The Bassi Foundation supports innovative and overlooked research across disciplines, with past scholars including master’s students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers and early-career faculty. The latest listed cohort is Spring 2026, so researchers interested in a possible 2027 round should prepare early and wait for an official call, deadline and funding terms.
Researchers working on unconventional, interdisciplinary or difficult-to-fund projects can begin preparing for future opportunities from the Bassi Foundation, an organisation established to support research that sits at the margins of established academic fields.
The Foundation states that it was created in 2018 specifically to support innovative and overlooked research — including work that:
- Falls between established academic fields
- Sits outside current funding priorities
- Is difficult to place with conventional funders
- Faces funding barriers because of disciplinary boundaries rather than research quality
Since making its first awards in 2019, the Foundation says it has supported 271 projects at more than 180 institutions across five continents through 22 funding rounds.
Its scholars have included:
- Master’s students
- PhD candidates
- Postdoctoral researchers
- Early-career faculty
- Medical researchers and practitioners
and projects have covered disciplines ranging from the humanities and social sciences to law, education, medicine and the sciences.
However, prospective applicants should note one important point:
The current official Foundation page does not yet announce a 2027 application round, deadline, grant amount or application requirements.
The most recent cohort currently listed is Spring 2026.
The Foundation states that the programme continues, which makes it reasonable for prospective 2027 applicants to begin preparing. But specific 2027 application dates, eligibility rules and funding amounts should not be assumed until a new official call is published.
Laura Bassi / Bassi Foundation Research Support at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Bassi Foundation |
| Established | 2018 |
| First Awards | 2019 |
| Latest Listed Cohort | Spring 2026 |
| Rounds Completed | 22 |
| Projects Supported | 271 |
| Institutions Represented | 180+ |
| Geographic Reach | Five continents |
| Eligible Career Stages Historically | Master’s, PhD, postdoctoral and early-career faculty |
| Disciplines Represented | Humanities, social sciences, law, education, medicine, sciences and others |
| Research Focus | Innovative and overlooked research |
| 2027 Application Status | Not yet announced on supplied official page |
| 2027 Deadline | Not stated |
| 2027 Award Amount | Not stated |
| Programme Continues | Yes |
What Is the Bassi Foundation?
The Bassi Foundation was established in 2018.
Its purpose is to support research that conventional funding systems may overlook.
This does not necessarily mean low-profile or low-quality research.
Instead, the Foundation is particularly interested in projects that may struggle to fit neatly into established disciplinary funding structures.
Examples can include research that:
- Crosses academic fields
- Uses unconventional methodologies
- Examines overlooked questions
- Falls outside major funding priorities
- Does not align with standard disciplinary categories
The Foundation’s publishing imprint is the Bassi Foundation Press.
Why Was the Foundation Created?
Many research-funding programmes are organised around clearly defined disciplines.
Researchers may therefore face difficulties when their work combines multiple fields or does not align comfortably with conventional funding categories.
The Foundation describes its mission as supporting projects whose funding challenges may result more from disciplinary boundaries than from research quality.
That makes the programme especially relevant to researchers with genuinely interdisciplinary or non-traditional projects.
How Much Research Has the Foundation Supported?
The Foundation reports that across:
22 funding rounds
it has supported:
271 projects
at more than:
180 institutions
across:
Five continents.
The record begins with the first awards in 2019 and currently runs through the Spring 2026 cohort.
This history is useful for prospective applicants because it shows that the programme has repeatedly funded researchers across different disciplines and career stages.
Who Has Previously Received Bassi Foundation Support?
The Foundation says its scholars have ranged from:
- Master’s candidates
- Doctoral candidates
- Postdoctoral researchers
- Early-career faculty
Its most recent published cohort also demonstrates this range.
The Spring 2026 scholars included PhD candidates, master’s students, assistant professors, a postdoctoral scholar, a senior lecturer, a medical resident and other researchers.
Are Master’s Students Eligible?
Historically, yes.
The Foundation explicitly states that its scholars have included master’s candidates.
The Spring 2026 cohort included:
Claudia Moreira Calzadilla and Nina Witteman, master’s students in History at Leiden University.
This provides direct evidence that master’s-level researchers have received Foundation support.
However, applicants interested in a future 2027 round should still wait for the official call before assuming that every future competition will use identical eligibility rules.
Are PhD Students Eligible?
Yes, based on the Foundation’s historical record.
PhD candidates appear prominently among previous awardees.
