University Research Fellowships (URFs) and IAS University Research Fellowships (IAS-URFs) 2010/2011, and Senior Research Fellowships (SRFs) 2010/2012

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University Research Fellowships (URFs) 2010/2011

Background and Application Process

University Research Fellowships are awarded competitively by the University to allow members of staff a dedicated period of time to carry out research. The award (up to maximum of £10,000) is paid to the department to cover the replacement of teaching, assessment and clinical responsibilities. Awards are made by a committee comprising members of the University Research Committee and the Academic Advisory Board of the IAS.

Both the Faculty selection process and the final committee deliberations are governed by a number of criteria, and it is intended that the awards results will broadly reflect this. These include:

Coherence, significance, and feasibility are sine qua non for any successful application.

Please note that there is a new type of URF award available in the next academic year, related to the generic concerns of the IAS (see below).

Applicants should set out the project or projects they expect to work on during a Fellowship, along with an indication of the planned outputs. The emphasis should be on the quality rather than the quantity of outputs.

Applicants should fill in sections 1 - 5 of the URF nomination form or the IAS-URF nomination form, attach a one-page CV and then forward it to their Head of Department/School for completion of sections 6 & 7. Full details of replacement teaching costs, according to the University's published rates, must be provided. The original nomination form and CV plus 6 copies for each nominee should then be sent to the Dean who, with the assistance of the Faculty Research Director, will coordinate and rank Faculty applications. Faculties are not permitted to submit more than 10 applications, which should be ranked, to the final selection committee. Deans may set deadlines for forms to be submitted to them, and will further ensure that the forms arrive at the IAS by the closing date.

Nomination forms and CVs (the original plus 6 copies for each nominee) must be submitted by the Deans to Susan Jim, Research Development Manager of the Institute for Advanced Studies, Royal Fort House, to arrive no later than 5pm on Thursday 18th February 2010. Applications that arrive after this closing date will NOT be considered.

The normal duration of a fellowship is twelve months. Staff are expected to dedicate all their time in this period to the programme of research specified on the URF application and any changes of plan must be reported to the Director of the IAS as soon as possible. Any other funding bids impinging upon the URF year and involving URF holders must be sure to cover the costs calculated to support the fellowship. This is because, in all cases where award holders are unable to undertake their research or have to curtail it, URF resources must redound to the IAS and cannot be used by Schools/Departments for other purposes.

Special extensions to the period of the URF may be made in cases of staff having to take sick leave or for other significant personal reasons.

Expectations

End-of-year reports (2-3 pages of A4) must be submitted giving details of the research and activities carried out during the fellowship year. An element of frank self-assessment of progress made is expected, along with a list of existing or pending outputs. Explanations must be provided where activities and outputs do not match those specified in the initial research proposal.

IAS University Research Fellowships (IAS-URFs)

For the first time, two awards of half the normal length and value, are available for research and activities related to the characteristic generic concerns of the Institute for Advanced Studies. These include such overarching themes as:

It is expected that the recipients of these awards will spend some of their time in the IAS, possibly becoming involved with IAS activities, and  are expected regularly to discuss their research and thinking with the Director. Potential applicants are encouraged to make early contact with the Director to discuss possible projects, before making formal applications.

University Senior Research Fellowships (SRFs) 2010/2012

These two-year Fellowships are awarded to distinguished retired members of staff in recognition of their continued contribution to the research of the University. Fellows are not employees of the University and the awards carry no financial resources. In that sense, they are honorary in character, but it is still felt that this role will be found beneficial both to senior individuals and their Schools/Departments, especially if formulated around a specific set of research goals for the fellowship period.

There are no specific application forms for this scheme. Heads of Department/School should submit nominations to the Dean for his/her approval. Proposals should include a statement from the nominee on the expected outcomes during the course of the Fellowship, together with a letter of recommendation from the Head of Department/School, which should include a statement outlining how any requirements of facilities or space will be met. Departments/Schools should provide the Dean with the original plus 6 copies for each nominee.

Expectations and Renewals 2010/2012

Reports of 2-3 pages of A4 are required to be made on the activities carried out during the SRF period. SRFs may be renewable, but this is not automatic; a case needs to be made, accompanied by a report on productive ongoing research activity within the Department/School.

Deans should forward the approved applications to Susan Jim at the IAS, to arrive no later than 5pm on Thursday 18th February 2010. Applications that arrive after this closing date will NOT be considered.

All Fellowships run from the start of the academic year.