The 2024 Small Grants Scheme has closed
2024’s Small Grants Scheme awards announced
We are excited to share that three projects have been selected for funding as part of the third round of the IAS Small Grants Scheme.
The call for applications opened in March 2024, and we were thrilled to receive 15 submissions, underscoring the significant demand for funding at this level.
Priority was given to proposals that align with our challenge for 2023-2026: addressing alcohol-related inequalities. The proposals underwent a rigorous two-stage review process with external evaluations. This round was particularly competitive, with a wide range of topics explored and a high standard of applications. All applicants received feedback on their submissions.
The following projects will receive funding in the upcoming months:
- Dr Merve Mollaahmetoglu, University of Sheffield: Understanding barriers to the use of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks to reduce alcohol consumption among individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Dr Vera Buss, University College London: Alcohol use among people experiencing homelessness and access to substance use services in England: identifying treatment needs and policy options.
- Dr Samantha Wilkinson, Manchester Metropolitan University and Dr Catherine Wilkinson, Liverpool John Moores University: Stories of Alcohol Consumption across Generations in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities.
Dr Katherine Severi, Chief Executive at IAS, said:
The projects selected this year focus on addressing evidence gaps in alcohol-related inequalities experienced by different populations: individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, people experiencing homelessness, and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities.
I am eager to see the results of these three studies and hope that these grants will contribute to the development of talented researchers interested in alcohol policy.
Dr Gillian W Shorter, Chair of the IAS Small Grants Scheme Committee and Reader in Clinical Psychology at Queens University Belfast, said:
The IAS Small Grants scheme continues to attract high-quality research proposals from Early Career Researchers in the UK, demonstrating their commitment to addressing alcohol-related health inequalities. These grants fund innovative studies that will advance alcohol policy and the research field.
We look forward to seeing the impact these awards will have on reducing alcohol harms and shaping future alcohol policy decisions whilst fostering the growth of researchers’ careers.
Information about the Scheme
The Small Grants Scheme is currently closed
Level of funding: Between £500 and £10,000
Duration of funding: Up to 12 months
Applicant eligibility: Applicants should normally have a PhD or equivalent professional qualification and be based at a UK university. Applications from researchers less than seven years (FTE) post-PhD are encouraged.
What will be funded: The small grants scheme is designed to support innovative research ideas relevant to UK alcohol policy and will fund the following types of project:
- Systematic and/or rapid evidence reviews
- Pilot and scoping studies
- Preliminary data collection
- Proof-of-concept studies
Projects designed to provide pilot data for submission as part of a larger grant proposal elsewhere in future are particularly encouraged.
The grant can be used to cover the following:
- Salary, research management and support costs
- Conference and meeting costs
- Travel and subsistence, in accordance with the IAS Travel & Subsistence Policy
- Access charges and equipment
We will not fund: Extensions or additions to existing projects, projects which are not relevant to our organisational objectives, course fees, computers/laptops, indirect costs or overheads, national insurance and pension contributions (please see AMRC website).
Application process
The application process has two stages.
IAS is happy to advise how your idea may fit IAS’s objectives and priorities, and to give feedback on dissemination opportunities and potential collaborators. Pre-submission enquiries are encouraged and should be directed to grants@ias.org.uk.
Outline proposals
Outline proposals use the application form provided. Further guidance is available in our FAQ document.
The application includes a CV (for each applicant), and a completed IAS Conflict Of Interest declaration, and an optional list of relevant and recent publications (maximum one page of A4). Applicants should also complete IAS’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion monitoring survey.
Outline applications are submitted to grants@ias.org.uk.
Outline proposals are triaged by IAS staff and reviewed by members of the IAS Small Grants Scheme Research Review Committee* against the following criteria:
- Potential for the proposed research to inform alcohol policy debates
- Relevance to IAS Strategy
- Track record of applicant(s)
- Feasibility of proposed project and its likely outcomes
- Value for money
One application is allowed per Principal Investigator.
Stage 2: Full proposal
Shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a more detailed proposal.
Full proposals will contain a response to reviewers’ comments, a case for support (up to four pages, using the headings from the outline application form), and an itemised budget.
Full proposals will be reviewed by members of the IAS Expert Advisory Panel. Additional opinions may be sought from external peer reviewers.
Applicants are notified of the outcome of their applications. Feedback is be provided for all unsuccessful candidates.
Successful applications
Successful applicants are required to provide a brief progress report six weeks before the end of their project. A template for this report, which is intended to be a brief summary of progress, outcomes and planned outputs, will be provided by IAS.
It is hoped that small grants will lead to future peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs or larger research proposals to other funders.
It is expected that IAS funding will be acknowledged in all published materials.
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* The Research Review Committee comprises: Prof Linda Bauld, University of Edinburgh; Prof Jeff Collin, University of Edinburgh; Prof Gerard Hastings, University of Stirling; Prof Jonathan Shepherd, Cardiff University; Prof Jennifer Maggs, Pennsylvania State University; and Dr Gillian Shorter from Queens University Belfast. Dr Gillian Shorter chairs the committee.
IAS COI declaration for research review committee small grants scheme.