The Spring 2026 cohort included doctoral researchers working in areas such as:
- Architecture
- French Literature
- Accounting
- Clinical Psychology
- Computer Science
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Social Work
This demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of the programme.
Are Postdoctoral Researchers Eligible?
Yes, based on past awards.
The Foundation states that scholars have included postdoctoral researchers.
The Spring 2026 cohort includes a Postdoctoral Scholar in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Yale University.
Future applicants should nevertheless verify the eligibility wording of the relevant call once published.
Are Early-Career Faculty Eligible?
Yes, historically.
The Foundation explicitly includes early-career faculty among the groups it has supported.
The Spring 2026 list includes researchers at assistant professor and senior lecturer level.
This makes the opportunity broader than many student-only research scholarships.
What Disciplines Are Supported?
The Foundation has supported research in:
- Humanities
- Social sciences
- Law
- Education
- Medicine
- Sciences
The award history also indicates significant disciplinary variety.
For example, Spring 2026 scholars worked in areas including:
- Internal medicine
- Architecture
- Pharmaceutical sciences
- Literature
- Performance studies
- Accounting
- Clinical psychology
- Computer science
- Environmental studies
- Curriculum and instruction
- History
- Near Eastern studies
- Cardiology
- Social work
The programme is therefore not restricted to one academic field.
Is This Only for Humanities Researchers?
No.
Although interdisciplinary humanities research may fit the Foundation’s mission particularly well, the Foundation explicitly says it has supported work in medicine and the sciences as well.
The current scholar list supports that claim.
What Type of Research Is Most Relevant?
The strongest fit appears to be research that is:
- Innovative
- Overlooked
- Interdisciplinary
- Difficult to fund through conventional channels
- Situated between established fields
- Outside dominant funding priorities
This does not mean applicants should artificially label their project “interdisciplinary.”
A strong application would need to explain genuinely why the project is difficult to place within conventional funding systems.
Is There a Laura Bassi Scholarship for 2027?
The supplied official page does not currently list a 2027 round.
It states that:
- The programme continues
- The most recent round is Spring 2026
- The scholar record will be updated as new awards are announced
Therefore, researchers interested in 2027 should treat this as a preparation opportunity, not as confirmation that 2027 applications are currently open.
Are 2027 Applications Open?
Not according to the supplied source.
The official Foundation page does not provide:
- A 2027 application form
- A 2027 opening date
- A 2027 deadline
- A 2027 funding amount
- A 2027 eligibility document
Applicants should wait for a formal announcement.
What Is the 2027 Deadline?
No 2027 deadline is stated in the supplied source.
It would therefore be inaccurate to publish a specific deadline based on previous rounds.
Funding schedules can change, and applicants should rely only on the official call once released.
How Much Is the Award?
The supplied Foundation page does not state the amount associated with future awards.
It also does not provide a 2027 grant value.
For that reason, prospective applicants should not assume that funding levels from older competitions will automatically carry forward.
Is the Scholarship Fully Funded?
The official source does not describe the programme as a fully funded scholarship.
It is more accurately understood as research support provided by the Bassi Foundation.
The page does not state that awards universally cover:
- Full tuition
- Living expenses
- Accommodation
- Travel
- Health insurance
- Entire research budgets
Applicants should therefore avoid describing a future 2027 award as fully funded unless the relevant call explicitly says so.
Scholarship or Research Grant?
Although people may search online for the “Laura Bassi Scholarship,” the Foundation’s current presentation focuses on its research-support programme and Bassi Foundation Scholars.
The central objective is supporting innovative and overlooked research.
This means applicants should approach the opportunity primarily as research funding rather than as a conventional tuition scholarship.
What Can We Learn From the Spring 2026 Cohort?
The Spring 2026 cohort consisted of:
14 awards.
Awardees came from multiple institutions and disciplines.
The list demonstrates several useful points for prospective applicants.
Career Stage Is Broad
The cohort included:
- Master’s students
- PhD candidates
- Postdoctoral researchers
- Assistant professors
- Senior academic staff
- Medical trainees
Geography Is Broad
The award history overall includes institutions across five continents.
Disciplines Are Broad
Successful projects come from both traditional and emerging academic areas.
This suggests that research fit may matter more than belonging to one preferred department.
