Senior Investigator Awards
Purpose
Senior Investigator Awards support exceptional, world-class researchers, who hold an established academic position and have a compelling long-term vision for their research. We will support researchers who have an international track-record of significant achievement, who have demonstrated the originality and impact of their research, and who are leading their field.
Senior Investigator Awards provide support that is flexible and at a level and length sufficient to enable exceptional researchers to address the most important questions about health and disease.
The research should contribute to the Wellcome Trust's vision to achieve extraordinary improvements in human and animal health, and the proposal should describe how it will address one or more of our five major challenges. These are set out in our ten-year Strategic Plan for 2010-2020.
Further information and FAQs on the Investigator Awards scheme
What's included
- Senior Investigator Awards provide a flexible package of funding and may be for up to seven years.
- A Senior Investigator Award might be in the range of £100k to £425k per year. Please note that awards may not necessarily be made at the upper end of this range, and we expect costs to be suited to and justified by the proposed research.
The award covers the direct costs of carrying out the research, such as:
- research expenses, including research assistance, animals, equipment and funding for collaborative activity
- travel and subsistence for scientifically justified visits
- overseas allowances where appropriate.
The award does not include your salary costs. These must be provided by your host institution.
You are expected to justify the costs requested. The costs awarded will be finalised after the decision to fund an application is made and will depend on the recommendations of the Selection Panel. Please note that any award will not exceed the total amount requested.
Please note that the Trust does not fund on a proportion of full economic costs (fEC) basis.
See Costs guidance for Investigator Awards for more information.
Further information and FAQs on the Investigator Awards scheme
Eligibility
If you are based in the UK, Republic of Ireland or a low- or middle-income country:
- You should have an established academic post at an eligible higher education or research institution. By this we mean you are employed on a permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract, salaried by your host institution.
- You are also eligible to apply if you have a written guarantee of an established academic post at your host institution, which you will take up by the start of the award.
If you are uncertain as to whether your employment status meets the above eligibility criteria, please contact the Trust for advice (see 'Contacts').
If you are based in a low- or middle-income country in sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia or South Asia (with the exception of India – see below) please note also that:
- You are eligible to apply if you fulfil the above eligibility criteria and are working within the Trust’s broad science funding remit.
If you are based in a low- or middle-income country other than in the territories mentioned above, please note that:
- You are eligible to apply only if you are a researcher carrying out research in the fields of public health and tropical medicine. Research projects should be aimed at understanding and controlling diseases (either animal or human) of relevance to local, national or global health. This can include laboratory based molecular analysis of field or clinical samples, but projects focused solely on studies in vitro or using animal models, will not normally be considered.
- The Senior Investigator Award scheme is not available to researchers in India (please see guidance on schemes offered by the Wellcome Trust/Department of Biotechnology India Alliance), or in countries where we currently offer International Senior Research Fellowships.
Further information and FAQs on the Investigator Awards scheme
Other eligibility information
- If you are employed at an eligible core-funded research institute, the research you propose for a Senior Investigator Award should be distinct from, and not intended to replace, activities already funded through other forms of support in that institute.
- We encourage applications from outstanding individuals who have worked in industry or other non-academic research environments, or who have taken career breaks. Time spent outside a research environment (full- or part-time) will be considered when assessing your eligibility.
- If you are a research worker who has retired or will reach retirement age during the proposed term of the grant, you might be eligible to apply, subject to the policy of your host institution and with the support of a sponsor at your host institution. Please contact the Trust for advice.
- Royal Society and RCUK researchers are advised to contact the Trust.
- Unsuccessful applicants will normally be expected to wait 12 months before resubmitting an application, and must first discuss their resubmission with the Trust.
- You may hold only one Senior Investigator Award at any one time.
Joint applications
We will consider parallel, linked applications from two individuals who are working closely together towards a shared vision. Please contact the Trust for advice.
Further information and FAQs on the Investigator Awards scheme
Suitability
Senior Investigator Awards are highly sought after, prestigious awards. We aim to select world-leading researchers who have an established track record of significant achievement that demonstrates the originality and impact of their research; who have international reputations for excellence; and who propose a compelling long-term vision for their research to explore the most challenging and important questions in their field of study.
We expect that you:
- are an internationally recognised research leader
- have made significant contributions to your field - demonstrated by a substantial record of publications in your chosen area of research
- have a strong track record of attracting sustained and substantial research grant support from major funding bodies, or have been the recipient of a senior research fellowship prior to taking up your current post
- have a strong training record supporting the development and mentoring of less experienced researchers.
