Independent Social Research Foundation

Recent Fellows and Associates

We fund research projects through competitive grant programmes aimed at UK and European scholars working across the social sciences and humanities.

Dr Anthony Ince

Mid-Career Fellow 2025-26

Dr Ludek Stavinoha

Mid-Career Fellow 2025-26

Professor Nick Megoran

Mid-Career Fellow 2025-26

Professor Phillip Ayoub

Mid-Career Fellow 2025-26

Dr Thomas Raymen

Mid-Career Fellow 2025-26

Professor Yasminah Beebeejaun

Mid-Career Fellow 2025

Search our Fellows

Funding

We support independent-minded researchers exploring and presenting original research ideas which take new approaches, and suggest new solutions, to real-world social problems.

ISRF Funding is awarded competitively through a series of Grant Competitions for individual Fellowships and small group projects.

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Early Career Fellows

Scholars within 10 years of PhD award.

Mid-Career Fellows

Scholars more than 10 years post-PhD.

Independent Scholar Fellows

Independent scholars who do not hold an appointment at an institution of higher education and research.

First Book Fellows

Scholars within 3 years of PhD award.

Political Economy Fellows

Scholars working in Political Economy.

Collaborative Fellows

Pairs of scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds.

Small Group Projects

For groups of 2-10 scholars.

Other Projects and Partnerships

Non-competitively funded projects, institutional partnerships and discretionary awards.

Blog

5 min

Three Memorable Ways the COVID Pandemic Shaped Black Music – Five Years On

Joy White

Allowed outside for a mere one hour per day, for many of us, Black musical forms offered a way to pass the time. In a period of social isolation, it also connected us with each other.

15 min

The Unvirtuous Circle

Sean Kippin

In this contribution to Bulletin 32, Sean Kippin explores the record of different far-right political parties on immigration policy, arguing that their policy failure feeds into further populist rhetoric on migration.

19 min

The Fight About AI

Christopher Newfield

In this Director’s Note, Christopher Newfield shares some of his thoughts ahead of the forthcoming "Social and Cultural Frameworks for ‘Artificial Intelligence’" workshop.

16 min

Can We Be Optimistic for Our Grandchildren?

Constantinos Repapis

In this contribution to Bulletin 32, Constantinos Repapis revisits John Maynard Keynes's 1930 essay, Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren, to reflect on the current polycrisis.

15 min

Towards a Green International Monetary System

Nicolás Águila, Paula Haufe and Joscha Wullweber

In this contribution to Bulletin 32, Nicolás Águila, Paula Haufe and Joscha Wullweber argue for the Ecor, a new international monetary tool, based on Keynes's Bancor, that could break the current impasse surrounding climate transition financing.

5 min

How refugee entrepreneurs are supplying sustainable energy to the camps they live in

Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen

Refugees are providing energy within camps home to millions of displaced people around the world, establishing shops, phone charging stations, even cinemas.

15 min

‘Stress Testing Democracy’

Adam Balcer

In this contribution to Bulletin 32, Adam Balcer discusses the sharp rise in anti-immigrant sentiment in Poland and its normalisation at the hands of centrist politicians.

9 min

Fairness in University Financing

Lars Cornelissen

Lars Cornelissen argues that the debate over university financing is hampered by a limited conception of what fairness means and, by extension, what universities are really for.

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Events

We host a variety of events which aim to provide a platform for ISRF Fellows to report on their research projects, and also to contribute to broader conversations and discussions across the social sciences.

10th Mar - 11th Mar, 2025

Social & Cultural Frameworks for ‘Artificial Intelligence’

A closed workshop which aims to identify a line or lines of research that could lead to a longer funded project.

Learn more

20th March, 2025

18:00 - 19:30 GMT

The Sound of Difference

An in-person & online book launch and conversation with Dr Kristina Kolbe, author of 'The Sound of Difference'.

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3rd April, 2025

18:30 - 20:30 BST

Like Lockdown Never Happened - Documentary Screening

Five years on from lockdown, we reflect on how music kept us going. A film screening with Q&A.

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Past events

7th Mar 2025

The Politics of Unemployment Policy in Britain

An in-person book launch and conversation with Dr Jay Wiggan, author of 'The Politics of Unemployment Policy in Britain'.

27th Feb 2025

Spying on Muslims in Colonial Mozambique, 1964-74

An in-person & online book launch and conversation with Dr Sandra Araújo, author of 'Spying on Muslims in Colonial Mozambique, 1964-74'.

23rd Jan 2025

Like Lockdown Never Happened

An in-person book launch and conversation with Dr Joy White, author of Like Lockdown Never Happened.

28th Nov 2024

Voices in the Dark

An in-person & online book launch and conversation with Dr Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen, author of Voices in the Dark, also featuring Samer Abdelnour & Kirsten McConnachie.

13th Nov 2024

Crude Capitalism

An in-person & online book launch and conversation with Professor Adam Hanieh, author of Crude Capitalism, also featuring Adrienne Buller & Angus McNelly.