Research Fellowships in Science or Engineering 2018, UK
Do you have 3 years or less post-doctoral research experience and want to conduct innovative research of your own instigation?
Research Fellowships in Science and Engineering are intended to give scientists or engineers of exceptional promise the opportunity for early independence with the objective of contributing to the knowledge base required for a healthy and innovative national culture. These fellowships are open to all nationalities, usually intending to carry out research at a UK institution.
Around 8 awards are made each year, one of which is designated the Brunel Fellowship. Applications from qualified engineering researchers are particular encouraged and the Brunel Fellowship is specifically reserved for them.
Fellowships are held from 1 October in the year of award, with Fellows being required to devote their whole time to their research project for the duration of the Fellowship. A limited amount of time may be spent on teaching or lecturing with the written agreement of the Commission. 3. Candidates proposing projects in applied science and engineering are particularly encouraged to apply.
Eligibility
- The Fellowships are open to candidates intending to conduct research in any of the physical or biological sciences, in mathematics, in applied science, or in any branch of engineering.
- Candidates must be in possession of a recent PhD, or equivalent qualification (normally with no more than 3 years postdoctoral experience) or be in the final stages of their PhD studies, which must be successfully completed before the award of a Fellowship can be confirmed.
- A Fellowship will normally be held at a UK Institution approved by the Commissioners; the research should be carried out at a different Institution from the one where the candidate’s PhD research was undertaken. In exceptional circumstances the Commissioners may consider an application from a candidate not fulfilling the above criteria; requests for such exemptions should be forwarded to the Secretary as a personal letter accompanying the submission for consideration. The Commissioners’ decision, which is made after the closing date for submissions, will be final.
- A Fellow will not be debarred from holding another award or receiving other contributions towards support, but the Commissioners must be informed and may, at their discretion, modify the value of the Fellowship.
Status and benefits
There are two possible arrangements for taking on a Fellowship:
- In the first, Fellows holding their Fellowship in the UK may, where it is mutually agreeable to the Fellow and their host institution, become employed by that institution. In such cases the Commission will make a grant to the host institution sufficient, in the first year, to cover the full payroll cost (i.e. salary, employer’s national insurance and USS contribution) associated with appointment of the Fellow at spine point 31 of the UCEA negotiated national pay scale for the 2018/19 academic year. The precise value cannot be specified until the pay scale has been published by UCEA, but we anticipate the value of the grant would be approximately £44,000 based on a starting salary of approximately £34,000. Subject to satisfactory progress, the Commission’s grant in subsequent years will increase in line with increases in the UCEA national pay scales. An annual increment equivalent to one spine point will also be supported. In addition a London Weighting of £4,000 per annum will be paid where the host institution is located in central London or overseas. All other costs arising are to be paid by the host institution. If the host institution wishes to appoint the Fellow at a higher salary, or to grant greater increments, the balance of the Fellow’s total salary costs (including National Insurance and superannuation) will be payable by the host institution. The Commission’s contribution towards total salary costs is reviewed annually and will be payable quarterly in advance, to the host institution’s bank account. The host institution will be responsible for complying with tax and national insurance obligations.
- In the second, Fellows have the status of self-employed visiting researchers at their host institution. Fellows will receive a stipend equivalent to the grant that would be payable to the host institution were the Fellow to hold the Fellowship on an employed basis as described above, with annual increments calculated as above (subject to satisfactory progress) and a London or Overseas Weighting of £4,000 per annum payable in appropriate cases. Stipends are reviewed annually and will be payable quarterly in advance, directly to the Fellow’s bank account. Stipends and any other assistance provided will be subject to taxation and Class II & IV National Insurance contributions (and / or such local taxes as may be applicable where Fellows are based outside the UK). Fellows will be responsible for ensuring they meet their tax and national insurance obligations. Fellows will also be responsible for any pension provision they choose to make.
Applicants must indicate whether they wish to hold the Fellowship on the employed or self employed basis on the application form. Where applicants intend to hold the Fellowship as an employee of their host institution, they must ensure that the host institution provides the institutional approval requested at paragraph 13 below as part of the application process. Failure to do so will render the application invalid. 11. A Fellow is entitled to sums not exceeding £6,000 per annum towards additional costs associated with their research, including travel to present at relevant conferences.
For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://www.royalcommission1851.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/RF-TC-2018.pdf