The new investigator scheme is designed to support researchers to secure their first major research support funding. This includes:
- early career university lecturers
- researchers in research council institutes who are at a level of at least academic lecturer or equivalent
- fellows who are at a level of at least academic lecturer or equivalent
This scheme supports excellent new investigator-led research across the breadth of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) scientific remit.
Eligibility requirements
To apply you must:
- meet our standard eligibility requirements on the closing date of the round you apply to
- not be or have been the project lead (or principal investigator) on a funded research project that included postdoctoral research assistant (PDRA) or research co-lead support costs
- not have previously received fellowship funding
If PDRA support was provided by your institution as part of an internal support agreement or as part of a start-up package, you must declare it but you would still be eligible to apply.
You must give details of any other funding applications you are waiting on the results for. Once you know the result, tell us as soon as possible.
Applicants may submit only one new investigator application to each BBSRC grant round, and they may not submit another type of grant application as a project lead to the same grant round. Researchers may be awarded only one research grant under the new investigator scheme.
Researchers who have been project co-lead or researcher co-lead on successful grant applications are eligible to apply to the scheme.
Including project co-leads
The new investigator applicant or applicants should be the intellectual leader or leaders of the proposed project. Expertise across multiple disciplines may be an important aspect of a project and one which facilitates career development into a new field.
Project co-leads are only permitted when they bring expertise to the project which is outside the applicant’s own skill set. The eligibility requirements for the scheme only apply to the project lead, although project co-leads may also satisfy the eligibility requirements for the new investigator scheme.
Collaborators from the same discipline may be included, but there must be no costs associated with the collaborator role. The extent and reasons for any collaboration must be described fully in the applicant and team capability to deliver or justification of resources.
Submitting your application
The current funding opportunity for the new investigator awards can be found on the UKRI funding finder.
How applications are assessed
The assessment criteria for the new investigator scheme can be found on the funding opportunity.
Applications are pooled for assessment with standard research grant applications. However, research potential rather than track record will be taken into account.
New Investigator webinar
A webinar aimed at future applicants to the new investigator scheme, applicant-led BBSRC standard research grant was held on 25 October 2021.
The webinar provided an overview of applicant-led mode and the new investigator scheme. There was a question and answer session at the end of the presentations.
Presenters
Presenters include:
- successful new investigator applicants
- committee chairs
- BBSRC representatives
Watch the recording
The webinar was recorded and is available to anyone who was unable to attend the live event.
Watch a recording of the webinar on Zoom.
Last updated: 8 July 2025