POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH FUNDING Lynne Parsons lep13@le.ac.uk ; ext. 2181 Research Support Office

1. POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH FUNDING Lynne Parsons lep13@le.ac.uk; ext. 2181 Research Support Office

2. It’s much harder these days to go straight into a lectureship after finishing a PhD. It’s becoming much more common to have a period of post-doctoral research to get more experience and publications before getting an academic job. So what are the options if you want to stay in academia?

3. Three main areas: • Fellowships • Named Research Assistant • Other Opportunities • How do I find out more?

4. 1. FELLOWSHIPS

5. The basics: You apply in your own name Project remit decided by you but must move beyond PhD Variable length (few months – 3 years) Limited numbers Prestigious and hard to get Often known as Early Career/Junior fellowships I can provide examples of previously successful bids FELLOWSHIPS (1)

6. FELLOWSHIPS (2) Leverhulme Trust: Early Career Fellowships • 3 years’ salary plus research expenses (up to £6000 p.a.) • 50% funding from University/College • Application deadline March – call announced Dec/Jan • Must have completed PhD • 70 awards from 400-500 applications • All subjects eligible • http://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/funding/ECF/ECF.cfm

7. British Academy: Postdoctoral Fellowships • Three years’ salary plus research expenses • Outline submissions in October; full submission March • Must be within 3 years of completion of PhD • Must have completed PhD by 1st April in year would start • Around 45 awarded each year; announced May to start Autumn. • Humanities and Social Science subjects eligible • http://www.britac.ac.uk/funding/guide/pdfells.cfm FELLOWSHIPS (3)

8. Wellcome Trust: Research Fellowships • Medical History and Humanities & Ethics & Society • Broadly interpreted could cover (e.g.) social history, sociology of health • Up to 3 years salary plus research expenses • Need a mentor in host department • Strong preference for applicants with a good prospect of achieving an academic career in subject • Two application dates each year (1st Aug and 1st Feb); preliminary applications at least 6 weeks before • http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Medical-history-and-humanities/Funding-schemes/Fellowships/WTD003793.htm FELLOWSHIPS (4)

9. ESRC Future Leaders Scheme • Aims to • enable outstanding early career social scientists to develop the skills to become future world leaders in their field • fund excellent social science research projects with high potential impact • Annual call – announced in June • Less than 4 years’ post-doctoral experience • Nomination by host institution: UoL internal competition • 70+ awards each year • http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/15938/future-research-leaders.aspx FELLOWSHIPS (5)

10. AHRC Fellowships – Early Career Route • Salary plus research expenses for 6-24 months • Designed to build the capacity of the leaders of the future and equip individuals to be future leaders • Must result in significant research and outputs • At least 2 years’ post-doctoral experience and up to 8 • Requires nominated mentor at host institution and support from department • Also requires a contract beyond the end of the fellowship • Open call - apply any time to start circa 9 months later • http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/Funding-Opportunities/Pages/Fellowships---Early-Career-Researchers.aspx FELLOWSHIPS (6)

11. Miscellaneous sources • A variety of organisations (e.g. Cambridge colleges, learned societies), UK and overseas • Usually for 6 – 12 months • Remits vary from specific topics to broad subjects • Advertised in a number of places • Help on where to find them later FELLOWSHIPS (7)

12. 2. NAMED RESEARCH ASSISTANT

13. Different to Fellowships: • Work with a particular academic to develop project • You are named on application as research assistant • Can last from 1 – 5 years • Expected to do research in application rather than your own work • Success rate varies • Application must fit funding body remit NAMED RESEARCH ASSISTANT (1)

14. Possible sources include: • AHRC Research Grants Scheme • ESRC Research Grants Scheme • Leverhulme Trust Research Programmes and Research Project Grants • Heritage Lottery fund and other lottery related funds • Wellcome Trust • European Union funding • Other charities and various learned bodies NAMED RESEARCH ASSISTANT (2)

15. 3. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

16. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES • Not everyone knows who they want to appoint on a research grant and will need to advertise. • Temporary lectureships can be a good way into academia although they can be hard work. • Miscellaneous other opportunities are out there, you just need to keep checking • Opportunities are advertised in the press and on the web. • At Leicester, you will find them on the website

17. 4. HOW DO I FIND OUT?

18. FINDING OUT Two main types of websites: • Job opportunities websites • Funding opportunities websites • There is also funding available for travel etc while you are studying.

19. Job Opportunities • http://www.jobs.ac.uk/ • http://www.findapostdoc.com/ • Let’s have a quick demonstration

20. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES • http://www.researchprofessional.com/ • http://www.ukro.ac.uk/Pages/UKRO.aspx • Details on how to use these sites are in the handout

21. Thank you. Any Questions?