LIFTS is designed to recognise research leadership and complements other ways by which the University supports research. The scheme provides a limited amount of funding to enable researchers to develop complex proposals within which they assume the leadership role. Any funding awarded must be used to enable the development of research funding proposals with a level of complexity which is “a step up” from the normal application within the expectations of a particular research sector. It is expected that proposals will include multiple investigators across a range of disciplines and/or other institutions / stakeholders. The caliber of scheme considered for this proposal leadership call include (but is not limited to) the following examples: EPSRC Programme Grant, a collaborative AHRC Research Grant, a Leverhulme Research Centre or a complex multi-partner proposal with the EU Horizon Europe programme.
Support Provided
LIFTS funding will be provided to the home academic School of the research proposal leader (with the possibility of joint leadership between Schools). The awarded funding may be used flexibly to provide the support needed to enable a grant to be submitted by the deadline of the relevant funding call or opportunity. Uses for funding could include providing teaching support to create additional time for the preparation of the proposal, travel support to enable visits to partners or to fund incoming visits by partners relevant for proposal development. It is expected that the budget will be transferred between Schools where this is appropriate, for example where co-leadership of an interdisciplinary proposal is undertaken.
Level of funding
Funding requests should be made in terms of number of months of effort up to a maximum of three months, with a maximum total per month of £4,500. Any unused funding must be returned at the end of the funding period. The University reserves the right to reclaim the full value of the funding from the following year’s School budget should the grant submission objectives be unmet without good reason. The University will apportion a maximum of £100,000 per annum through LIFTS.
Process of application
Academics interested in accessing this funding must discuss the suitability of their proposal with their Director of Research (and Director of Impact, if appropriate) and Head of School. Applications must also be discussed with RBD and an engagement plan formed with RBD to support the preparation of the funding proposal. RBD will be asked to comment separately on all applications made through this scheme as part of the assessment process.
This call is open from Aug 2025 to July 2026 as new opportunities present themselves.
The application must be made by the Head of School of the Principal Leader online. Joint applications are accepted, need to be submitted by one applicant only and the request should indicate the relevant financial split between the participating Schools.
Funding decisions
A review panel, chaired by Professor Tom Brown Vice-Principal (Research, Collections and Innovation), will discuss and review submissions. Membership includes the Master, Vice-Principal (International Strategy and External Relations) and Senior Vice-Principal, Assistant Vice-Principal Dean of Arts and Divinity, Assistant Vice-Principal Dean of Science, Vice-Principal (People and Diversity), Vice-Principal (Strategy, Policy and Planning). The Chair may also request further academic expertise, if required. Submissions will be assessed on four main criteria: quality of the proposal, the funding scheme being applied to, the alignment to University Strategy Objectives and the EDI aspects of the submission.
In making the assessment, the panel will also be asked to consider:
- The type of funding being sought by the Principal Leader
- The ambition of the funding proposal in relation to the Principal Leader’s career stage
- The likelihood of the success of the proposal
- The Principal Leader’s track record in research funding applications and their previous success from the targeted scheme
- RBD feedback on the quality of the application
- The HoS support statement.
Decisions will be conveyed to respective HoSs no later than four weeks after the application is made.