Michael Young Prize 2009

Can your research change minds?

Does it have the potential to impact society?

This is your opportunity to tell the world about your research.

The Michael Young Prize promotes excellence in the social sciences by rewarding the very best early career researchers.

The Michael Young Prize is awarded to an early career social science researcher whose research has the potential to make a positive and far-reaching impact beyond academia.

The prize was set up by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Young Foundation to encourage early career social science researchers to effectively communicate their socially relevant research to a non-academic audience.

The prize will be judged by a Panel made up of representatives from the user and academic communities, including representatives from the Young Foundation and the ESRC. The Competition Panel will assess the potential impact of the research findings and the proposed dissemination plans. Academic quality will be assumed on the basis of the applicant having been awarded a PhD or equivalent professional standing.

The prize money of £6,000 - which is intended to help with the dissemination of the research - will be divided between the winner and any runners up at the discretion of the competition panel.

In addition the winner/winners will receive assistance with their dissemination plans from the ESRC and the Young Foundation. The British Sociological Association (BSA) provides all winners of the prize with one year's full free membership and subscription to a BSA journal of their choice.

The prize was set up in honour of the late Lord Michael Young of Darlington by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Young Foundation.

• Read more about previous Michael Young Prize winners

ELIGIBILITY

The prize is open to all early career social science researchers whether or not they are currently affiliated to a UK university. Eligible early career researchers are those in the first five years of their research career who have completed a piece of original research within the last three years at the point of this call being released (1st May 2008). All eligible applicants must be currently resident in the UK. Applicants must have experience of conducting research at postgraduate level (and beyond) and may hold a postgraduate qualification. Applicants may have been employed at an NGO, in government or the private sector, for example.

Research in any discipline within the ESRC's remit is eligible but may also go beyond the social sciences and incorporate a multi-disciplinary approach.

Exceptions to the three-year time limit may be considered if an applicant has had a period of formal career break taken for family care responsibilities, health or other personal reasons. In order to ensure that the research being considered for the prize is timely and remains relevant the upper limit from the date of a successful viva has been set at five years. In such cases details about the interruption must be provided.

Winners of the Prize will be expected to make themselves available for media opportunities that may arise following the announcement of the Prize. The ESRC will provide media training and support with media enquiries as required. In addition winners of the Prize may be invited to attend events to help promote the prize to other early career researchers.