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MDPI Mini Grants (UK)
Supporting academics and strengthening the research community
As part of MDPI’s ongoing commitment to supporting the UK research community, MDPI is pleased to announce the launch of its new Mini Grants initiative.
These grants are designed to support those in the scholarly community by funding non-research-based activities. They serve as a source of support and recognition, helping to strengthen and sustain the research culture within UK universities and research institutions.
The Mini Grants scheme will launch with three grants of £500, being awarded to individuals or teams at UK universities or research institutions. These grants are intended to benefit PhD students, Early Career Researchers, and the staff who support them, through non-research-based activities.
Examples of these activities may include:
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Refreshment breaks for a journal club or PhD students’ communal area
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Outreach activities to communities, e.g., science fairs and conferences
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Soft-skills training courses or sessions
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Teambuilding or field trips to museums (not directly related to research)
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Campus projects engaging the local non-research community, e.g., participation in local cultural festivals and activities.
Deadline: 30th September 2026
Introducing MDPI Mini Grants
How to Apply
Mini Grant applications are now open for Q3 and will close at the end of the quarter.
To apply, please click the link below and complete the form, which includes a short application statement. In your statement, please detail what you will be using the grant for as well as what makes you a suitable candidate to receive the grant.
Eligible persons include individuals or teams at UK universities or research institutions, including but not limited to, PhD students, Early Career Researchers, and the staff who support them.
Meet the Committee
The Mini Grants will be awarded by the following committee comprised of UK-based Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board Members and Section Board Members of various MDPI journals.
Prof. Dr.
John Parkinson
Section Editor-in-Chief of Behavioural Sciences
Prof. Dr. John Parkinson is a professor of behavioural psychology at Bangor University, UK, with extensive leadership and management experience including being Head of the School of Psychology, and Dean of Faculty, at Bangor University.
He is the author or co-author of more than 70 published peer-reviewed papers and has advised businesses, the public sector, and the government on behavioural science policy. His research interests encompass the interaction between cognition and motivation, with a particular focus on behaviour and behaviour change.
Prof. Dr.
Pankaj Vadgama
Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Functional Biomaterials
Prof. Dr. Pankaj Vadgama is an Emeritus Professor of Clinical Biochemistry at Queen Mary University of London. He is a chemical pathologist with an interest in near-patient monitoring via the use of electrochemical biosensors, particularly for diabetes and critical care.
With an extensive medicine and chemistry background, he has published over 200 papers and reviews. His work emphasizes polymeric barrier materials for enhanced device biocompatibility and selectivity.
Dr.
Komali Kantamaneni
Editorial Board Member of Earth
Dr. Komali Kantamaneni is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Lancashire and an internationally recognised expert in climate change, coastal vulnerability/science, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Kantamaneni currently serves as the Co-Director of the United Nations SPIDER-UK Regional Support Office, working closely with UN agencies, national authorities, and international partners to enhance the use of space-based and geospatial technologies for disaster risk management and sustainable development.
Dr.
Andrew Soundy
Section Editor-in-Chief of Behavioural Sciences
Dr. Andrew Soundy is an Associate Professor in Physiotherapy at the University of Birmingham, recognised for his leading contributions to understanding psychological responses to chronic and palliative illness.
Dr. Soundy is internationally recognised for advancing qualitative methodologies and health psychology and his research is widely taught across Physiotherapy programmes and NHS Trusts, shaping how practitioners support and empower patients through enhanced therapeutic interactions.
Prof. Dr.
Michael Short
Editorial Board Member of Energies
Prof. Dr. Michael Short is Professor of Control Engineering and Systems Informatics and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Engineering within the School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies at Teesside University in the UK.
Prof. Dr. Short’s research interests encompass aspects of applied control engineering and systems informatics applied to smart energy systems and robotics. He has supervised twelve PhD completions, won eight best paper awards and is a full member of the IET and IEEE, and is also a fellow of the HEA.
Dr.
Dmitrii Kolotkov
Editorial Board Member of Universe
Dr. Dmitrii Kolotkov is an Assistant Professor and UKRI Stephen Hawking Fellow at the University of Warwick, UK, specialising in solar and stellar coronal magnetohydrodynamic, nonlinear plasma dynamics, helio- and asteroseismology, and advanced data analysis.
He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and leads internationally recognised research in seismological diagnostics of solar and stellar atmospheres, combining theory, observations, and innovative signal-processing methods.