Calleva Research Centre

About us

The Calleva Research Centre is an interdisciplinary centre of research excellence based at Magdalen College, Oxford. We provide funding that supports the work of Magdalen’s diverse community of Fellows and Senior Demies (“half fellows”). The Centre also provides a home for the postdoctoral researchers and DPhil students supported by the grants we make.

Originally founded in 2010,  as the result of a generous donation from an Old Member of Magdalen College, we initially supported a series of interdisciplinary projects focused on understanding human behaviour. We were re-established in 2022, and since then, we have broadened our remit to encompass the full range of interests across Magdalen’s research community.

What we do

The Calleva Research Centre has two goals. One is to fund and support research projects led from within the research community at Magdalen College. The other is to fund and support interdisciplinary research engagement opportunities at the College and around Oxford. These include academic working groups, as well as public lectures like our termly Calleva Seminars and our annual Calleva Lecture.

We currently operate three funding streams:

• Large grants: Fellows can apply for these grants to fund postdoctoral researchers and/or DPhil studentships, with generous non-staff research allowances set at a fixed rate. Applications open each summer and close each September, for awards to start the following academic year. Large grant applications are externally peer-reviewed and then assessed by the Centre’s Management Committee.
• Small grants: Fellows and Senior Demies can apply for these grants to fund a range of research projects. Applications are welcomed each term, with closing dates in Week 0 and decisions made by mid-term. Applications can be made for up to £5,000, or up to £10,000 in exceptional cases. Small grant applications are assessed by the Centre’s Management Committee.
• Emeritus Fellow Research Fund: Emeritus Fellows of Magdalen College who are not currently in a full-time academic post are welcome to apply for research funds of up to £1,500. Applications are open on a rolling basis and will be assessed by the Centre’s Management Committee.

We currently support 7 large grants that are in various stages of progress. You can find out more about our primary investigators, postdocs, and DPhil students here!

You can find out about applying for one of vacant researcher positions here. You can also sign up to our mailing list to hear about our new public events!