Varley Gradwell Fellowships - Varley Gradwell Travelling Fellowships in Insect Ecology

Benefit

You will receive up to approximately 2,900 EUR (up to 2,500 GBP) to fund fieldwork, travel and other activities in the field of insect ecology. The fellowship runs for one year from an agreed start date and cannot be extended. It is awarded by the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford from a fund named after the two insect ecologists Varley and Gradwell. Depending on the budget, several fellowships may be awarded in a single round.

Who can apply

• Career stage: You are in the first few years after completing your PhD. PhD students and other postgraduate students may also apply if they have a compelling research proposal. Research projects by undergraduates are not eligible for funding.
• Field: Your project must make a direct contribution to insect ecology, i.e. to research into insects and their environment.
• Where you go: The money is used to fund travel and field research abroad.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Collecting specimens: If you intend to collect a large number of specimens, your budget must specify how these will be processed and who will identify them. You must also work with local scientists to obtain export permits and, upon request, hand over identified specimens to institutions in the country of origin.

How to apply

Please apply by email to the Scholarship Office of the Department of Biology. Send a one-page CV and a two-page research proposal, including a budget. Please ask your referees to submit two letters of recommendation directly; PhD students must provide a letter of recommendation from their supervisor. The application deadline is 1 May.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is narrowly defined: your project must clearly contribute to insect ecology, and it is aimed at early-career researchers and outstanding PhD students, meaning that only a small number of people meet the eligibility criteria. Applications are assessed on the basis of their practical relevance and the contribution they make to the field. A well-thought-out, financially sound proposal that clearly fits within the field of insect ecology has good prospects, and several grants may be awarded in a single round.