Category: Funding, Studentships & Awards

The Collaboration Kickstarter Seed Fund – Open to applications from 3 November until 17:00 on the 12 December 2025

One of the successful projects part of ‘Collaboration Kickstarter’ which seed funded participatory research projects. This project was by the Interaction Foundry in the Dyson School exploring ‘Psychological Ownership’ amongst refugees and asylum seekers.

The Public and Community Engagement team are very pleased to announce the return of the Collaboration Kickstarter, a seed fund that brings together Imperial researchers and community groups to collaboratively design and deliver research.

This year the fund will be open to applications from 3rd of November until 12th of December 2025 and will award grants of up to £10,000.

Applications should demonstrate that they are use participatory research approaches and be submitted jointly with a Northwest London community partner(s).

If you have an idea for a Kickstarter project, we recommend booking a one-to-one support and advice session to discuss it with our team before applying.

If you would like to know more about whether the fund is right for you, you can join our online information and Q&A webinar on Wednesday the 5th of November, 12pm – 1pm.

GOT A PLAN FOR A COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT? 

The Collaboration Kickstarter brings together researchers and community groups to collaboratively design and deliver research. If you want to know if the fund is right for you, come along to our online Q&A webinar.

Already got an idea? We recommend booking a one-to-one advice session before applying.

MIT-Imperial Seed Fund 2025-26 applications (Deadline 16 December 2025)

Now in its 11th year, the MIT-Imperial Seed Fund aims to help kick-start early-stage projects that lead to high-impact research, discovery science and the deployment of frontier technologies.  Grants between $30k to $50k are available, and our 2025 round is now open for applications!

MIT is one of Imperial’s top partners for research collaborations, publishing over 400 joint papers each year. Since the fund launched a decade ago, it has invested over $1 million in pioneering science and bluesky collaborations across artificial intelligence, climate adaptation, precision medicine, sustainable materials, space systems, and more.

The Fund is open to MIT and Imperial academics representing all disciplines and departments.  The grants can be used for kick-starter activities such as supporting exploratory research, enabling visits and workshops between the two universities, running hackathons, and/or facilitating exchanges for students and staff. 

Proposals must be submitted jointly by either the lead PI for Imperial or MIT through this portal MIT Global Seed Funds 2025-2026 – MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI)

More information is here: MIT-Imperial Seed Fund | Administration and support services | Imperial College London

Closing date: 16 December 2025 (23.59 Boston, EST time)

Royal Society – Career Development Fellowship (Deadline 19 November 2025)

The Career Development Fellowship provides the most talented early career scientists from underrepresented groups in STEM with research funding and high-quality training opportunities to build a strong base for a successful research career.

The deadline for applying is 19 November 2025.

Azrieli International Fellowships (Deadlines 27 Oct and 19 November 2025)

Applications are now open for the Azrieli International Postdoctoral Fellowship and the Azrieli International Visiting PhD Fellowship, both for exceptional international researchers. Please note that candidates for each fellowship must secure an academic sponsor in Israel before applying.

Azrieli International Postdoctoral Fellowship (2026–27)

The online application is now open, and closes on 19 November 2025. This fellowship supports postdoctoral researchers from all disciplines to advance their work at Israeli academic institutions. Fellows receive a 14,000 ILS monthly stipend for a period of up to three years.

Azrieli International Visiting PhD Fellowship (Spring 2026)

The online application is now open for the Spring 2026 cohort, with a deadline of 27 October 2025. This fellowship enables PhD candidates to undertake short-term research at leading academic institutions in Israel. Fellows receive 12,000 ILS per month for up to four months. Please note: Applications for the Fall 2026 semester will open in March 2026.

For more than 35 years, the Azrieli Foundation has been dedicated to strengthening communities and improving people’s lives through strategic and impactful giving, supporting initiatives in education, science & healthcare, research and the arts, across communities in Canada and Israel. For more information: https://azrielifoundation.org/.

Become a Scientist Founder with Wilbe (BSF) – Now Live!

Become a Scientist Founder by Wilbe is live!

A free, open-access platform to help scientists and engineers move from research to enduring real-world impact with speed and precision.
Inside you’ll find:

  • A guided path to explore entrepreneurship, lay foundations, or build a company in 10 days.
  • A private community + weekly office hourswith the Wilbe team.
  • Access to curated events, lab space, and the wider Wilbe ecosystem.

Start now: wilbe.com

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Become a Scientist Founder by @wilbe_science is live!

A free, open-access platform helping scientists + engineers turn research into real-world impact with speed and precision.

  • 10-day guided path
  • Community + office hours
  • Events, labs, ecosystem

wilbe.com

Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships (deadline: 19 Nov 2025)

The Leverhulme Trust will open the next round of its Centenary Doctoral Scholarships programme on Monday 3 November 2025, offering up to £5 million to fund 30 interdisciplinary doctoral scholarships. The call will close in March 2026. Full details are available on the Leverhulme Trust website.

Internal Selection Process

Imperial may only submit one application as lead institution. Each department may nominate one proposal for internal shortlisting, submitted via the attached template to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk by the Director of Postgraduate Studies or delegate.

Key Dates

  • Wednesday 19 November 2025 – Internal submission deadline
  • Monday 1 December 2025 – Review and selection by Research Advisory Group
  • Post-1 December 2025 – Outcomes shared with departments
  • December 2025 – March 2026 – Final proposal preparation and institutional approvals
  • March 2026 – Leverhulme submission deadline

For queries, please contact Suzanne Husein or your Director of Postgraduate Studies (or delegate).

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Awards – Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UKs Innovation & Entrepreneurship Awards recognise researchers tackling cancer with an entrepreneurial mindset. These Awards are ideal for those exploring the next steps in their careers or developing start-ups in this space.

Winners gain funding, increased visibility for their work, and access to a network of industry professionals, investors, and fellow entrepreneurs. Nominations are now open, with a deadline of 17 March.

Find out more and nominate here.

Postgraduate Climate-Conscious Travel Fund

Postgraduate Climate-Conscious Travel Fund 

Postgraduate climate-conscious travel fund guidance document

The Postgraduate climate-conscious travel fund is designed to help postgraduate students make more sustainable travel choices by compensating for the higher costs involved. If you are a postgraduate student and wish to apply, please review the guidance document linked above which provides more detail on what the fund covers, and complete the application form. 

Find out more about sustainable travel on the Imperial website: Sustainable travel | About | Imperial College London

Merck Research Grants

2021 Merck research grants – Merck Research Grants

This year we are offering research grants of 40k€ – 450k€ per year for up to 3 years in the areas of: drug discovery, real time testing and sensors, nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery, digital innovation, bioelectronics, sustainability, media recycling for cultured meat, organoids

Find out more details and apply today at:

http://researchgrants.merckgroup.com (for world except U.S. and Canada)
http://researchgrants.emdgroup.com (for U.S. and Canada)

 

 

Advanced Research Opportunities Program (AROP)

We have recently established a new scholarship which can be used for PhD students and Post-Docs wanting to conduct research stays at RWTH Aachen University. The “Advanced Research Opportunities Program (AROP)” offers a travel grant of 1.000€ (lump sum) and a monthly stipend of 1.800€ for a period of up to 6 months.
The goal of the program is to strengthen and intensify bilateral relations between RWTH Aachen University and international universities and research institutions of strategic relevance. Among other purposes, the research stays may be used to prepare joint research projects and publications, initiate joint projects in the field of capacity building, develop teaching projects at the partner university, and organize future visits and student exchange programs.

More information on the program can be found here. If you have any further questions, please get in touch with Dr. Daniel Holder.