PSGB Research Working Party

The Research Working Party

The Research Working Party (RWP) is involved with all aspects of primate research. We seek to encourage high quality, rigorous and diverse research which will further our understanding of primates. Primatology is a highly diverse field and as such we seek to support research across a range of disciplines including interdisciplinary studies. We value all approaches, whether experimental or observational, with captive or wild primates, and whether regarding ultimate questions such as function (or adaptation) and phylogeny (or evolution), or proximate questions such as causation (or mechanisms) and ontogeny (or development). Accordingly, we support research in areas including, but not restricted to, behavioural ecology, evolutionary psychology, developmental, comparative, archaeological, phylogenetic, cultural evolution etc., and embrace a variety of topics, such as behaviour, hormones, genetics, anatomy, biomechanics, communication, laterality, perception, cognition, personality etc.

Our main role is in the administering of the PSGB General Research Grants, which complement the Captive Care and Conservation Grants. These are awards, typically not exceeding £750, to assist with primatological research in any area, except for that covered by the Captive Care and Conservation Grants. Candidates should not apply to more than one Working Party for funds for the same project or in any one year, but decide which best represents their chosen research topic. For further clarification please see the ‘Guidance Notes’ document (below) and if unsure contact the relevant Convenors for advice prior to submitting a proposal. The remit is very broad and although the financial value of the grants is quite small it should be remembered that support from the PSGB is invaluable when applying for money from other sources.

The grant deadline is 15th April each year and all PSGB members are eligible.

All necessary documents are available below in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format or as RTF files. You will need a copy of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to read/print the PDF files. This is widely available, but can certainly be found at the Adobe WWW site.

ALL APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE WRITTEN IN ENGLISH

Application Form
Referees Form
Guidance Notes
Undertaking by Grantees

The Research Working Party is actively seeking funds to give out to Research Grants applicants. We would love to hear from any organisation willing to help through donations, which can be used to support primate research projects. Please contact Dr Rachel Kendal at rwp@psgb.org.

For more information and advice please contact:

Dr Rachel L Kendal
Convenor, PSGB Research Working Party
Anthropology Department
Durham University
South Road
Durham DH1 3LE

E-mail: rwp@psgb.org