Examples of Spring 2026 Scholars
The most recent cohort includes researchers such as:
- Mustafa Alhayali — Senior Lecturer of Internal Medicine
- Mohamed Ali — PhD Candidate in Architecture
- Nasrin Ghasemi Barghi — Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Juan Antonio Cebrián — PhD Candidate in French Literature
- Jamie N. Davidson — PhD in Performance Studies
- Sina Davoudi — PhD Candidate in Accounting
- Lauren Duggan — PhD Candidate in Clinical Psychology
- Jiayao Gu — PhD Candidate in Computer Science
- David J. Herrera — Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
- Louise Lawrence Rose — PhD Candidate in Curriculum and Instruction
- Avary Taylor — Postdoctoral Scholar in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
- Claudia Moreira Calzadilla and Nina Witteman — Master’s Students in History
- Dana Fatal Yabroudi — Internal Medicine Resident in Cardiology
- Rachel Young — PhD Candidate in Social Work
This diversity is one of the clearest signals from the Foundation’s current award record.
How to Prepare for a Possible 2027 Application
Because no 2027 call is yet listed, this is a good time to prepare rather than rush later.
1. Clarify Your Research Question
A strong application begins with a clear research problem.
You should be able to explain:
- What you are investigating
- Why the question matters
- What is currently unknown
- Why your approach is appropriate
2. Explain Why Conventional Funding Is Difficult
This is especially important for a Foundation whose mission focuses on overlooked research.
Ask:
- Does the project cross disciplinary boundaries?
- Is it difficult to classify?
- Does it address an underfunded topic?
- Is it outside dominant academic priorities?
A strong application should explain this without suggesting that disciplinary difficulty is a substitute for quality.
3. Demonstrate Originality
Applicants should be prepared to show:
- What is new
- What existing research has overlooked
- Why the project deserves attention now
- What contribution it could make
“Unique” should not be used as an empty adjective.
The proposal should demonstrate originality concretely.
4. Build a Realistic Research Plan
Even innovative projects need practical planning.
Applicants should be able to explain:
- Research activities
- Methodology
- Timeline
- Expected outputs
- Budget needs
Any future Foundation requirements should take priority over a generic structure.
5. Prepare a Clear Funding Justification
Research grant reviewers generally need to understand what funding will make possible.
Applicants can begin identifying costs directly connected to their work.
However, because the 2027 rules are not published, applicants should not assume which expenses will be eligible.
6. Document Your Academic Status
Because previous scholars include master’s students, PhD researchers, postdocs and faculty, applicants should have clear evidence of their current academic or professional position.
The specific documentation required should be taken from the future application instructions.
7. Study Previous Awardees
The Foundation provides a valuable historical record of its scholars.
Prospective applicants can use it to understand:
- Career stages previously supported
- Disciplinary diversity
- Institutional diversity
- The breadth of the Foundation’s funding history
However, previous awards should be used for orientation rather than copied as a formula.
What Could Make an Application Strong?
Based on the Foundation’s stated mission, a compelling proposal would likely explain clearly:
Why the Research Matters
What problem or knowledge gap does the research address?
Why It Is Overlooked
Why has the topic or approach not received adequate attention?
Why It Does Not Fit Conventional Funding
Is there a genuine structural reason the project falls between established categories?
Why You Are Well Positioned to Conduct It
Explain the relevant academic, professional or methodological background.
What the Funding Would Enable
Make the connection between support and actual research progress clear.
What Should Applicants Avoid?
Calling the 2027 Round Open
The supplied source does not say applications are open.
Inventing a Deadline
No 2027 application deadline is listed.
Inventing a Funding Amount
No 2027 award amount is stated.
Describing It as Fully Funded
The Foundation page does not support that claim.
Assuming Every Research Topic Qualifies
The Foundation has a mission centred on innovative and overlooked research.
Assuming Past Eligibility Will Never Change
Previous scholars demonstrate historical eligibility, but future calls can set new conditions.
How Competitive Is the Programme?
The Foundation states that it has supported:
271 projects across 22 rounds.
This averages to roughly 12 awards per round, although actual round sizes vary.
For example, the Spring 2026 cohort had:
14 awards.
That calculation is useful for understanding the approximate historical scale of each cohort, but it does not give an acceptance rate because the supplied source does not state how many applications were submitted.
Therefore, no reliable success percentage can be calculated.
Is There an Age Limit?
The supplied Foundation page does not state an age limit.
Applicants should not assume one exists unless a future call says so.
Is There a Nationality Restriction?
The supplied page does not state a nationality restriction.
The Foundation says its projects have been supported at institutions across five continents.
However, the detailed eligibility rules of any future 2027 round should be checked before claiming worldwide eligibility.
