This fund is available to provide modest financial support for benchwork. The emphasis is on methodology, with a preference for cellular or bioanalytical work.
Examples of awards
- Developing and applying a new technique
- Checking the application of a known technique in new circumstances
- Method development by new staff before they apply to a major award-granting body
What this grant cannot fund
This grant is aimed at basic science and the development of analytical/biochemical methods. This fund is not intended for clinical therapeutics.
How much is available?
- £4,000 (for consumables only)
- Up to £6,670 (to cover a maximum of £4,000 for consumables and a maximum stipend of £2,670 to a summer vacation student working on a 6 week project (based on a 35-hour week at National Living Wage). Shorter projects are also welcomed.
All additional funding sought for the proposed work from other sources should be mentioned in the application.
Guidance to applicants
1. Applicants must have been a Early Career, Full or Emeritus member of the Biochemical Society for at least 12 months immediately prior to the deadline. Members that have joined as multiyear members are eligible to apply after six months of membership has elapsed. If you are not a member, join today.
2. Where a short-term stipend is sought, the person must be engaged in benchwork rather than writing-up; this must be an Undergraduate student or someone that has just completed their undergraduate degree. The fund is not intended to provide or supplement students enrolled on MPhil/MRes/MSc/PhD programmes.
Note: The Summer Vacation Studentships Scheme can also support vacation help, but the emphasis is different. The Eric Reid Fund emphasises progress in methodology, and a student of any year (or just finished a degree course) may be supported for this.
3. Applicants should state to whom a grant awarded should be paid, and when they would expect to start the work. If this depends on matching support they should say when its availability will be known, and should notify the Biochemical Society of the outcome. Awards cannot be extended or renewed.
4. Funding will not be awarded in three consecutive years.
Please note that successful applicants are required to:
- Guarantee clearances (e.g. ethical / animal experimentation / Genetic Modification / NHTA / radioisotope use / vacation assistance insurance if applicable), preferably from the Head of Department
- Submit a report and photo to accompany the report (maximum 400 words) of how the award was spent and what has been achieved within 18 months of the project start date. This report and photo may be used on the Biochemical Society website, blog or Biochemist Magazine.
- Acknowledge support from the Biochemical Society in any publication that results.
Deadline: 23 March 2026
Eric Reid Fund for Methodology
This fund is available to provide modest financial support for benchwork. The emphasis is on methodology, with a preference for cellular or bioanalytical work.
Examples of awards
- Developing and applying a new technique
- Checking the application of a known technique in new circumstances
- Method development by new staff before they apply to a major award-granting body
What this grant cannot fund
This grant is aimed at basic science and the development of analytical/biochemical methods. This fund is not intended for clinical therapeutics.
How much is available?
- £4,000 (for consumables only)
- Up to £6,670 (to cover a maximum of £4,000 for consumables and a maximum stipend of £2,670 to a summer vacation student working on a 6 week project (based on a 35-hour week at National Living Wage). Shorter projects are also welcomed.
All additional funding sought for the proposed work from other sources should be mentioned in the application.
Guidance to applicants
1. Applicants must have been a Early Career, Full or Emeritus member of the Biochemical Society for at least 12 months immediately prior to the deadline. Members that have joined as multiyear members are eligible to apply after six months of membership has elapsed. If you are not a member, join today.
2. Where a short-term stipend is sought, the person must be engaged in benchwork rather than writing-up; this must be an Undergraduate student or someone that has just completed their undergraduate degree. The fund is not intended to provide or supplement students enrolled on MPhil/MRes/MSc/PhD programmes.
Note: The Summer Vacation Studentships Scheme can also support vacation help, but the emphasis is different. The Eric Reid Fund emphasises progress in methodology, and a student of any year (or just finished a degree course) may be supported for this.
3. Applicants should state to whom a grant awarded should be paid, and when they would expect to start the work. If this depends on matching support they should say when its availability will be known, and should notify the Biochemical Society of the outcome. Awards cannot be extended or renewed.
4. Funding will not be awarded in three consecutive years.
Please note that successful applicants are required to:
- Guarantee clearances (e.g. ethical / animal experimentation / Genetic Modification / NHTA / radioisotope use / vacation assistance insurance if applicable), preferably from the Head of Department
- Submit a report and photo to accompany the report (maximum 400 words) of how the award was spent and what has been achieved within 18 months of the project start date. This report and photo may be used on the Biochemical Society website, blog or Biochemist Magazine.
- Acknowledge support from the Biochemical Society in any publication that results.
Deadline: 23 March 2026