Isaac Newton Trust

Isaac Newton Trust is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1209261).

The Isaac Newton Trust was established by Trinity College to promote learning, research and education at the University of Cambridge. It runs Emergency Bridging & Underwriting and Strategic Research Project research grant programmes, and it also administers a transformative studentship programme and a Joint Lectureship Programme. In its latest reported year it awarded £2,587,365.

Priority Areas

The Isaac Newton Trust supports learning, education and research at the University of Cambridge. Its research grants fund research in all subjects and are open to Principal Investigators employed by the University. It supports early-career postdoctoral researchers with short-term emergency bridging or underwriting, and backs proposals of strategic value to the University, including interdisciplinary work and new collaborations. The Trust also provides funding to University Schools to establish local research opportunities addressing strategic needs and funding gaps. Its Trinity programmes promote PhD studentships and teaching in the Collegiate University. Other strands support collection-based research in the humanities, mid-career humanities project completion, and outreach and induction for potential and future undergraduates from the UK who would not traditionally consider applying to Cambridge. Applicants are assessed against advertised selection criteria; the Trust encourages them to approach other funding bodies first and should not be a project's primary funder.

Themes

• Academic research
• Early-career researchers
• Widening participation
• Humanities research

Applicants complete applications with the assistance of their departmental Research Grants Administrator.

Deadlines: Rounds are aligned with trustee meetings held once a term; applications must be made within the advertised rounds.

Who can apply:

• Research Grants: Open to Principal Investigators employed by the University.
• Strategic Research Project: Applications need to be supported by the Head of the Institution applying, as well as the Chair of School.

What to send:

• Strategic Research Project: A project academic case.
• Strategic Research Project, Emergency Bridge & Underwriting: A completed Financial Summary Table.
• Strategic Research Project
  • Equipment or access quotes as necessary.
  • A letter of support from the Head of Institution.
  • A letter of support from the Chair of School.
  • A copy of the applicant CV and the CV of any named staff the application requests costs for.
• Emergency Bridge & Underwriting
  • A list of all active grants held by the PI.
  • A completed Head of Institution Support Form.
  • Reference statements from 3 referees.
  • A copy of the applicant CV and the CV of any staff named in the application.

Applying again: Strategic Research Project: The INT does not reconsider unsuccessful applications for the same project unless there has been a substantial material change in circumstances.

What the charity says:

• The Trust encourages applicants to approach other funding bodies first and should not be a project's primary funder.
• Strategic proposals should be transformational, sustainable and collaborative, and may have interdisciplinary value.
• For research projects, Trustees prefer staff costs for people carrying out research over managerial costs.
• Emergency bridging applications are prioritised when they are a first application and support continuous University employment after the bridge.