The Leicester Institute for Advanced Studies (LIAS) is focused on catalysing, promoting, and sustaining interdisciplinary research collaboration across the University. All academic staff at the university are eligible to apply for funding. Further information and application forms can be found below. Please email lias@le.ac.uk with any queries.
Open rolling calls
LIASion: Curiosity Pump-Priming Fund | Awards of up to £500
The LIASion: Curiosity Pump-Priming Fund supports activities that foster new and untested interdisciplinary research ideas and collaborations.
Bringing together elements of the former LIAS Seed Corn Fund and LIAiSons Workshop Fund, the scheme enables colleagues to explore emerging research ideas, undertake preliminary or proof-of-concept work, bring people together to establish potential collaborations, and develop or reshape ideas for future external funding applications.
Funded activities should lead to clearly defined outcomes, such as establishing a new interdisciplinary collaboration, scoping future research or partnership working, developing plans for publications or other research outputs, or preparing an external funding application led by the University of Leicester. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funding.
Application: Please complete the guidance and application form below and submit it to lias@le.ac.uk.
LIAS Research Culture Activities
Events | Training | Development | Awards of up to £500
The Research Culture Activities Fund supports University of Leicester colleagues to undertake or organise small-scale activities that contribute to a positive, inclusive and supportive research culture.
Funding can support events, training, and professional or career-development activities that help colleagues develop the skills, networks and capabilities needed for their research careers. Proposals do not need to lead directly to a research project or external grant application.
Eligible activities may include relevant training or short courses, research culture and networking events, career-development workshops, peer learning, mentoring, communities of practice, and activities that develop leadership, collaboration, communication, engagement or research management skills. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funding.
Application: Please complete the guidance and application form below and submit it to lias@le.ac.uk.
Open calls closing 30 November 2026
LIASing: Pioneering Partnerships | Awards of up to £2,000
The LIASing: Pioneering Partnerships scheme supports the development of ambitious, challenge-led and interdisciplinary collaborations, creating opportunities for wider participation and follow-on activity.
The scheme provides a platform for colleagues from across the University of Leicester and beyond to explore collaborative approaches to key contemporary challenges and build sustainable interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral research communities.
Applications should bring together two or more disciplines, normally extending across School, College or sectoral boundaries. Proposals should demonstrate a positive and inclusive approach to research culture and identify a credible pathway to future external funding, outputs, knowledge exchange, impact or other substantial follow-on activity.
There are no thematic priorities for this call.
Application deadline: 30 November 2026.
Application: Please complete the guidance and application form below and submit it to lias@le.ac.uk.
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Scheme | Awards of up to £1,000
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland scheme supports the development of co-created interdisciplinary partnerships with people and organisations in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Building on the former Into the City and Civic Partnership schemes, the fund reflects the University’s civic mission and seeks to initiate, celebrate and strengthen relationships with communities and organisations beyond the academy.
Projects must be led by a University of Leicester colleague. Collaborators from De Montfort University and Loughborough University are also welcome where appropriate.
Priority will be given to projects with a strong and innovative public engagement or impact focus that also contribute to a positive and inclusive research culture.
Application deadline: 30 November 2026.
Application: Please complete the guidance and application form below and submit it to lias@le.ac.uk.
LIAS / Archives and Special Collections Fellowship | Fellowship support and up to £1,000
Delivered in collaboration with Library and Learning Services, this Fellowship supports University of Leicester academic colleagues to use Archives and Special Collections to create interdisciplinary connections and develop collaborative research.
Fellows will receive support from the Archives and Special Collections team and will be expected to develop an academic event focused on the collections and an article for the LIAS Open Access Working Paper Series. The Fellowship is intended to provide a foundation for a substantive publication, grant application or knowledge-exchange activity.
Relevant holdings include literary collections, the East Midlands Oral History Archive, medical humanities, scientific and mathematical collections, local history collections, and the University and Students’ Union Archives.
Applicants must contact specialcollections@le.ac.uk before applying to arrange an informal discussion about the collections they wish to consult.
Application deadline: 30 November 2026.
Application: Please complete the guidance and application form below and submit it to lias@le.ac.uk.
Loughborough–Leicester IAS Fellowship
The Institutes for Advanced Studies at the University of Leicester and Loughborough University are offering joint Fellowships to support collaboration between the two universities. Fellowships may last for up to two weeks. Applicants must identify a designated Host at one of the two institutions and will be expected to spend time at both universities.
Support includes accommodation and return travel, up to £50 per day towards receipted subsistence and local travel costs associated with the collaboration, office space, administrative support, access to the Fellowship Alumni Network, and support for an academic event open to collaborators at both institutions.
Application deadline: 30 November 2026.
For further information, please contact ias.applications@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk.
Application: Please complete the guidance and application form below and submit it to ias.applications@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk.
EDI: In order to support participation and access to research activity directly related to projects and taking place outside working hours, for all schemes, LIAS is open to allocate funding from the budget for EDI purposes such as additional dependency care. Please outline this in the budget.