Independent Social Research Foundation

Current Competitions

The ISRF competitions schedule can vary - potential applicants are advised to sign up to our mailing list to receive news about competition launches and deadlines.

Deadline 14/02/25

Early Career Fellowship (ECF8)

The Independent Social Research Foundation wishes to support early career scholars (up to 10 years post-PhD) to explore and present original research ideas which take new approaches, and suggest new solutions, to real world social problems.

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.

Explore Funding

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

7 min

Fear Factor

Christopher Newfield

In this Director’s Note, Christopher Newfield makes the case for a renewed respect for academics as a professional class.

13 min

Responding to the Social, Political and Ecological Crisis by Prioritising Migrant and Disability Justice

Rebecca Yeo

In this contribution to Bulletin 31, Rebecca Yeo argues that campaigns for migrant justice and disability justice have much to learn from one another.

18 min

Climate Change, Land Governance, and Migration in Zimbabwe’s Chipinge Rural District

Eric Kushinga Makombe

In this contribution to Bulletin 31, Eric Kushinga Makombe explores the links between corporate land grabs, intensifying climate change, and local migration trends in Chipinge Rural District, Zimbabwe.

13 min

Democratic Backsliding in the Sahel and the Myth of Migration to Europe

Michael Nwankpa

In this contribution to Bulletin 31, Michael Nwankpa argues that democratic backsliding in the Sahel is partly caused by cynical interventions by Western states motivated by myths of mass African migration.

16 min

Towards a Deep History of Gaia: Displacements, Integration, and Rights Beyond Migration Myths

Aurea Mota

In this contribution to Bulletin 31, Aurea Mota discusses the radical potential and political limits of rights of nature in the effort to achieve environmental justice.

10 min

Research After Trump

Christopher Newfield

In this Director’s Note, Christopher Newfield charts the destructive implications Donald Trump’s election will likely have on higher education.

15 min

‘Migrants have been beaten, hounded by dogs and burned with cigarettes’ – on the frontline of the Poland-Belarus border crisis

Joanna Klimowicz

Families attempting to start a new life in Europe have become stuck in the woods between two countries, regularly receiving horrific treatment at the hands of the authorities.

8 min

What Newfoundland – and Messy Family Histories – Can Tell Us About the Harms of Colonialism

Matt Warren

ISRF Fellow Julia Laite’s family have been on Newfoundland since the 17th century. Her latest project explores ancestry, empire, exploitation – and Shanawdithit, the Beothuk woman who witnessed the death of her world under colonialism.

View all Blog Posts

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.

23rd January, 2025

18:00 - 20:00 GMT

Like Lockdown Never Happened

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

Learn more

27th February, 2025

17:00 - 19:00 WET/GMT

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.

Learn more

Past events

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.