Support for staff and students

At the University of York, we are committed to being a university for public good. In order to achieve this strategic change by 2030, the university will adhere to four core principles (collaboration, internationalism, environmental sustainability and inclusion) and be guided by its EDI Strategic Objectives. A core part of this change will include transforming our research environment. This is reflected in the University’s 2023-2030 Research Strategy. 

To support the University in its commitment to EDI, the EDI Research Fund aims to enhance EDI research capacity by supporting projects seeking to develop innovative solutions to obstacles identified within and outside of the framework. To further embed inclusive research methods and methodologies within the research culture at the University, the fund also requires the involvement of students as co-producers in proposed research projects. Applications that use additional inclusive methods and methodologies (such as interdisciplinarity) are strongly recommended. 

Any staff member or postgraduate student at the University of York can apply for the fund, including professional services staff and postdoctoral researchers.

Applicants can submit proposals for grants between £500 and £3,000. 

We welcome applications across one or more of the four core research areas of the Centre:

• dismantling systemic inequities through and within research
• inclusive research methods and methodologies
• pedagogical research and the scholarship of teaching and learning
• decolonising research

We're particularly interested in the following themes:

• a toolkit that guides researchers to develop inclusive/collaborative methods and methodologies in research
• understanding students' decision-making process in choosing interdisciplinary projects, modules and/or courses
• exploring different approaches to interdisciplinary research across Faculties and Departments, and how the approaches may differ across different demographics
• understanding the experiences of University of York researchers from the Global South
• analysing the impact of epistemic injustice on marginalised groups of staff (eg black women) across different disciplines with an intersectional approach
• developing a means of incorporating EDI into ethics forms at the University of York.

Researchers are free to consider topics outside of these, but they must be explicitly related to the EDI Research Framework in some way and focus on developing a solution.

Proposals must engage in co-production with students and emphasise how they are making use of any additional inclusive research methods and methodologies. 

Proposals will be expected to meet the following criteria:

• explicitly align with the purpose of the EDI Research Centre and to one or more of its core research areas
• clearly highlight the inclusive research methods and methodologies being used in the proposed project
• involve collaboration with students throughout the research process
• have a clear output with a sustained impact that can exert long-term change on the EDI research process, beyond the lifetime of the Research Fund.

• The project budget must be used by 31 May 2025.
• If ethical approval is needed then this should be processed by the relevant ethics committee.
• Successful applicants will also be asked to provide a final research report (including outputs, impact of the project/initiative and reflections on the use of inclusive research methods and methodologies). This will be requested within three months of the end of the funding period.
• Applicants will be invited to present their work and reflections at an EDI research conference in July 2025. 

Funds can be spent on:

• employing one or more student partners (using a rate of £12 p/h)
• production of research materials (eg graphics)
• transcription, data processing costs etc
• food and drink that directly impact the effectiveness of the project (eg increasing participant numbers).

Funds cannot be spent on:

• purchasing new equipment that would normally be funded by the department
• food and drink for project meetings
• payment for work that fall within the remit of the department.

As part of your submission you will be required to provide a budget detailing how you will use the funds. These budgets should be as detailed as possible, including for instance, salaries for student partners as specified above. 

The judging panel will comprise representatives from the EDI Research Centre Advisory Board. Decisions will be made based on the Research Fund criteria and the degree of innovation present in incorporating additional inclusive research methods and methodologies. The panel will also consider the feasibility of what is proposed in terms of the sustainability of identified outcomes and impact, as well as the extent to which proposals have focused on solving an identified research issue. Interdepartmental projects will be given specific attention. 

Key dates

• The Research Fund opens on 15 September.
• The application closes at midday 31 October.
• We will notify applicants of the panel’s decision on 25 November.

Please note that it may take some time for funds to be made available to you. You will also be supported in recruiting students partners, so ensure that your proposal includes this timeline in its proposed start date.

The panel may allow for re-submissions (following requested adjustments) or place conditions on successful applicants.

Project lead for the EDI Research Centre - Karisha Kimone George (edi-research-centre@york.ac.uk)

Complete the online application form

If you would like to discuss a project idea with a member of the Steering Committee, please email edi-research-centre@york.ac.uk