Do You Need to Study at a Specific University?
The Foundation reports awards at more than:
180 institutions.
That indicates a broad institutional reach.
But the supplied page does not state the precise institutional-affiliation rules for a future 2027 competition.
Can Independent Researchers Apply?
The current overview does not clearly establish eligibility for unaffiliated independent researchers.
Most examples identify scholars with universities or academic institutions.
Prospective independent researchers should therefore wait for the detailed eligibility rules.
Are Early-Career Researchers a Good Fit?
Yes, historically.
The Foundation specifically states that its supported scholars have included early-career faculty, alongside postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers.
This makes it an important opportunity to monitor for researchers who may have moved beyond doctoral study but are still establishing an academic career.
Why the Foundation Could Be Valuable for Interdisciplinary Research
Interdisciplinary projects often encounter a practical funding problem.
A project can be academically strong but difficult to place because:
- One funder considers it too sociological
- Another considers it too scientific
- Another views it as too historical
- A discipline-specific grant does not accommodate mixed methods
The Foundation explicitly identifies this kind of problem as part of its mission.
That makes the opportunity particularly relevant for researchers whose projects sit genuinely between academic fields.
Application Timeline for 2027
No official 2027 timeline is currently provided.
A sensible preparation schedule would therefore be:
Now
- Clarify the research question
- Study previous scholars
- Develop the research rationale
- Prepare a preliminary budget
- Track Foundation announcements
When a Call Is Announced
- Confirm eligibility
- Check award value
- Read the exact application criteria
- Identify required documentation
- Note the deadline
- Adapt the proposal to the current rules
Before Submission
- Proofread carefully
- Check all attachments
- Verify budget calculations
- Confirm eligibility
- Submit before the final deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bassi Foundation?
It is a Foundation established in 2018 to support innovative and overlooked research, particularly work that falls between established academic fields or outside conventional funding priorities.
Is this also known as the Laura Bassi Scholarship?
The opportunity is commonly associated with Laura Bassi, while the current official website presents the organisation as the Bassi Foundation and recipients as Bassi Foundation Scholars.
Are applications open for 2027?
The supplied official page does not announce a 2027 application round.
What is the latest listed round?
Spring 2026.
How many awards were made in Spring 2026?
14 awards.
How many projects has the Foundation supported overall?
271 projects.
How many institutions are represented?
More than 180 institutions.
How many continents?
Five.
How many funding rounds have taken place?
The Foundation reports 22 rounds through Spring 2026.
Can master’s students apply?
Master’s students have received past awards, including in Spring 2026.
Can PhD students apply?
Yes, PhD candidates are strongly represented among previous scholars.
Can postdoctoral researchers apply?
Postdoctoral researchers have received Foundation awards.
Can early-career faculty apply?
Yes, early-career faculty are specifically included among previous recipients.
Which disciplines are eligible?
The Foundation has supported projects across the humanities, social sciences, law, education, medicine and sciences.
What is the 2027 deadline?
No 2027 deadline is stated on the supplied official page.
How much is the 2027 scholarship?
The supplied source does not provide a 2027 award amount.
Is it fully funded?
The supplied source does not support describing the award as fully funded.
Are international researchers eligible?
The Foundation’s award record spans institutions on five continents, but applicants should wait for the detailed future eligibility rules before assuming unrestricted global eligibility.
Final Thoughts
The Bassi Foundation offers a distinctive funding route for researchers whose projects do not fit comfortably within traditional academic boundaries.
Since its establishment in 2018 and first awards in 2019, the Foundation says it has supported 271 projects at more than 180 institutions across five continents.
Its scholars have included researchers at multiple career stages — from master’s and PhD candidates to postdoctoral researchers and early-career faculty — and its funding record spans disciplines as varied as history, computer science, architecture, medicine, psychology, law and environmental studies.
For prospective 2027 applicants, however, the key point is that the current official page does not yet announce a 2027 application round.
There is currently no confirmed:
- 2027 deadline
- 2027 funding amount
- 2027 application form
- 2027 eligibility document
The most recent listed competition is Spring 2026, while the Foundation confirms that its programme continues.
That makes this a useful time to prepare rather than a reason to rush an application.
Researchers can strengthen their readiness by developing a clear research question, explaining why the work falls outside conventional funding priorities, documenting its originality and preparing a realistic research plan. Once the Foundation publishes a new competition, applicants should use the current rules rather than relying on assumptions from previous rounds.
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