Leakey Foundation Research Grants for Human Origins

About the Grant

The Leakey Foundation Research Grants for Human Origins Research are internationally recognised funding opportunities supporting innovative and exploratory research into human origins, evolution, and behaviour. Administered by the Leakey Foundation (USA), a leading nonprofit funder in this field, the grant programme prioritises early-stage, high-risk, and multidisciplinary research that advances fundamental knowledge of the human story.

The grants support both advanced PhD candidates conducting dissertation research and post-PhD researchers undertaking independent or collaborative projects. With funding awarded twice annually, the programme aligns closely with global academic priorities in anthropology, archaeology, primatology, and evolutionary science. Emphasising field-based and analytical research, the grant enables scholars worldwide to undertake critical investigations across deep time, from the Miocene to the Pleistocene, contributing meaningfully to international scholarship on human evolution.

Grant Details

Grant Name: Leakey Foundation Research Grants
Funding Agency/Institution: The Leakey Foundation
Location: United States (International funding)
Research Field(s): Human origins, evolution, and behaviour
Grant Type: Research grant / Exploratory project grant
Project Duration: Project-based (typically short-term research phases)
Funding Amount:
- Up to USD 20,000 for PhD candidates
- Up to USD 30,000 for post-PhD researchers
  Grant Start Date (Expected): Following notification
Mode of Research: Individual or collaborative
Application Type: Open call (biannual)

Research Areas Supported

Paleoanthropology of the Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene
Archaeology related to human origins
Biological anthropology
Primate evolution, behaviour, morphology, and ecology
Primate endocrinology and genetics
Isotope studies
Paleobotany
Paleoclimatology
Geology related to human evolution
Studies of modern hunter-gatherer groups

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Requirements

Academic Qualifications:
- PhD candidates must be advanced to candidacy (ABD)
- Post-PhD researchers must hold a completed PhD
Career Stage: Advanced doctoral or postdoctoral researchers
Nationality/Residency: Open to applicants from all countries
Affiliation Requirements: Must be affiliated with a university, museum, or recognised research institution
Experience Level: Demonstrated research capability in relevant disciplines

Preferred Qualifications

Strong research proposal aligned with human origins research
Interdisciplinary or innovative methodological approach
Prior fieldwork or analytical experience

Not Eligible

Applicants without institutional affiliation
Undergraduate or early-stage doctoral students
Budget requests for salaries, institutional overheads, childcare, equipment, or publication costs

Grant Benefits

Funding Support: Fieldwork costs, travel, living expenses during research, and essential research supplies
Travel Allowance: Research-related travel only
Lab/Research Material Costs: Covered if essential to the project
Collaborative Research Funding: Permitted where relevant
Professional Development Opportunities: Enhanced research visibility through association with a globally respected funding body
Institutional Support: Indirect support through host affiliation

Key Responsibilities

Grant recipients are expected to conduct the approved research project in accordance with ethical and institutional standards, utilise funds strictly for eligible research expenses, submit required progress and final reports to the Leakey Foundation, and acknowledge the Foundation’s support in resulting publications and outputs.