Leeds Early Career Publishing Prize

A unique chance to write an open access book based on PhD research has been launched.

The Leeds Early Career Publishing Prize celebrates PhD research and supports authors to publish an open access monograph.

The prize is open to University of Leeds PhD graduates from 2017, 2018 and 2019. Prize-winners will receive a £250 cash prize each and the opportunity to develop their work into a book for a wider audience.

Professor Claire Honess, Dean of of the Leeds Doctoral College, says:

We’re delighted to offer our graduates this career-enhancing opportunity to raise the visibility and impact of their research through open access publishing.

To win the prize, authors must submit a proposal explaining how they would turn their thesis into a book. If the book is commissioned, authors will be supported through the peer review process and all book processing charges and open access fees will be paid.

The prize co-ordinator, Beccy Shipman, says:

Early career researchers who want to disseminate their work as widely as possible through open access publishing can often find that fees and processing charges are a substantial barrier to publication. We are piloting this competition to help new postdoctoral researchers experience publishing a monograph in a supported manner, without worrying how to pay for it.

Prize-winning proposals will be considered for publication by White Rose University Press (WRUP). WRUP will follow its normal quality-driven commissioning process, including peer review, and will support successful authors throughout the publication process.

Supervisors are encouraged to offer this opportunity to outstanding students who have graduated over the last three years.

All prize-winning authors will be invited to an award ceremony in Leeds in September 2020. Book launch events will be held for all commissioned monographs on their publication.

Find out more about how to apply for the Leeds Early Career Publishing Prize.