Rejected Proposals

There are enough instances of the file drawer problem in academia. A similar notion applies to applications, where we only hear of the successes, perpetuating a hero narrative and brazenly skipping over the missed targets. I don’t want to add to that, so I’ve decided to collate this list of grant/project proposals and applications that have been rejected. Here are my rejections as an anti-CV.

• Research Council Grant (Co-I)

  Application not shortlisted

  Approx. time of submission: June 2020

• Mini doctoral training hub (PI)

  Equivalent of 4 PhD students (~ £80k)

  Application not shortlisted

  Approx. time of submission: December 2019
• XXX mock panel

  Application rejected before shortlisting

  Approx. time of submission: December 2019
• Lectureship at XXX University

  Application rejected before interview stage

  Approx. time of submission: November 2018
• XXX Journal Editorial Board

  Bid for editor role; rejected after EoI submission

  Approx. time of submission: May 2018

• Gamified Employability and Transferable Skills Development

  Internal TDF bid; rejected after EoI submission

  Approx. time of submission: February 2018

  Amount requested: £15,000