Can I apply to this scheme as the Principal Investigator (PI) if I do not have a PhD?
An individual who does not have a PhD may only act as PI on an application in exceptional circumstances. For example, the individual is based in a country where academics (employed to teach University degrees) do not routinely have a PhD or the individual is applying from outside of academia and has research experience or credentials equivalent to a PhD. You will have the opportunity to explain this in your application when asked to describe why the project team is exceptionally appropriate for achieving the project objectives. You may be included in the project team as a named Co-Investigator (Co-I), named Research Assistant (RA), or named Collaborator without a PhD. If you are nearing the end of your PhD and expect to have completed your PhD (successfully defended it / passed your viva) by the time the full application is due (mid-June 2022) then you may be included in the project team as a named Co-I or named Postdoctoral Research Assistant (PDRA), or even apply as PI. You do not have to have officially graduated by the full application deadline as we understand that there is often a long wait for graduation ceremonies. Some form of justification for your confidence in passing your PhD by mid-June 2022 will be needed in the Outline Application and you will need to upload some form of evidence that you have passed your PhD (e.g. an email/letter from your examiners) for the Full Application. You will need to indicate mitigations should you not successfully gain your PhD in time. See further information on eligibility.