Earlier this year, the ESRC announced in their Delivery Plan that the popular First Grants scheme was to be discontinued and replaced by a “Future Research Leaders” scheme. Details on this scheme have been thin on the ground, but today the ESRC has officially opened the call for the first round along with guidance notes and eligibility rules for applicants:

ESRC: Future Research Leaders

There is a two-stage application process with the initial deadline for outlines on 15th September 2011. It’s worth noting the eligibility criteria and guidance on institutional support:

The scheme is open to high-quality candidates from anywhere in the world who have a maximum of four years’ postdoctoral experience and the support of an eligible UK research organisation. The proposed host research organisation will be required to demonstrate a high level of commitment to the applicant’s career development.

Therefore if you are interested in applying it’s crucial to have the support of your Head of School and to discuss with an experienced academic at an early stage.

Prof. Hugh Bochel and I intend to run workshops, similar to those we ran for the ESRC First Grants scheme, later in the summer to help refine bids for this outline stage for University of Lincoln applicants. I will blog more about these events when a date has been set.