
Deadline: 28 February 2025
The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG Kew), is funding the Emily Holmes Memorial Scholarships for postgraduate botanical research, supported by the Amar-Franses & Foster-Jenkins Trust. You may apply to earn a scholarship between £1,000 and £3,000.
The Trust strongly encourages applications from researchers who face challenges in obtaining funding from alternative sources and for whom a grant would substantially impact their academic pursuits. This emphasis aims to support those who might otherwise struggle to advance their research due to financial constraints.
Applicants must demonstrate a clear alignment with the Kew Science Strategy in their proposals. Successful applications will exhibit a robust connection to Kew’s scientific endeavors, showcasing a comprehensive understanding of Kew’s diverse research domains. This includes familiarity with Kew’s five strategic priorities: Ecosystem Stewardship; Trait Diversity and Function; Digital Revolution; Accelerated Taxonomy; and Enhanced Partnerships
Eligibility
Eligibility for the funding is restricted to students currently pursuing postgraduate studies at a research organization or university, with applications accepted globally. Strong applicants will have established a collaborative relationship with a Kew scientist who is willing to support both the project and the application. This collaboration is crucial, as it demonstrates a clear alignment with Kew’s scientific endeavors and showcases an understanding of Kew’s diverse research domains. For those who have not yet established such a collaboration, it is important to note that a letter of support from a Kew scientist is mandatory for funding consideration. Postdoctoral researchers are not eligible for funding.
Funding
The Scholarship fund is a total of £10,000 per year. The maximum an individual student can be awarded is £3,000, with grants typically made between £1,000 and £3,000.
Funding can cover the direct costs associated with carrying out a research project. This includes, but is not limited to, travel and subsistence for research visits or fieldwork, conference fees, lab work and consumables. The funding may be used to cover the academic fees of the applicant, however this would only be in cases where the need was greatest and could be clearly justified by the applicant.
Supporting material
Additional information can be found here.