Mildred Blaxter postdoctoral fellowships

Introduction
This award is named for Professor Mildred Blaxter, a previous editor of the journal Sociology of Health and Illness, in recognition of her contribution to the discipline.

The award provides support for individuals who have recently completed a PhD in the field of the sociology of health and illness, to enable them to disseminate findings of their thesis through publications and presentations, and/or to develop a new programme of work related to their thesis. Successful applicants are expected to produce substantive outputs in terms of high-quality publications and grant applications, to put themselves in a position to apply for ESRC New Investigator Grants, NIHR Postdoctoral Fellowships, or equivalent awards from the British Academy, Wellcome Trust and other funding bodies.

The award provides full salary costs for one year (including on-costs but not estate or indirect costs), usually at spine point 30 as appropriate, plus £2,500 for research and/or conference expenses. London weighting will be payable where appropriate.

The awards are tenable at any university in the United Kingdom that can provide appropriate support for a postdoctoral fellow working in the field of sociology of heath and illness. This may include social science, healthcare and medical departments.

Applicants are also asked to identify a mentor who will provide support throughout their fellowship in relation to both their research endeavours and overall career development. The mentor will normally be employed by the university at which the fellowship is held, but in exceptional circumstances may be based elsewhere.

In the 2020-21 academic year, up to four fellowships will be awarded: two in the autumn and two in the spring (deadline to be confirmed). This is dependent on the Foundation’s income and is usually confirmed a minimum of three months before the deadline.

Deadlines for applications
31 October 2020 (for an early-2021 start)
Spring 2021 (for a mid-2021 start; exact deadline to be confirmed)

Eligibility
Applications will be considered from individuals who have been awarded a PhD in the field of sociology of health and illness by a UK university and who meet the following criteria:

• The PhD must be awarded on the basis of a research thesis; those with a PhD by publication are not eligible to apply.
• The applicant must have been awarded the degree at the point of application.
• The fellowship is intended to support individuals in their first postdoctoral post but the applicant may normally have up to two years’ active experience from the date of award of their PhD (pro rata for part-time experience) at the time of application. In exceptional circumstances (e.g. maternity leave or prolonged absence due to illness), applicants may be allowed more than two years’ post-PhD experience. Applicants should provide details of this on the relevant part of the form, and are encouraged to discuss this with the Foundation in advance of their application.
• Any new research proposed should be in the field of the sociology of health and illness.
• The application must be supported by the head of a department that can provide an appropriate research environment for a postdoctoral fellow working in the field of the sociology of health and illness, and by a mentor who is able to provide appropriate support and encouragement for the fellow.
• The applicant must not have made a previous application for this fellowship.

Mildred Blaxter Post-Doctoral Fellowships can only be held in a UK university but awards will not be restricted to UK or EU citizens. The fellowship need not be held in the university which awarded the PhD.

Trustees will not be eligible for awards, but other members of their departments will not be excluded from applying.

For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.