Unlocking Futures Fund
Our Unlocking Futures Fund is open to postdoctoral researchers who require an additional support to help them achieve their full potential.
The Unlocking Futures Fund has been started in memory of Professor Hisako Ikeda-Wolstencroft, a valued member of The Society and a world leader in the field of vision research. In her memory, Professor Ikeda-Wolstencroft’s family made the founding donation to The Society’s new Unlocking Futures Fund with the aim of unlocking the potential of a future leader of physiology.
Help us unlock the potential of a future leader of the discipline by donating to the fund. Your donation will help sustain this avenue of support for members to access when they need it most. We can help this incredible community overcome barriers and contribute to advancements in physiology.
Who can apply?
To be eligible, the applicant would need to meet the following criteria
- Applicants should currently be in a postdoctoral role (fixed-term employment)
- Applicants must be based at a UK or RoI institution and conducting research that will advance the discipline of physiology
- Applicants should have one year or more of paid membership
- Be on an academic research career track
How much funding is available?
Each applicant can apply for up to £2,500.
What can the funding be used for?
The Unlocking Futures Fund provides support to postdoctoral researchers who require an additional support to help them achieve their full potential. It supports members to overcome potential barriers that hold them back. Funds cannot be used to pay for staff salaries or the cost of travel to a conference, but may be used for research consumables, registration for professional bodies or other sundries that can be fully justified.
What are the deadlines?
Deadlines for 2025:
- 31 March 2025
- 30 September 2025
How do I apply?
Applications are open.
Please read the eligibility, terms and conditions and scoring criteria carefully. Applicants who do not meet the eligibility will not be considered for the award.
Terms and conditions
- Funds should be used within 12 months of the date of receipt, supporting the activity outlined in the application.
- Applicants should demonstrate how this fund would enhance their commitment to physiology and benefit the wider community of physiologists.
- Applications must be received by the deadlines laid out above. Applications not received in this timeframe will not be considered.
- Members will normally only be awarded this funding once during their period of membership.
- You cannot apply for the same activity if a previous application has been rejected within that year.
- Successful applicants must acknowledge the TPS funding in all their research activities which relate to the award. For example, the TPS logo must be presented in all conference presentations (available on request) and the TPS must be acknowledged in all publications.
- All awardees will be required to submit a report following the Award. If such a report is not submitted the holder will be deemed ineligible for any other funding from The Physiological Society. Any funds not used at the end of the Award period must be returned to The Society.
- Funds cannot be used to pay for staff salaries but may be used for consumables, registration for Higher Education Academy Fellowship or other sundries that can be fully justified.
- In the event of a submission being unsuccessful, we are unable to give feedback.
- The final decision of the awarding panel is not subject to appeal.
- This award will not be reimbursed to any members with an outstanding balance or direct debit arrears on their record. All arrears must be cleared for claims to be paid.