Deadlines
Hilary term deadline: Friday Wk 6 (22nd February)
Applications are invited from groups of Oxford researchers interested in establishing a new interdisciplinary TORCH-Oxford Martin School research network, on areas of overlapping interest, to promote collaboration between the Humanities Division and the other Divisions in the University of Oxford.
Both TORCH and the Oxford Martin School are part of the University of Oxford and stimulate and fund research that cuts across disciplines and leads to wider impact.
TORCH (The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities) supports research activity that transcends disciplinary and institutional boundaries, and facilitates external partnerships. The Oxford Martin School supports research across all four divisions of the University, focusing on solutions to complex global challenges.
TORCH and the Oxford Martin School will co- sponsor a new interdisciplinary research network. We will provide funding, venues in our buildings, a web-page on the TORCH and Oxford Martin School website, and associated communications and publicity. Funding will be up to £5,000 per year for a maximum of 2 years. Funding is renewed for the 2nd year, following a 1st year report to be approved by the TORCH Management Committee and the Oxford Martin School Management Team.
TORCH and the Oxford Martin School do not seek to set agendas in terms of the choice of research theme or prospective range of activities, nor do we set an initial threshold for the size of a new network. As examples of research areas that may be of interest, we highlight here research related to gender and wider diversity, environment, medicine and wellbeing, and digital worlds. We welcome innovative applications that will enable small groups of scholars to create a new network and introduce research agendas that will develop during the course of the year(s). Priority will be given to cross-disciplinary projects that aim to leave a lasting research legacy in the form of generating self-sustaining networks, publications, knowledge-exchange activity, real-world change/solutions, and/or future grant applications.
Funding
Network funding can be used for purposes relating to the network only. This includes visiting speaker travel/accommodation, refreshments for events, event room hire where needed, printing for posters etc., casual payroll for conference support (we have strict rules on this so please ensure this is clear in your application budget with reason why it is needed).
Please note that funding cannot be used for network members going to other conferences (conference fees, travel etc.) nor personal research expenses, and cannot be used to employ research assistants/coordinators etc. Network funds cannot be used to pay for membership for societies or individual conference attendance fees.
Eligibility and Process
TORCH and the Oxford Martin School encourage imaginative cross-disciplinary applications, and will not sponsor research groups whose activities could be supported by a single faculty or college. Applications from cross-divisional research groups and from groups engaged with non-academic partners are also welcomed. Lead applicants must include a mixture of postholder career levels from at least 3 faculties/departments from at least 2 Divisions in the University, including the Humanities Division.. Applicants should be postholders, but DPhils can be included as part of the application group.
Application is via the internal IRAMS system (single sign on required). Please click here to apply.
Applications will be assessed by TORCH's management committee and the Oxford Martin School Management Team, and the committee will aim to respond to all applications within 4-5 weeks. Colleagues are welcome to contact Professor Philip Bullock, TORCH Director, (philip.bullock@wadham.ox.ac.uk), Dr Victoria McGuinness, TORCH Business Manager, (victoria.mcguinness@humanities.ox.ac.uk), or Dr Ella Adlen, the Oxford Martin School Research and Programmes Manager (ella.adlen@oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk), to discuss applications.