Host institution - what the Trust expects
The environment in which you will undertake your research, and the nature of the support promised by the host institution, are important factors when we are evaluating your application.
Your full application must be accompanied by a statement of commitment on behalf of your host institution from the most senior authority in the relevant faculty, school or division. This should express:
- why your institution considers that you, in particular, merit Senior Investigator Award status
- how your institution will support you to ensure that the ambitions of your research proposal can be achieved
- how your research proposal complements and addresses your institution's strategic aims and priorities.
The statement should also confirm:
- the nature of your employment contract and its compliance with our eligibility criteria for a Senior Investigator Award
- the source of your salary for the duration of the award
- that the necessary additional space, facilities and infrastructure will be made available to you for the research for the duration of the award
- details of any support (financial, administrative, technical or other assistance) that your institution will commit to supporting the application.
Application process
Awards will be made following a rigorous review process and interview.
Stage 1: CV details check
We are offering an optional CV details checking stage to help advise potential applicants on their eligibility and suitability for the scheme. We strongly recommend that you take advantage of this stage.
If you wish to request a CV details check, complete and submit the relevant form via the Trust’s eGrants online application system (note: select the Investigator Award in Biomedical Science form in the form type drop-down menu under ‘Preliminary Stage Application’). You are strongly advised to refer to the Additional information for completing the Investigator Award form on eGrants, which provides an overview to help guide you through the Investigator Award application process.
Stage 2: Main application
The main application form for Senior Investigator Awards is available on
eGrants (note: select the Investigator Award in Biomedical Science form in the form type drop-down menu under ‘Full Application’). You are strongly advised to refer to the
Additional information for completing the Investigator Award form on eGrants, which provides an overview to help guide you through the Investigator Award application process.
You may also find it useful to read the
Costs guidance for Investigator Awards.
Please see ‘Key Dates’ for details of the next full application closing date.
Stage 3: Scientific review and shortlisting
Main applications are reviewed and shortlisted for interview by one of the Trust's
Expert Review Groups.
If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be asked to provide additional information on your application. This will include details relating to (as appropriate):
- your data management/sharing plan
- your proposed clinical trial
- your proposed use of animals challenges.
Stage 4: External peer review
Before interview and final selection, we will seek comments from external referees.
Stage 5: Interview
Shortlisted applicants are interviewed by the
Investigator Award Selection Panel.
Assessment criteria
All experts involved in reviewing and selecting candidates for award are asked to consider applications against the following criteria:
- the track record of the candidate and his or her standing in the field
- the quality and importance of the research question(s)
- the approach to solving these questions
- the suitability of the research environment
- how the proposed research addresses one or more of our major challenges.
Award process
If successful, and before an award is made, candidates will be asked to provide:
- full details of the costs requested
- information on human participation, biological samples and personal data
- information on consultancies, equities, directorships and commercial exploitation
- details of key collaborator(s)
- other details, as required.
See Costs guidance for Investigator Awards for more information.
Unsuccessful applicants will normally be expected to wait 12 months before resubmitting an application, and must first discuss their resubmission with the Trust.
Successful applicants may have the opportunity to apply for Enhancement funding. Details can be found here.
Details of the first Investigator Award recipients can be found
here.
Further information and FAQs on the Investigator Awards scheme
Key dates
Applications are considered four times a year and all submissions will now be processed according to published closing dates. The closing date for the next round of full applications is:
- Next full application closing date: 2 March 2012
- Shortlisting of candidates by Expert Review Group: April/May 2012
- Shortlisted candidate interviews by Selection Panel: 17-19 July 2012
Details of the next round:
- Next full application closing date: 20 July 2012
- Shortlisting of candidates by Expert Review Group: September 2012
- Shortlisted candidate interviews by Selection Panel: 27-29 November 2012
Schedule for full applications submitted to 16 December 2011 closing date:
- Shortlisting of candidates by Expert Review Group: February 2011
- Shortlisted candidate interviews by Selection Panel: 15-17 May 2012
Details of the first Investigator Award recipients can be found
here.
Details of the second round of Investigator Award recipients can be found
here.
Contacts
Enquiries may be emailed to investigators@wellcome.ac.uk or telephone our Grants Management Service Desk: +44 (0)20 7611 2020.