Skip to main content

LASER Small Project Bursary

In 2025-26 we are providing funding to a selection of small projects that would like to user LASER, as part of a brand new bursary scheme.

Deadline: 5pm Friday 28th February 2025.

Who can apply: Any researcher who intends to run a small project that uses sensitive data, during the 2024-25 academic year.

Bursary limit: Guide limit is £500 per project (the average cost of a project on LASER is £1k) however there may be exceptions made for projects with significant merit.

What is the LASER small project bursary?

The LASER bursary scheme is a new scheme aimed at enabling highly impactful research using sensitive data for small projects. It is aimed at a limited set of circumstances where there is no funding available for data storage, processing and analysis.

The bursary will be covered by LIDA strategic funds, which are necessarily limited. As a result, if demand exceeds funds available, bursary funds will be awarded to those cases assessed to hold most merit. We envisage being able to support up to 4 short projects per year, depending on the resource needed.

How will applications be assessed?

The criteria for assessing applications will be:

  • The potential for the work to generate high quality, potentially highly impactful outputs of either a theoretical or applied nature (examples include, but are not limited to: publications, impact case studies, models/demonstrators/tools) in one or more of LIDA’s strategic challenge areas or cross cutting methodological programmes https://lida.leeds.ac.uk/research-at-lida/
  • The potential for the work to act as a pilot/pump-priming to a larger, funded piece of work for the University of Leeds in one or more of these research areas
  • The potential for the work to significantly enhance a strategic partnership for the University of Leeds, for example with a Local Authority, national or international government/policy maker
  • Project does not have access to a source of funding for the use of research infrastructure such as LASER

Who makes a decision on the applications?

Applications will be assessed by a panel of the LIDA Executive Team with input from the Research and Innovation Community and Programme leaders. A small group involving academics with expertise in the field of the application, professional staff with experience of data science, information governance and final approval by the LIDA Executive.

How do I apply?

  • Step 1 - Book a LASER consultation with the Data Analytics Team to discuss your proposed work and estimated costs (max. 30minutes)
  • Step 2 - Complete the application form after verifying that LASER is the correct route for your project and you meet the criteria for the bursary