Grant winners - 26 September 2013

Leverhulme Trust

Research Project Grants
Sciences

• Award winner: Marco Beato
• Institution: University College London
• Value: £196,355

The tuning of motor circuits by recurrent excitation and inhibition

• Award winner: Roger K. Butlin
• Institution: University of Sheffield
• Value: £129,902

The role of natural selection in divergence between aphid host races

• Award winner: Paola Carbone
• Institution: University of Manchester
• Value: £150,482

Effect of responsive copolymers on the structure of phospholipid bi-layers

Social sciences

• Award winner: Lynda Boothroyd
• Institution: Durham University
• Value: £249,918

Impact of media access and local ecology on beauty ideals in Nicaragua

• Award winner: Mitchell Callan
• Institution: University of Essex
• Value: £129,479

Personal relative deprivation and status consumption

Natural Environment Research Council

• Award winners: Peter Golyshin, Davey Jones and Nathalie Fenner
• Institution: Bangor University
• Value: £440,000

Characterisation of the nature, origins and ecological significance of dissolved organic matter in freshwater ecosystems

Catalyst Grant

• Award winners: Barrie Johnson, Lynne Macaskie, Angela Murray and Hylke Glass
• Institutions: Bangor University, University of Birmingham and University of Exeter
• Value: £88,000

Beyond biorecovery: environmental win-win by biorefining of metallic wastes into new functional materials

Royal Society

Wolfson Research Merit Awards

Awards are worth £10,000-£30,000 a year, which is a salary enhancement.

• Award winner: Malcolm Bennett
• Institution: University of Nottingham

Re-engineering plant and crop root systems architecture

• Award winner: Kai Bongs
• Institution: University of Birmingham

Quantum simulators and sensors with ultracold atoms

• Award winner: Gregory Challis
• Institution: University of Warwick

Discovery, biosynthesis and bioengineering of novel bioactive natural products

In detail

Arts and Humanities Research Council

Award winner: Mark J. Cartledge
Institution: University of Birmingham
Value: £574,512

Megachurches and social engagement in London

This project aims to investigate the social engagement of “megachurches”, defined as those attracting more than 2,000 worshippers a week; there are presently 10 such churches in London. The research will focus on the significance of this participation for public theology and aims to elucidate the policy implications for religion and society. Given the multicultural nature of megachurches, the empirical data gathered will be analysed in relation to transnationalism, globalisation and urbanisation, as well as religious social capital and theological motivations. Besides producing academic papers, the team will work with the government and voluntary sector bodies to facilitate dialogue, and will disseminate research findings via a policy report, website, podcasts, conferences for stakeholders, media outlets and public talks and lectures.