Small Project Grants

Up to £3,000 for small projects with a focus on insect science.

Applications are currently closed and will reopen in 2026

If you would like to be the first to know when this grant opens for applications, please Request an Email Alert

Small Project Grants at a Glance

Funding available	Up to £3,000.
Purpose:	To support insect science research projects
Who can apply:	RES Fellows, Members and Stutent Members

Applications will open in 2026. To receive an email alerts when the application window is open, please use the form linked here:

About RES Small Project Grants 

Small Project Grants support high-quality, innovative and standalone research projects in entomology. 

Applications are welcomed from RES Fellows, Members and Students regardless of their career stage but we encourage applications from students and early career researchers in particular, to help establish their research careers in insect science.

What We Fund 

We support projects with a primary focus on insect science. 

Your project may focus on insect species anywhere in the world. Other terrestrial and freshwater arthropods will be considered, but insects will be prioritised. 

Projects may include additional objectives such as public engagement, economics, or policy work, provided these are integrated into the core entomological and scientific aims. 

These grants aim to support work of the highest publishable and international standard. Applicants will need to show how the project will advance our understanding of insect science as a standalone study which is not a component of a larger project, programme or grant 

Small Project Grants can support: 

• New and innovative insect research 

• Established methodologies applied to understudied species 

• New methodologies applied to well-studied species 

Please note: for projects specifically relating to outreach and improving quality, diversity and inclusion we offer grants through our Goodman Fund, Student Outreach Fund and EDI Grants. This grant will not fund attendance at a conference. Instead, please see our dedicated Conference Participation Grants. 

What We Don’t Fund 

Funding is NOT available for: 

• Overheads 

• Salary supplementation 

• Tuition, course fees, or scholarships 

• Total equipment costs over £1,000 

The following will NOT be considered: 

• Projects forming part of undergraduate or postgraduate degrees. However, funding for PhD or DPhil students who only have their salary or stipend covered will be considered. This information should be clearly provided in the application. 

• Projects linked to existing fellowships 

• Applications to take part in an expedition will not be considered. However, applications for a standalone research project which takes place during an expedition will be considered. 

• Conference attendance. Visit our Conference Particpation Grant page for information about support for participating in conferences.

• Publication costs. Visit our Journals pages for information about publishing in RES Journals. 

• A project that is a component of a wider study or research programme that is already funded.  

Who Can Apply 

Applicants must be RES Fellows, Members, or Student Members – visit our Membership Pages to find the level of membership that best suits you. 

Applications are open worldwide and are welcomed from entomologists regardless of their career stage. However, we encourage applications from students and early career researchers in particular, to help establish their research careers in insect science. 

Small Project Grants are awarded to individuals, not organisations. 

Members may work with third-party organisations, but the member must be the applicant and grant holder. 

Please note: Associate Members are not eligible to apply.  

Key Dates

We aim to notify all applicants within three months of the application closing dates.

There will be one application period in 2026.This grant is not yet open for submissions. If you would like an email alert when this award opens, please use the form linked below:

Assessment Criteria

Priority will be given to applications that: 

• Clearly explain their scientific objectives 

• Present a viable project plan and clear timetable 

• Demonstrate expected outputs and outcomes 

• Clearly articulate what is expected to change as a consequence of the grant and the expected benefits for the entomological community 

Applicants must demonstrate that the project is a standalone study and not part of a larger funded programme. 

Projects should advance understanding of insect science at an international and publishable standard. 

Applications are welcomed from entomologists at all career stages, with particular encouragement for students and early career researchers. 

Application Process

• Please fill out the Small Project Grants Application Form 

• Please include two referees on the form (contacted directly by RES) 

• Adjudication: Science, Policy & Society Committee 

Reporting Requirements

Choice of:  

• Antenna magazine or RES website article 

• Short video for RES YouTube channel 

• INSTAR magazine article (for young people) 

• Other similar output 

Please note: successful applicants should consider whether they would like to submit their work for publication in a scientific journal such as one of the RES Journals. If so, we are happy to support this by amending or delaying publication of this article as necessary.  

Funding Conditions 

• Maximum award: £3,000 

• Funding may support reasonable travel costs 

• Assistance may be funded at UK national minimum wage rates 

• Essential equipment may be funded up to £1,000 (within the £3,000 limit) 

• Living and subsistence costs may be considered where essential and justified within the application. 

• We understand that there may be additional contributors to the project, but the project must be standalone with its own aims, demonstrating an advancement of insect science. 

• All costs must be clearly justified in the application. 

• Contribution must be acknowledged in any resulting publications or publicity. 

• Applicants must not have received a RES Small Project grant within the last two years.

• Projects previously rejected will be rejected again without review 

• Failure to submit a satisfactory report within three months will lead to disqualification from future grants 

• There are no restrictions on where applicants are based and where they propose to conduct the research. 

• Applicants must obtain all relevant permissions and permits. 

• Projects conducted outside the applicant’s country must demonstrate collaboration with local organisations, agencies, NGOs, or communities. 

• Each application must include referee details for two current or recent employers, supervisors, or line managers. 

• The two referees will be contacted during the application process using the contact information provided to collect their personal statement / letter of support. We cannot accept references submitted by the applicant. 

Small Grant Application Form

Thank you for your interest in our Small Projects Grant. This application period is now closed and we will update this page with the 2026 application period soon.

If you would like to be the first to know when this grant opens for applications, please Request an Email Alert

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