirements.
PhD Requirements
Applicants must have completed a PhD before the funded project begins.
Applicants who have not completed their PhD at the time of application must provide:
- A supporting letter from their host institution
- Confirmation of their contract
- Confirmation that they will hold the required position during the project period
Researcher Eligibility Restrictions
The fund is specifically designed for researchers who cannot easily access conventional funding routes.
It is intended for individuals who:
- Are not eligible to lead standard UKRI grant applications
- Do not currently have equivalent research funding support
- Need seed funding to develop independent research activity
The scheme is not intended for researchers who already have:
- Permanent academic appointments
- Active research fellowships
- Existing funding that supports their research programme
How the Fermor Seed Corn Fund Works
Step 1: Develop an Original Research Proposal
Applicants should create a proposal that explains:
- Research question
- Objectives
- Methodology
- Expected outcomes
- Academic importance
The project should demonstrate originality and potential future impact.
Step 2: Demonstrate Funding Need
Applicants should explain why conventional funding routes are unavailable or unsuitable.
Strong applications should show:
- Career stage challenges
- Funding barriers
- Importance of seed support
Step 3: Prepare a Project Budget
Applicants should provide a realistic budget covering eligible research costs.
The budget should demonstrate:
- Appropriate resource use
- Clear justification of expenses
- Alignment with project objectives
Step 4: Submit Supporting Documentation
Applicants may need to provide:
- Research proposal
- Career information
- Institutional support letters
- Collaboration confirmation letters where applicable
Step 5: Project Delivery and Reporting
Successful applicants will undertake research activities during the funded period and use the results to strengthen future research opportunities.
Eligible and Ineligible Costs
The fund supports research activities but has specific limitations.
Salary Costs
The scheme is not intended to fully fund staff salaries.
If an extension is requested:
- Applicants should request no more than 50% of salary costs
- Salary requests must include strong justification
- Host institutions must provide matching salary support
Overhead Costs
Overhead costs are not covered under this scheme.
Applicants should focus budgets on direct research activities.
What the Fund Supports
The fund supports:
- Original research projects
- Research development activities
- Project-related costs
- Collaboration activities
- Research outputs
The fund does not support:
- Creation of new employment positions
- Full fellowship-style salary support
- Additional funding for already-funded researchers
Common Mistakes Applicants Should Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying with projects that lack originality
- Requesting funding beyond the scheme limit
- Using the grant as a substitute for employment funding
- Failing to explain why traditional funding routes are unavailable
- Submitting incomplete eligibility documentation
- Ignoring salary and overhead restrictions
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:
- Clearly explaining the research gap
- Demonstrating why seed funding is essential
- Showing potential for future research development
- Providing a realistic budget
- Highlighting career development benefits
- Including strong institutional or collaboration support
- Explaining how the project may lead to future funding opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Fermor Seed Corn Fund?
The Fermor Seed Corn Fund provides seed funding for researchers who face difficulties accessing traditional research grants, supporting innovative academic projects and career development.
Who can apply for the fund?
Eligible applicants include early-career researchers, technical staff, research assistants, researchers returning after career breaks or illness, and researchers collaborating with Indian organisations.
How much funding is available?
Grant awards are expected to range from £50,000 to £75,000 on average. Applications above £100,000 are not considered suitable.
How long can funded projects run?
Projects are expected to last between 12 and 24 months.
Can researchers outside the UK apply?
Yes. The fund is open to applicants regardless of geographic location, provided they meet eligibility requirements.
Can the grant be used to create new jobs?
No. The fund supports research projects and is not designed to create new employment positions.
Are salary costs covered?
The fund is not intended to fully cover salaries. Any salary costs must be justified, limited appropriately, and matched by the host institution.
Can researchers with existing fellowships apply?
The fund is generally not intended for researchers who already hold active research fellowships or permanent academic positions with existing research support.
Conclusion
The Fermor Seed Corn Fund provides valuable support for researchers who face barriers in accessing traditional funding opportunities. By supporting early-career researchers, technical staff, returning researchers, and international collaborators, the programme helps generate innovative research while strengthening diverse research careers.
Through targeted seed funding, the fund enables researchers to develop original ideas, build research capacity, and create pathways toward future academic and collaborative success.
For more information, visit The Geological Society.