The Wellcome Trust has indicated that it is eager to invest more of its funding into Humanities and Social Sciences, to give researchers in these disciplines the opportunity to apply for large grants spanning long periods of time, in order to develop bold and creative research in these fields.
As a result, the Faculty Research team has devised the below process to support researchers to develop competitive applications to these calls.
The schemes
There are three awards that fall under the Wellcome Discovery Programme:
- Early Career Award - This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity.
- Career Development Award - This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders.
- Discovery Award - This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline.
All three awards are looking to support bold and creative research ideas that deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. Please see Wellcome’s funding remit here for eligibility information for these schemes.
Internal HSS Support Process
Given the competitive nature of this scheme, the HSS Faculty has put in place an internal support process for potential candidates.
Early Career Award
An in-depth workshop will be held by the Faculty team for potential applicants to attend to find out more about the scheme and get tips on how to develop an application. Following this, applicants will have the (optional) opportunity to discuss their application's readiness and fit to the Wellcome ECR award with the Faculty team
Applicants submitting a full application will receive tailored support to develop and strengthen their application draft to be as competitive as possible. Complementing local support provided by mentors, Departments and Schools, the Faculty will offer peer review of individual application drafts, providing feedback to strengthen proposals before submission.
Details of the full process and timeline can be found below.
May 2024 Round
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Thursday 7 March 2024 10am-11.30am | HSS general information session – all awards. Book via Eventbrite here. |
| Wednesday 13 March 2024 1pm | HSS information session – Early Career Awards. Book via Eventbrite here. |
|
Monday 18 March 2024 5pm [OPTIONAL] |
“Sounding Board” deadline (Wellcome Trust Discovery Early Career Award EOI [Word doc 0.1MB] proforma can be used). Applicants to get in touch with Faculty via hssrke@liverpool.ac.uk if they would like to discuss readiness or fit of research, or discuss the process further. The Faculty team will be in touch to arrange a discussion ahead of Easter. |
|
Monday 15 April 2024 5pm |
Potential applicants to send their full application to Faculty via hssrke@liverpool.ac.uk for peer review. Sponsors for award must also submit draft statements as part of full applications by this date. |
| By Thursday 25 April | Faculty to send applicants full application feedback |
|
Thursday 16 May |
Applicants to submit full application for institutional approval |
|
Tuesday 21 May 5pm |
Wellcome Trust deadline for submission (external) |
| July 2024 | Wellcome Trust shortlisting |
| 15-17 October 2024 | Interviews Early Career Awards |
October 2024 Round
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
|
Friday 17 May 5pm 2024 |
Interested applicants to send a short Intention to Submit to hssrke@liverpool.ac.uk This is for administrative and planning purposes only (not assessed) and should include: Name and Department of applicant Brief summary of your project idea (no more than 100 words) |
|
Friday 31 May 5pm 2024 |
Candidates to send the latest draft of their Expression of Interest for peer review to the Faculty R&I Team (hssrke@liverpool.ac.uk) and cc in their School Research Team. This should be completed on pro-forma (template available on the Faculty website). Feedback can be expected by 25 June. |
| Monday 29 July 5pm |
Candidates to send the latest draft of their full application to both the Faculty R&I Team (hssrke@liverpool.ac.uk) and their School Research Team for individual peer review. Faculty will coordinate funder-specific peer review while Schools will coordinate discipline-specific peer review. We are aware this is over summer vacation – if this is an issue get in touch with hssrke@liverpool.ac.uk as soon as possible. Sponsors for award must also submit draft statements as part of full applications by this date. Feedback can be expected by Friday 23 August. |
| Tuesday 24 September 5pm 2024 | Applicants to submit full application (internal deadline) |
| Tuesday 1 October 5pm 2024 | Wellcome Trust deadline for submission (external) |
| December 2024 | Wellcome Trust Shortlisting |
| 11 - 13 March 2025 | Interviews Early Career Award |
Career Development and Discovery Awards
Applicants will be asked to send their EoIs to Faculty for peer review. Applicants will then be advised as to whether their application fits within Wellcome’s remit and its readiness to be developed into full application for this round.
Applicants advised to move forward with their full application will then receive tailored support to develop and strengthen their application draft to be as competitive as possible. Complementing local support provided by mentors, Departments and Schools, the Faculty will hold an information workshop on how to develop a compelling application, as well as offering peer review of individual application drafts, providing feedback to strengthen proposals before submission.
Details of the full process and timeline can be found below.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Thursday 7 March 2024 10am-11.30am | HSS general information session. Book via Eventbrite here. |
| Wednesday 20 March 2024 11.30am-12.30pm | HSS information session for Career Development and Discovery Awards calls. Book via Eventbrite here. |
|
Monday 22 April 2024 5pm All awards |
Potential applicants to send their EoI pro forma to Faculty via hssrke@liverpool.ac.uk using these templates: Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards Career Development EOI [Word Doc 0.1MB] Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards Discovery EOI [Word Doc 0.1MB] |
| By Friday 3 May 2024 | Faculty to send applicants EoI feedback. |
|
Weds 8 May 2024 11.30am-12.30pm All awards |
Faculty to hold workshop to support applicants developing full applications. Book via Eventbrite here. |
|
Monday 10 June 2024 5pm All awards |
Applicants to send their full application to Faculty via hssrke@liverpool.ac.uk Sponsors for Career Development Award must also submit draft statements as part of full applications by this date. |
| By Friday 21 June 5pm | Faculty to send applicants full application feedback |
| Friday 19 July 2024 | Applicants to submit full application for institutional approval |
| Thursday 25 July, 5pm | Wellcome Trust deadline for submission Career Development Awards (external) |
| Tuesday 30 July, 5pm | Wellcome Trust deadline for submission Discovery Award (external) |
| October 2024 | Wellcome Trust Shortlisting all awards |
| 14-16 January 2025 | Wellcome Trust Interviews Career Development |
| 21-23 January 2025 | Wellcome Trust Interviews Discovery Award |
Any queries?
If you have any questions regarding this process relating to your School or Department, please contact your School Research Team who will be able to further advise:
- School of the Arts – Please contact sotares@liverpool.ac.uk
- School of Histories, Languages and Cultures – Please contact hlcrsrch@liverpool.ac.uk
- School of Law and Social Justice – Please contact SLSJRI@liverpool.ac.uk
- Management School – Please contact ulmsfund@liverpool.ac.uk
If you have questions about this process at Faculty level please contact the Faculty Research & Impact Team at hssrke@liverpool.ac.uk.