Queen Mary is committed to pioneering research across disciplines. Following consultation with our community, we are pleased to open this call for institutional Interdisciplinary Research Champions to lead the development of truly interdisciplinary research.
These roles are an opportunity to explore curiosity driven research, bringing together different disciplines and/or external collaborators (from academia, industry or other sectors), to create the networks and spaces to enable excellent interdisciplinary research.
We are working with the UKRI cross research council responsive mode (CRCRM) scheme definition of interdisciplinarity, which can be found here:
“Interdisciplinary research is understood to achieve outcomes (including new approaches) that could not be achieved within the framework of a single discipline. Interdisciplinary research features significant interaction between two or more disciplines and / or moves beyond established disciplinary foundations in applying or integrating research approaches from other disciplines.”
What we are looking for
This call is open to all staff (including postdocs, technicians, Professional Services staff) and PGRs across Queen Mary and may be particularly suitable for early career or mid-career researchers seeking to coalesce expertise around an area with exciting potential but currently limited visibility, where interdisciplinarity is required.
- A clearly delineated topic or theme aligned with current national priority areas, for example with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy or the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England.
Strong applications will also align with one or more of the following cross-faculty subthemes: Wellbeing and resilience, Inclusive growth, Environmental sustainability & security, Enabling technology and Application of AI.
Applicants will need to provide a clear rationale for the importance of their chosen topic to society, industry or other end users and explain why it requires an interdisciplinary approach.
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Demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinarity, through current and/or intended networks.
We welcome joint applications, especially where these are cross-discipline. Our expectation is that Interdisciplinary Research Champions will convene a programme of activities around their chosen theme that bring together different disciplines across the university, and non-academic partners as relevant. Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of how to do interdisciplinary research well at your career stage. For example, in devising research questions, managing different ways of working, creating a culture of respect and collaboration, and a willingness to act as a role model for other colleagues. - Demonstrated commitment to Queen Mary’s wider research culture aims (e.g. promoting development of more junior staff, enabling EDI, development of partner engagement) including across career stages.
- A clear pathway to an interdisciplinary output within the funding period; this may be a creation of a network that enables a competitive application to an external funding call, or another outcome that clearly aligns with Queen Mary 2030 strategy.
What the scheme offers
Interdisciplinary Research Champions will be appointed for one year in the first instance (January – December 2026).
We will fund up to £10K to fund their chosen collaborative activity. However, applications above £5K would be expected to show particularly strong ambition. This may fund engagement and consultation activities, workshops or, where deliverable within the time frame and envelope, pilot work, for example to inform a future funding bid.
The Research Culture team will work with the successful applicants to realise their aims. For example, supporting the organisation of events.
Development opportunities will be provided for the successful candidates as needed, for example, access to mentorship and training.
Responsibilities of the role
Additional responsibilities of the Interdisciplinary Champions include:
- Building knowledge of, and work collaboratively with, research taking place across the University in their topic/theme area.
- Maintaining contact with Faculty Research Managers to discuss potential grant applications that may arise from their research programmes
- The successful candidates will be expected to engage fellow Interdisciplinary Research Champions and the Research Culture team to feed back their experiences and contribute to an annual institution-wide interdisciplinary conference and networking event.
Who should apply?
- This call is open to all staff who are involved in research, including postdocs and technicians.
- You should feel confident in convening an interdisciplinary programme and passing on your learnings to your colleagues.
- Your proposed project must be interdisciplinary from a research perspective, focussing on collaboration across disciplines and engaging with non-academic stakeholders, where appropriate.
- All applicants must ensure they have the support of their Head of School (or delegated authority) before an application is submitted, given the level of commitment to the role.
How to apply
- Please complete the application form found here.
- The Research Culture team have organised two information sessions aimed at any PGR or member of staff interested in applying. The sessions will cover the aims and scope of the CIRCLE fund, the application form, and general advice on what could make for a strong application. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions too. These session will be held on MS Teams 12-1pm on Tues 14 October, and 1-2pm Weds 22 October. Please contact researchculture@qmul.ac.uk to attend.
- Applications will be assessed by an interdisciplinary panel from across Queen Mary, chaired by the DVP for Research Innovation & Culture, Prof Claudia Cooper.
- The deadline to submit applications is midnight on Monday 24th November 2025. The panel will meet on 5th December 2025, with selected applicants informed before the Christmas closure period.