Crowdfund your own job?

Well, this is a fascinating idea:

In what is thought to be a first for a UK university, Portsmouth will hire a scholar to research crowdfunding, the process of securing investment by appealing to the public for donations. But an initial two-year contract will be extended only if the fellow can personally raise cash towards the post’s salary costs.

“Because of the nature of the successful applicant’s research, we’re hoping they can practise what they preach and secure some funding to continue their work,” said Joe Cox, an economist who leads a team that has won a £750,000 grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to research the intricacies of crowdfunding.

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