The Research Grant programme provides members of the Society with the opportunity to bid for financial support for carrying out research on any topic that is relevant to the Society's objectives. There are two types of small grant which are available on a competitive basis to FSBI members: the FSBI Small Research Grant, and the Wyn Wheeler Research Grant. The Small Research Grant scheme is open to bids for up to £5000 per project. The Wyn Wheeler Research Grant Fund is open to bids for up to £6000 per project.

The Wyn Wheeler Research Grant Fund was created at the behest of the Society's former Newsletter Editor, Terry Langford, when he retired. The aim of the Wyn Wheeler Research Grant Fund is to provide retired members with financial support of their continued activity in fish biology following retirement from full-time employment. This grant is named in honour of one of the Society's founders, Alwyn Wheeler, who characteristically pursued his interest in fish biology after retirement, including much-needed research on the fishes of ponds of Epping Forest (northeast London), in particular on the native crucian carp.

The current annual budget for FSBI Research Grants is £36,000, with £6000 of this earmarked for the Wyn Wheeler grant fund. Examples of recent awards can be seen in the reports on previously-awarded grants, which are available for download.

Research grant competitions are open to any member of the Society, regardless of their geographical location, but to be eligible you must be a paid up member for a minimum of 28 calendar days between a membership and a closing date for a grant application round.

Please be aware that applications will not be submitted to the grant committee until after the application round closing date.  All applicants, whether successful or not, will be informed by the chair of the sub-committee but this may not be for up to two months after the closing date. Do not contact the Administration Office until two months have elapsed.

REPORTS ON RECENT FSBI SMALL RESEARCH GRANTS

A preliminary study of non-native species impacts: how do clandestine introductions
of goldfish impact pond ecosystems?
Awarded to: Gordon H. Copp, Salmon & Freshwater Team, Cefas Lowestoft, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT

Ontogeny of parasite-mediated behaviour change in sticklebacks
Awarded to: Iain Barber, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Wales

A collaborative study between Edinburgh University and the University of British Columbia
to compare spatial learning in benthic and limnetic stickleback species pairs
Awarded to: Lucy Odling-Smee, King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, United Kingdom

Preference for familiar fish across different species
Awarded to: Jens Krause, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT

The affects of maternal steroids and spawning order on juvenile brown trout
Awarded to: Hayley C. Suter, Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Sciences, IBLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.

WYN WHEELER RESEARCH GRANT AWARDS

A new role for progestins in tench plasma Awarded to Sandy Scott, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 9PB

FSBI RESEARCH GRANT INFORMATION

Members wishing to apply for a small grant should download the PDF below. This contains further information and the application form.

FSBI Small Research Grant: PDF

Wyn Wheeler Research Grant (for retired members of the Society): PDF

Submission deadlines are:

Subject-related enquires should be addressed to the chair of the Research Grant sub-committee. All grant applications should be submitted to the FSBI Office, to which enquiries, regarding grant application submission, may be addressed:

FSBI Administration Office

Contact: FSBI Administrator
Phone: +44 (0)151 600 3362
Email enquiries