EPSRC new investigator award

The new investigator award is for people who hold an academic lectureship position at UK higher education institutions, research council institutes, UKRI-approved independent research organisations and NHS bodies, and have not previously led an academic research group or been the recipient of a significant grant.

Projects should be self-contained and have a single research vision with clearly defined objectives and outcomes. Your project should typically last one to three years. Complex, multi-faceted research projects with many objectives are not appropriate for this scheme.

We will award 80% of the full economic costs of the project, and your organisation must agree to find the balance.

What we're looking for

You can apply for a new investigator award at any time in any field of research relevant to our remit. Your project should typically last one to three years and have a single research vision with clearly defined objectives and outcomes. Complex, multi-faceted research projects with many objectives are not appropriate to the new investigator award.

You should typically seek 10-20% of the principal investigator’s time. Those who are seeking to substantially exceed this should consider other funding opportunities.

Applicants are encouraged to have early discussions with their institutions to identify what training and development opportunities are available to meet their aspirations over the duration of the proposal. Your host organisation’s statement of support is important.

Find out more about the new investigator award expectations (PDF, 111KB) including what we are looking for and the support expected from your host organisation.

We support excellent research in:

• digital economy
• energy
• engineering
• global uncertainties
• healthcare technologies
• information and communication technologies
• living with environmental change
• manufacturing the future
• mathematical sciences
• physical sciences
• quantum technologies
• research infrastructure.

Find out more about our research areas and themes.

We expect the majority of your research to fall within our remit. We encourage you to contact us first to discuss your proposal if you believe your research may cross research council boundaries.

See our remit query form.

The new investigator award supports both theoretical and experimental research projects across EPSRC’s remit. We expect the level of funding to vary but be appropriate to the proposed research programme. The scale may also vary significantly, depending on the focus of the award.

You can look for examples of funded projects by searching for ‘new investigator’ in our online portfolio.

We will fund 80% of the full economic costs of your project. You may request funding for staff costs, equipment and other items required to carry out the project, costs related to impact, and travel and subsistence.

Research grants are open to UK higher education institutions, research council institutes, UKRI-approved independent research organisations, Public Sector Research Establishments and NHS bodies with research capacity.

Find out more about institutional eligibility.

You can apply for a new investigator award if you:

• are employed at the submitting research organisation at lecturer level and have not previously received a significant award or led an academic research group
• hold a fixed-term contract that extends beyond the duration of the proposed research project, and the host research organisation is prepared to give you all the support normal for a permanent employee.

You would be classed as having received a significant research grant if a project you led received:

• support for postdoctoral research assistant time
• a grant for equipment worth more than £20,000
• support for full economic costs greater than £100,000.

You may still apply if you hold or have held:

• Industrial cooperative award in science and technology (CASE) studentship
• overseas travel grant
• basic tech grant
• early career researcher capital block grant
• EPSRC studentship (through doctoral training partnerships or centres for doctoral training)
• workshop grant
• CASE for new academic
• EPSRC new horizons.

Holders of postdoctoral level fellowships are not eligible to hold an EPSRC grant.

Clinical applicants must be employed or be on a fixed-term contract longer than the proposed project at an NHS trust, hospital, board, primary care trust or general practice.

Find out more about eligibility for new investigator awards.

We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI or any other funder.

This funding opportunity is also subject to our policy on repeatedly unsuccessful submissions.