Trust Funds
The Department of Zoology has a number of trust funds which provide support to undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, research fellows and academic staff from within and outside Oxford University. Listed below are details of the funds available and who is eligible to apply for them.
A: Trust funds open to applications from undergraduates
1. Mike Soper Bursary Fund and Jimmy Elliot Memorial Fund
These two funds are available to students studying biological sciences at Oxford University to enable them to: pursue their studies outside Oxford, attend conferences and broaden their professional experience. Suitable projects might include student-run expeditions or field work that will form part of an assessed research project. Priority will be given to: those whose studies relate to agriculture, forestry or some other use of rural land use; and to undergraduates (although graduate students may also be considered). In the past a low priority has been given to applications from students participating in “volunteer conservation vacations” that charge large fees to participants.
The closing date for 2013 applications has passed but further information about these funds can be obtained from: roni.mcgowan@plants.ox.ac.uk
2. David Kirby Memorial Fund
This fund is available to undergraduates at Oxford University studying Biological Sciences or Human Sciences. Awards of up to £500 are made annually to support students who wish to undertake a piece of research in collaboration with a member of the University, either based in Oxford or elsewhere. Research can be carried out in any field of biology (when other factors are equal, a preference is given to projects in the field of reproduction). All work must be undertaken in a vacation in the first, second or third year, but cannot take place after the Final exams. This fund will next be advertised in spring 2014. For information on how to apply please email: Claire.Harvey@zoo.ox.ac.uk.
2. For information about other sources of undergraduate research funding click here
B: Trust funds open to applications from graduate students, postdocs, research fellows and academic staff
1. Elizabeth Hannah Jenkinson Fund
This Fund supports research on the developmental biology of invertebrate or vertebrates. Applicants must be researchers within the Department of Zoology (graduate students, postdocs, research fellows and academic staff). Grants are usually less than £2,500 although some larger applications are occasionally considered. The Fund will be advertised next in MT 2013. Details about how to apply will be posted on this website. For further information please contact: Claire.Harvey@zoo.ox.ac.uk.
2. The Boise Fund
The Boise Trust Fund was established by Charles Watson Boise to support research on the antiquity and evolutionary origin modern Homo sapiens and other hominins, with particular emphasis on the continued exploration of appropriate sites in Africa, and on the early migration of Palaeolithic communities. Applications are open to Oxford University-based researchers and graduate students. Awards of up to £5k are available. The fund is advertised annually in the autumn. For further information please contact Claire.Harvey@zoo.ox.ac.uk (Secretary to the Boise Trust Fund).
3. Varley Gradwell Travelling Fellowships in Insect Ecology
This Fellowship is open to graduate students, postdocs and research fellows from within and outside Oxford University. Applications are judged on their practicality and potential to make a contribution to insect ecology. Up to £2500 is available. Reports by previous Varley Gradwell Fellows are listed at the bottom of this page. This fund will next be advertised in spring 2014. For details on how to apply please email the Secretary to the Board of Management atclaire.harvey@zoo.ox.ac.uk
Reports by previous Varley Gradwell Fellows.