The Peter Jost Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £190,000 (2023)
• Total Given Since Inception: Over £4 million
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Varies by program (Travel Fund: biannual deadlines)
• Grant Range: £1,500 (Travel Fund) to full PhD studentships (~£100,000+ over 3.5 years)
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom

Contact Details

Address: c/o Moore Kingston Smith LLP, Devonshire House, 60 Goswell Road, London EC1M 7AD

Phone: 020 8362 3926

Email:

• General: info@jostfoundation.org
• Correspondence: robin.worby@moore.co.uk
• Travel Fund: jaw@eng.cam.ac.uk, h.spikes@imperial.ac.uk, or pwtevans@gmail.com

Website: www.jostfoundation.org

Charity Registration: 293571

Overview

The Peter Jost Charitable Foundation was established in 1984 as the Michael John Trust by Peter Jost and his wife Margaret, named in honour of Peter's father-in-law. Following generous bequests from Peter (died 2016) and Margaret (died 2017), the Foundation continues their charitable legacy. Since inception, the Foundation has contributed over £4 million to various causes. In the financial year ending April 2023, the Foundation had total income of £86,149 and expenditure of £189,764. The Foundation operates under two primary strands: advancing science and technology education with particular emphasis on tribology (the science of friction, wear, and lubrication), and supporting medical research focused on hearing loss and other conditions. Over the past five years, the Foundation has donated several hundred thousand pounds supporting both scientific and medical work through strategic institutional partnerships and individual researcher support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Jost Studentship (Annual PhD Funding)

• Full funding for PhD students over 3.5 years
• Focus: Tribology research
• Application method: Competitive, judged by independent panel
• Recent recipients: Dr. Cristinel Mares (Brunel University, 2022) and Dr. Alastair Clarke (Cardiff University, 2023)
• Estimated value: £100,000+ per studentship

2. Peter Jost Travel Fund

• Amount: Up to £1,500 per applicant
• Eligibility: Research students, post-docs, or academic staff under age 50 at UK universities
• Coverage: Economy air/rail travel, accommodation, conference registration
• Application deadlines: March 31 and September 30 annually
• Format: One-page PDF application (11-12 point font)
• Note: Events must occur within 12 months; no retrospective applications accepted

3. Major Institutional Grants

• Strategic partnerships with UK universities
• Examples: Jost Chair at Leeds (2003), Jost Institute at UCLan (2003-2006), Leonardo Tribology Centre at Sheffield (2009-2011)
• Amounts: Typically six-figure grants over multiple years

4. Medical Research Grants

• Recent examples:
• RNID Studentship (2019-2021): PhD student in hearing research
• Margaret Jost Fellowship at Bristol (2021-2023): Alzheimer's sleep research
• NF2 BioSolutions UK at Manchester (2022-2024): Two PhD students

Priority Areas

Science and Technology:

• Tribology research and education
• Engineering research related to friction, wear, and lubrication
• Academic conferences and knowledge exchange in tribology
• Institutional capacity building in tribology centers

Medical Research:

• Hearing loss and deafness research (primary medical focus)
• Alzheimer's disease research
• Neurofibromatosis type 2 research
• Medical education and clinical training programs

Other Charitable Purposes:

• Sensory technology for children with physical disabilities (e.g., Kaleidoscope project at Chadsgrove School 2002-2016)
• Public policy debate on science and technology (ongoing support for Science and Technology Foundation Trust since 2002)
• Major public inquiries (e.g., Archer Inquiry on contaminated blood products 2008-2012)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation's focused approach suggests they do not fund:

• Projects outside their core areas of tribology and medical research (particularly hearing)
• International institutions (focus is UK universities and organisations)
• Retrospective costs
• Applications from individuals over 50 (Travel Fund restriction)
• Multiple applications from the same institution (lower priority given)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Foundation is governed by four trustees:

• Professor Pwt Evans (pwtevans@gmail.com) - Contact for Travel Fund applications
• Professor Hugh Spikes (h.spikes@imperial.ac.uk) - Imperial College London, Contact for Travel Fund applications
• Professor John Williams (jaw@eng.cam.ac.uk) - University of Cambridge, Contact for Travel Fund applications
• Additional trustee (name not publicly disclosed)

All trustees serve without remuneration and bring expertise in tribology and engineering. The all-male board has been noted in governance assessments.

Administrative Support

Correspondent: Robin Worby at Moore Kingston Smith LLP (accountants and business advisors)

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Travel Fund:

1. Prepare one-page application (11-12 point font) as PDF
2. Describe travel purpose and requested funding level
3. Email to one of three trustee contacts (see above)
4. Submit before March 31 or September 30 deadline
5. Upon success, submit expense evidence for reimbursement

For Other Funding (Studentships, Major Grants):

• No formal public application process described
• Contact the Foundation directly: info@jostfoundation.org or robin.worby@moore.co.uk
• The website states “CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO” for general funding inquiries
• Major grants appear to be awarded through strategic discussions rather than open calls

Decision Timeline

Travel Fund: Decisions made biannually after March 31 and September 30 deadlines. Specific timeframe not disclosed, but reimbursement occurs after travel upon submission of expense evidence.

