Association For The Study Of Animal Behaviour Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
• Success Rate: ~33% (approximately one-third of applications funded per round)
• Decision Time: 3 months from deadline
• Grant Range: £500 - £15,000 (depending on program)
• Geographic Focus: International (with some restrictions)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.asab.org

Email: M.SIVA-JOTHY@SHEFFIELD.AC.UK (Treasurer), membership@asab.org (Membership Secretary)

Phone: 7710916595

Grant Applications: Submit via email to the Secretary of Grants Committee by deadline dates (1st February, 1st June, 1st October)

Overview

Founded in 1936, the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) is a UK registered charity (No. 268494) dedicated to promoting the study of animal behaviour through conferences, research funding, and education. ASAB owns Animal Behaviour, described as “the leading international scientific journal in its field,” and generates funding through journal income, membership subscriptions, and donations. The organization takes a comprehensive approach to supporting animal behaviour research, with particular emphasis on career development for early-career researchers and those from underrepresented groups. ASAB funds education in schools and research in universities, operating through four specialized committees: Education, Ethics, Equality/Diversity/Inclusivity/Accessibility (EDIA), and Grants. The organization maintains strong connections with European ethological societies through participation in the Committee for European Societies of Behavioural Biology.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Research Grants: £10,000 - £15,000 (typically up to £10,000; up to £15,000 with specific justification)

• Supports promising pilot research projects too early for larger funding agencies
• Supports small-scale projects unlikely to attract alternative funding
• Rolling basis with three annual deadlines: 1st February, 1st June, 1st October
• Applications submitted via email to Secretary of Grants Committee

Undergraduate Project Scholarships: Up to £4,900

• £490 per week subsistence for students
• Additional research and travel expenses included
• Supports supervised research projects in animal behaviour

Interdisciplinary Workshop Grants: Up to £5,000

• Supports two-day meetings on themes at the interface between animal behaviour and other disciplines
• One annual round, typically with 1st October deadline

Conference Attendance Grants: £500 - £2,500

• Standard applicants: up to £500
• Developing Country Applicants: up to £2,500
• Covers registration, accommodation, and travel costs
• Decisions made shortly after closing date

Education Grants: Amount not specified

• For primary and secondary teachers to develop teaching resources on animal behaviour
• Two annual deadlines: 1st April and 1st October
• Outcomes published in educational journals or presented at conferences

Public Engagement Grants: Up to £2,000

• For organizing and delivering innovative outreach activities

Accessibility Grants: Up to £500

• Facilitates conference/workshop attendance for members with disabilities or medical needs
• Decision within two weeks of application

Childcare Grants: Up to £500

• Facilitates conference/workshop attendance for members with young children

Priority Areas

ASAB considers research projects in all areas of animal behaviour, defined as “the sphere of interest of papers published in Animal Behaviour.” The Grants Committee gives priority to applicants who meet some of the following criteria:

• Early-career researchers (not more than 7 years since PhD awarded, accounting for career breaks and part-time work)
• Researchers lacking substantial funding, especially those returning from career breaks or with limited research output due to caring responsibilities
• Developing country researchers (both citizens of AND employed/funded by Low or Middle Income countries as defined by the World Bank)
• Underrepresented groups in the animal behaviour community
• ASAB contributors who have made voluntary contributions to ASAB work (organizing conferences, serving as associate editors for Animal Behaviour, or serving on ASAB Council)

Fundable expenses include: Equipment, research expenses, research assistant salaries (on approved scales), PI salary (on approved scales), travel and subsistence for necessary site visits, collaborative research travel.

What They Don't Fund

• Overheads (bench fees, researcher fees, visitor fees)
• Work contributing to undergraduate or postgraduate degree requirements
• Unpaid volunteer work for data collection
• “Helicopter” or “parachute” science without meaningful local researcher engagement
• Projects overlapping substantially with previous ASAB Research Grant applications
• Generally excludes applicants based in the Americas (unless conducting research there)
• Applicants from countries under UK government sanctions

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• President: Prof Melissa Bateson (melissa.bateson@newcastle.ac.uk)
• Secretary: Dr Elisa Frasnelli (elisa.frasnelli@unitn.it)
• Treasurer: Prof Michael Siva-Jothy (ASAB.treasurer@proton.me)
• Executive Editor: Prof Andy Radford (andy.radford@bristol.ac.uk)

Key Officers

• Membership Secretary: Prof Anna Wilkinson (membership@asab.org)
• Communications Officer, Social Media Officer, and representatives from four main committees

Committees

ASAB operates through four specialized committees:

• Grants Committee: Reviews and decides on all grant applications
• Education Committee: Oversees education grants and promotes teaching of animal behaviour
• Ethics Committee: Focuses on animal welfare in research
• EDIA Committee: Provides leadership on Equality, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Accessibility, supporting underrepresented groups

