SLAS Research Development Award
Grant Value: Up to £10,000
DEADLINE: 20 March 2026
The Society of Latin American Studies is pleased to announce the call for its new Research Development Award. There is one award of (up to) £10,000 per year. This prestigious award is designed to support significant research projects and impactful collaborations within the field of Latin American Studies.
We invite proposals that demonstrate academic excellence, an original contribution to the field, and a clear timeline for completion within the current financial year. This award is designed to stimulate research via fieldwork, trips to archives, and workshop costs. Applicants should not apply to this scheme to cover the costs of attending conferences.
Eligibility
Any SLAS member is invited to apply, provided at least four years have passed since the award of the PhD. SLAS members may apply in small groups, but there should be one lead applicant. Postgraduates and postdoctoral scholars may form part of a collective application, but the lead applicant should have at least four years experience post-PhD.
Eligible costs:
-
Travel and Transport: International travel, local transport and internal flights.
-
Accommodation. Note that informal stays without receipts cannot be reimbursed.
-
Subsistence.
-
Direct Research Costs: archive/library fees, translation, transcription, participant compensation, fieldwork assistance.
-
Travel Insurance. This is compulsory and should be included in the budget.
-
Visas; vaccinations.
Ineligible Costs
-
Institutional Overheads/ Full Economic Costing (FEC) or indirect estate costs.
-
Equipment purchases: Large hardware such as laptops or cameras.
-
Salary Replacement: Funds cannot be used to pay for any applicant's time or to "buy out" teaching.
Applicants must adhere to the following:
-
Subsistence: All subsistence costs must be calculated based on a fixed per diem rate [in line with SLAS expenses policy, the maximum expenditure is £65 in any 24 hr period].
-
Travel: SLAS has acknowledged the climate emergency and has a Climate Action Plan. We recognise that travel is a necessary and enjoyable part of research in our community, but we ask that applicants think carefully about how to travel in a more sustainable way (e.g. carbon offsetting, taking less-frequent trips, travelling overland instead of by air where possible). We encourage all applicants to include more sustainable options within any budgets, even if these are more costly than the most basic option. If you are doing something specific to address climate action as part of any travel plans within this application, please do include this in the justification of resources.
-
Accommodation: All claims for accommodation must be supported by itemised receipts.
-
Travel Insurance: Valid travel insurance is compulsory for all awardees. It is the sole responsibility of the awardee to arrange and fund this insurance and should be factored into the project budget.
-
Spending Deadline: All funds must be fully spent and all activities have taken place before 31 December 2026.
Where possible and desirable, SLAS can transfer the grant directly to the awardee's home institution.
NB: If funds are managed by a home institution, that institution’s internal financial guidelines (their specific per diem rates or travel insurance policies) will supersede SLAS guidelines.
Alternatively, funds may be reimbursed to the awardee upon the production of valid receipts and completed expense claims. Reimbursements can be made in up to three installments via the Society’s co-Treasurers.
Completed application forms should be submitted along with a CV for the lead applicant.
Incomplete applications, late applications or those that do not adhere to the financial terms of this scheme will not be considered.
Application timeline:
Application Deadline: 20 March 2026
Selection Committee Review: late March 2026
Announcement of Results: First week of April 2026
Final Date for Expenditure: 31 December 2026
How to Apply
Please send your completed application and CV to slaslatam@gmail.com with the subject line: 'SLAS Research Development Award - [Your Name]'