University of Oxford Strategic Research Fund
Next Divisional Deadline: 8 November 2024
The Strategic Research Fund (SRF) seeks to build lasting research capacity through major transformative co-investments in researchers and research that:
- position the University for global pre-eminence and fosters a cohort of outstanding researchers and research leaders;
- typically span disciplines and existing internal structures;
- demonstrate the case for ongoing sustainability through departmental/divisional co-investment both alongside and beyond the SRF-funded period.
SRF projects should be transformative, people-focused, advance University strategies, be sustainable, at scale, interdisciplinary and should be linked to major and strategic external opportunities with similar transformative aims.
The SRF's emphasis will be on investment in people and creating new ongoing posts. An SRF investment should normally create permanent posts or develop new capabilities that underpin and advance interdisciplinary research at Oxford via ongoing posts.
The SRF will NOT fund ‘business as usual' activity, overheads, studentship costs or activities that would more appropriately be supported by existing internal or external funding sources (e.g. the John Fell Fund).
Full guidance on the Strategic Research Fund is available on University Research Support's page.
Application Process
Applications to the SRF require Divisional approval. Applicants should firstly contact research@law.ox.ac.uk to notify the Research Administration team of their interest in applying to this scheme. It is our preference that you contact us at minimum two weeks prior to your intended date of submission to the Social Sciences Division. The Division requests that applicants complete an Expression of Interest form and that this be sent to armando.romanzozaya@socsci.ox.ac.uk.
Although applications can be sent whenever ready, unless the application is an urgent and extraordinary request the Division will only assess EOIs twice per year, in Hilary Term and Michaelmas Term (the submission deadlines will be Friday Week 4 of the term). The Michaelmas 2024 Divisional application deadline is expected to be Friday 8 November 2024.
EOIs will be reviewed by a Divisional panel. If a project is selected for submission to the SRF, the Division will work with the applicant and Faculty Research Administrators in preparing a full SRF proposal. This will be submitted to SRF once ready and when the Division considers it appropriate.