The prize of £2,500, funded through contributions from alumni, colleagues, and friends, will be awarded for outstanding PhD research conducted within the Business School with a preference for topics aligned with Professor Nick Oliver’s research in organisational resilience, crisis management, and sensemaking.
Established in memory of Professor Nick Oliver, a much-respected colleague and leader, the award honours his lasting impact on the School and the wider academic community. Nick was an undergraduate in Psychology at the University of Edinburgh and returned here from the University of Cambridge to head up the Business School in 2007. He led the School with enormous distinction for five years, driving the transformation of both the organisational and physical infrastructure. His sudden passing in 2020 was deeply felt by colleagues, students, and friends across the University and beyond.
Eligibility and Selection
All PhD students within the Business School are eligible. Priority consideration will be given to research that aligns closely with Professor Oliver’s areas of expertise.
To be considered for the Award, the external examiners should initiate nominations, providing a supporting statement of approximately 750 words. The nominees should submit an extended abstract of approximately 1,000 words that summarises the research and its academic contribution, with a list of related publications included as an appendix.
An internal selection committee, chaired by the Director of Research Degrees, will review nominations and make the final decision considering conceptual robustness, originality, potential impact, clarity of presentation, and potential for further academic development.
Timeline for the 2025/2026 call
- Call launched in October, 2025 to reach all eligible candidates, including those who receive award letters between September and April.
- Nominations open from March 1 - April, 30, 2026
- Winner confirmed by the end of June, 2026.
- Payment forms submitted by mid-July, with prize drawdown in July.