Research Grants - The Leakey Foundation
The Leakey Foundation Research Grants fund innovative studies on human origins, evolution, and behavior for advanced PhD and post-PhD researchers worldwide.
Funder: The Leakey Foundation
Due Dates: January 10, 2027 (Spring cycle) | July 15, 2027 (Fall cycle)
Funding Amounts: Up to $20,000 for PhD candidates; up to $30,000 for post-PhD researchers; two cycles per year.
Summary: Supports innovative research on human origins, evolution, and behavior for advanced PhD students and post-PhD researchers globally.
Key Information: Proposals may only be resubmitted once; applicants must use the latest application packet (v26.1).
Description
The Leakey Foundation Research Grants program funds original research that advances the understanding of human origins, evolution, and behavior. The program supports both PhD dissertation research and post-PhD projects in a range of disciplines, including paleoanthropology, genetics, primate behavior, and the ecology of modern hunter-gatherers. The Foundation prioritizes exploratory, multidisciplinary, and innovative projects that push the boundaries of current knowledge about human evolution. Grants are available to researchers worldwide, with no citizenship restrictions, and are awarded through two competitive cycles each year.