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Research Grants:

• Must be an ASAB member for minimum 12 months before deadline
• Submit via email to Secretary of Grants Committee
• Three annual rounds with deadlines: 1st February, 1st June, 1st October
• Applicants must hold a Ph.D.
• No online portal mentioned; email-based submission

Other Grants:

• Each grant program has specific application processes outlined on ASAB website
• Education Grants: Two annual deadlines (1st April, 1st October)
• Interdisciplinary Workshop Grants: One annual round (typically 1st October)
• Conference/Accessibility/Childcare Grants: Rolling basis with decisions made promptly

Decision Timeline

• Research Grants & Undergraduate Scholarships: Candidates notified within 3 months of closing date
• Conference Attendance Grants: Decisions made shortly after closing date (no specific timeframe)
• Accessibility Grants: Applicants notified within two weeks of submission
• Notification method: Presumably via email (not specified)

Success Rates

For Research Grants: Approximately 33% - “typically, about a third of applications will be funded at each call,” depending on current fund availability and competition intensity.

Reapplication Policy

• Successful applicants: Cannot reapply for a Research Grant within 3 years of previous award
• Unsuccessful applicants: No explicit waiting period mentioned, but ASAB does not accept applications that overlap substantially with a previous ASAB Research Grant application
• This means unsuccessful applicants must submit substantially different proposals if reapplying

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from ASAB

Priority Criteria: The Grants Committee explicitly prioritizes early-career researchers, those lacking substantial funding (especially returners from career breaks), developing country researchers, underrepresented groups, and ASAB volunteers. Applicants should clearly identify how they meet these criteria in their applications.

Justification is Critical: The Committee “considers both the amount requested and how expenditure is justified.” For amounts above £10,000, “there needs to be specific justification why the project requires additional funding.”

Competition Consideration: With only a third of applications funded, the competition is significant. Applications should demonstrate why the research cannot attract funding from larger agencies (too early stage) or alternative sources (small-scale but worthwhile).

Research Scope

Projects should fall within “the sphere of interest of papers published in Animal Behaviour” - reviewing recent issues of the journal can help applicants understand what constitutes animal behaviour research in ASAB's view.

What NOT to Do

• Avoid overlap: Do not submit applications that substantially overlap with previous ASAB Research Grant applications
• No helicopter science: Applications involving research in developing countries must demonstrate meaningful engagement with local researchers
• Don't request overheads: The grant explicitly excludes overheads, bench fees, and similar institutional charges
• No degree work: Research contributing to degree requirements is not eligible

Engagement with ASAB

The priority given to “researchers that have made voluntary contributions to the work of ASAB” suggests that active engagement with the organization (attending conferences, volunteering for committees, serving as journal reviewers/editors) can strengthen applications. This is a long-term strategy for building credibility within the community.

Early-Career Focus

With explicit priority given to early-career researchers (within 7 years post-PhD), applications should highlight career stage and how the grant will support career development. The policy accounts for career breaks and part-time work, so applicants should explain any relevant circumstances.

Post-Award Requirements

Successful applicants must submit a completion report within 3 months of project end or one month after presenting at an ASAB conference (whichever is later). Understanding these requirements upfront helps in planning project timelines.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Membership is essential: Join ASAB at least 12 months before your intended application deadline - this is a strict eligibility requirement, so plan ahead
• Target the right stage: ASAB Research Grants are ideal for pilot projects too early for Research Councils or small-scale projects unlikely to attract other funding - frame your project accordingly
• Emphasize early-career status: If you're within 7 years post-PhD, highlight this prominently as it's a priority criterion; explain any career breaks or part-time work
• Justify every pound: With a 33% success rate, detailed expenditure justification is critical, especially for grants above £10,000
• Engage with the community: Voluntary contributions to ASAB (conference organizing, journal work, council service) strengthen applications - consider long-term engagement
• Three chances per year: With deadlines in February, June, and October, failed applicants can reapply relatively quickly with a substantially different proposal
• Expect a 3-month wait: Budget time for the decision process when planning project start dates - notifications come within 3 months of deadlines

References

1. ASAB Research Grants page - https://www.asab.org/research-grants
2. ASAB Society Information page - https://www.asab.org/society-information
3. ASAB Grants Overview page - https://www.asab.org/grant-overview
4. ASAB Conference Attendance Grants - https://www.asab.org/conference-grants
5. ASAB Education Grants - https://www.asab.org/education-grants
6. ASAB Interdisciplinary Workshop Grants - https://www.asab.org/workshop-grants
7. ASAB Undergraduate Project Scholarships - https://www.asab.org/scholarships
8. ASAB Public Engagement Grants - https://www.asab.org/public-engagement-grant
9. UK Charity Commission Register - Charity No. 268494 - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=268494
10. Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (Wikipedia) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_for_the_Study_of_Animal_Behaviour