The Isaac Newton Trust funds research at the University of Cambridge in all subjects.
What we do: principles
- attempt to be responsive and flexible
- prefer to help projects get off the ground, rather than sustain existing projects
- aim to help secure funding from outside the University and/or from the School or Faculty
- expect applicants to approach other funding bodies first wherever possible
- prioritise early career researchers (see early career researchers)
- assume that senior PIs will not need to approach the Trust, except for Emergency or Strategic funding
- prioritise PDRA salary costs
- make modest contributions to consumables and travel, only if a special case is made
- occasionally make a contribution to purchasing a key item of equipment.
What we do not do: principles
- fund research undertaken outside the University of Cambridge
- provide all the funding for any project
- act as a primary funder – other awards should be applied for before applying to INT
- augment existing awards from external funding bodies unless a strong strategic rationale for the necessity is made
- extend existing awards, except where this can be done at no extra cost to the Trust
- reconsider unsuccessful applications for the same project (unless there has been a substantial material change in circumstances)
- revise the amount offered (unless there has been an error)
- provide long-term funding – we commit to no more than five years at any time and standard Research Grants are almost always for less than three years
- tide over post-doctoral researchers repeatedly
- match fund Wellcome Trust Junior Interdisciplinary Fellowships, for which matching funds must come from the host department
- consider grant applications between rounds (see Research Grant Application Deadlines).
We do not fund:
- overheads or Departmental or laboratory charges
- core University business (eg teaching & professorial posts)
- research that falls squarely under the remit of UKRI or other major funders
- 'buying out' PI time (except for CTO research leave)
- PhD students (except via the AHRC DTP)
- Technicians (except in exceptional cases - please ask)
- Apprenticeship levy, visa charges etc
- Short-term visitors (except as part of a Strategic Programme)
- Conferences
- Publication costs
Further information can be found in our Terms & Conditions.