Researcher-led Initiative Awards
2027 Awards Open for Applications!
We are delighted to announce that the Researcher Led Initiatives (RLIs) for 2026-2027 are now open for applications! If you have an idea for an activity or event that will benefit your peers and enhance research culture, then why not apply to run your own RLI?
What is an RLI? An RLI is a competitively awarded small grant provided by the Researcher Development & Research Culture (RD&RC) team gratefully funded by Research England monies.
Rationale: The aim of the RLIs is to encourage you to develop your project management skills by initiating, designing, managing and delivering a peer-led professional development, networking or community-building event/activity.
Key themes: All RLI applications must cover at least one of the following Research Culture areas:
- Leadership & Employability
- Wellbeing
- Communication
- Building Community
Funding amount: Awards of up to £2,500.00 will be granted to successful applicants.
Who can apply? PGRs and ECRs across the University of Exeter. Collaborative and interdisciplinary applications are welcomed and encouraged!
Deliverables: Events and activities can be hosted in person, online or hybrid. All activities must be completed by 21st June 2027 and you will be required to supply monthly progress reports as well as a final report.
How to apply: Please download and complete the RLI 2027 Application Form and return it to researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk marked RLI application 2026-2027. As part of your application, you will need to articulate demand and or/interest in your project, as well as the positive impact that it will have on your peers and enhancing research culture at the University of Exeter. Your application must include a detailed project budget breakdown. Please note that applications with a disproportionately high or unjustifiable allocation of funds towards catering may be excluded by the judging panels. Full criteria are listed below.
Application deadline: Your application must be received by Thursday 19 November 2026 at 12.00 Noon. Please note that we are unable to accept late applications so do allow yourself enough time to complete it.
Judging criteria: Applications will be judged on the following:
- Theme: how well the application addresses the research culture theme.
- Rationale for project: how clearly and strongly the proposal is articulated including its feasibility in terms of completion within the given time frame
- Impact: how well the application communicates who will benefit from the project either from peer development or networking and the impact it will have overall.
- Budget: how well costed and appropriate the budget is for the project proposal and whether to not this represents value for money.
Judging panel: The judging panel consists of Assistant Director of Research Services, Head of Researcher Development & Research Culture, Researcher Development Managers for both PGRs and Research Staff.
Further information & questions: To find out more about the RLIs and how to write a strong application, please sign up for the online webinar on Tuesday 3 November 2026 hosted by Dr Peter O’Rourke, Researcher Development Manager (ECRs & Research Staff): How to Prepare a Strong Researcher-Led Initiative (RLI) Application’ – 03.11.26 (12.30 pm – 1.30 pm)
Full RLI criteria:
- Lead applicants must be Postgraduate Research Students or staff from the University of Exeter in academic, research or technical roles who consider themselves to be early career researchers, including, for example, lecturers, experimental officers, research software engineers.
- Beneficiaries of the initiatives must include Postgraduate Research Students and/or University of Exeter staff in academic, research or technical roles who consider themselves to be early career researchers. Please note: a. Applications from Postgraduate Research Students must include other Postgraduate Research Students as beneficiaries. b. Applications from Staff in academic, research or technical roles must include other University of Exeter staff in the same roles.
- We warmly welcome activities that are collaborative and inter-disciplinary in nature.
- The initiatives must be completed and paid for by the 21st June 2027.
- Successful applicants must agree to fulfil the responsibilities outlined in the Award Holders' Responsibilities which includes taking full responsibility for managing the financial demands of the award. A 'How to ...' Guide will be made available to successful applicants.
- The proposed activities must directly benefit parties beyond the named applicants, fully reflecting the beneficiaries detailed in the application.
- You will be required to provide details on how you propose for the project to have a long-term impact e.g. producing accompanying resources, guidance etc.
- You will be required to evaluate your activity, provide a short-written report in the style of a blog and send it to the RD&RC Team: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk
- We cannot fund an activity that is essential for any already-funded project’s success – activities must be additional to that planned for existing funded activity.
- Activities should not replicate those which are already offered by the University.
- Applicants must not have previously received more than 2 consecutive years of funding (for example if you/your co-applicants or the activity have been awarded money from RLIs for the previous 2 years you will not be eligible for this round. These awards are designed to help start initiatives, not act as continued funding).
- Funding for internal room bookings, travel to conferences or individual professional development are outside the scope of these awards. Moderate and reasonable catering for events is within scope.
- Award holders cannot pay themselves from the fund to manage, administer or participate e.g. as a facilitator or presenter in their awards. Neither will Award Holders be able to pay existing members of University of Exeter staff as presenters, through their funding nor through honoraria. The University’s Entertainment, Hospitality and Gifts outlines the expectations for both receiving and giving gifts.
- Activities need to be advertised through Eventbrite and the link shared with the RD&RC team at: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk
Judging criteria: Applications will be judged on the following:
- Theme: how well the application addresses the research culture theme.
- Rationale for project: how clearly and strongly the proposal is articulated including its feasibility in terms of completion within the given time frame
- Impact: how well the application communicates who will benefit from the project either from peer development or networking and the impact it will have overall.
- Budget: how well costed and appropriate the budget is for the project proposal and whether to not this represents value for money.
Judging panel: The judging panel consists of Assistant Director of Research Services, Head of Researcher Development & Research Culture, Researcher Development Managers for both PGRs and Research Staff.