Studentships: Annual awards announced following independent judging panel review. Specific timeline not published.

Major Institutional Grants: Timeline varies; these appear to be negotiated partnerships.

Success Rates

The Foundation explicitly states regarding Travel Fund applications: “Funds set aside by the Foundation are limited and there can be no guarantee that all eligible applications will succeed.”

Specific success rates are not published for any program. Total annual expenditure of approximately £190,000 suggests selective grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Travel Fund: Multiple applications from the same institution receive lower priority than single applications. This suggests the Foundation prefers to spread support across different institutions rather than concentrating awards.

No specific reapplication restrictions or waiting periods are mentioned for unsuccessful applicants. However, the limited nature of funds suggests a competitive process where unsuccessful applicants can reapply in subsequent rounds.

Application Success Factors

Travel Fund Specific Advice

Direct Guidance from the Foundation:

• Keep application to one page in 11-12 point font
• Clearly describe travel purpose and requested funding level
• Apply well in advance (events must occur within 12 months, no retrospective applications)
• Be aware that multiple applications from same institution receive lower priority
• Ensure you meet age restriction (under 50) and UK university affiliation

Strategic Considerations:

• The Foundation prioritizes supporting “young tribologists” - early career researchers likely fare better
• Clear articulation of how the travel will advance tribology knowledge or your research
• Demonstrable connection to tribology field (friction, wear, lubrication science)
• Value for money - justify why the conference/event requires Foundation support

General Funding Success Factors

Alignment with Founder's Vision:

Peter Jost is renowned for coining the term “tribology” in 1966 and establishing it as a scientific discipline. The Foundation continues his legacy of promoting this field. Applications that demonstrate understanding of tribology's importance and Peter Jost's contribution may resonate with trustees.

Partnership Approach:

The Foundation's history shows preference for:

• Established UK universities with tribology programs
• Multi-year strategic initiatives rather than one-off projects
• Projects that build institutional capacity (chairs, institutes, centers)
• Medical research through partnerships with respected institutions (RNID, Alzheimer's Research UK, universities)

Recent Funding Patterns:

• PhD studentships in both tribology (Jost Studentship) and medical research
• Clinical training programs (Margaret Jost Fellowship)
• Multi-student research projects (NF2 BioSolutions - two PhD students)

Language and Terminology:

• Use “tribology” rather than generic engineering terms
• Emphasize “education,” “research,” “advancement of knowledge”
• For medical applications, focus on “relief of suffering” and specific conditions (hearing loss, Alzheimer's, etc.)
• Demonstrate how your work advances “public education” or “medical education”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Highly Specialized Focus: This is a niche funder with clear priorities in tribology and hearing-related medical research. Only apply if your work genuinely fits these areas.

1. Relationship-Based Grantmaking: Major grants appear to result from strategic relationships with trustees (all prominent tribology professors) rather than open competitive processes. Building connections in UK tribology community is valuable.

1. Travel Fund is Most Accessible: The biannual Travel Fund offers the clearest application pathway for early-career tribology researchers at UK universities. Maximum £1,500 makes this ideal for conference attendance support.

1. Think Long-Term Partnerships: The Foundation's history of multi-year, six-figure institutional grants suggests they prefer sustained impact over one-off projects. Frame proposals as building capacity, not just funding discrete activities.

1. Limited Resources, High Selectivity: With annual expenditure around £190,000 and explicit acknowledgment that funds are limited, competition is significant. Applications must demonstrate exceptional alignment and impact.

1. Age and Geographic Restrictions Apply: Travel Fund has explicit under-50 age limit and UK university affiliation requirement. Broader grants also appear UK-focused.

1. Demonstrate Legacy Impact: The Foundation honors Peter and Margaret Jost's memory. Showing how your work continues their vision of advancing tribology or relieving suffering from medical conditions may strengthen applications.

References

1. The Peter Jost Charitable Foundation official website.. https://www.jostfoundation.org/

1. The Peter Jost Charitable Foundation - Travel Fund.. https://www.jostfoundation.org/travel-fund/

1. The Peter Jost Charitable Foundation - Milestones.. https://www.jostfoundation.org/milestones/

1. UK Charity Commission - The Peter Jost Charitable Foundation (293571).. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/293571

1. Giving is Great - The Peter Jost Charitable Foundation Charity Factsheet.. https://givingisgreat.org/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=293571

1. Maier, M., Pugh, M., & Prajapati, D. (2024). "The Invention of Tribology: Peter Jost's Contribution." Lubricants, 12(3), 65. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/12/3/65