British Academy Post-Doctoral Fellowships

British Academy British Academy Post-Doctoral Fellowships Post-Doctoral Fellowships

Who should apply?Who should apply?

Outstanding early career researchers who: Outstanding early career researchers who: 1.1. will be in possession of a doctoral degree by 1will be in possession of a doctoral degree by 1stst

April 2010.April 2010.2.2. have not held their doctoral award for more have not held their doctoral award for more

than 3 years, i.e. on or after 1 October 2006 than 3 years, i.e. on or after 1 October 2006 (exemptions are considered for special (exemptions are considered for special circumstances).circumstances).

3.3. have never held a permanent academic position have never held a permanent academic position beforebefore

And most importantlyAnd most importantly4.4. have a significant piece of publishable research have a significant piece of publishable research

to complete.to complete.

Who should apply?Who should apply?

You should have some association with the UK You should have some association with the UK academic community – three usual routes:academic community – three usual routes:

British citizensBritish citizens Applicants of any nationality who have obtained (or Applicants of any nationality who have obtained (or

expect to obtain by 1expect to obtain by 1stst April) a doctorate from a UK April) a doctorate from a UK universityuniversity

Applicants who are European Economic Area nationals Applicants who are European Economic Area nationals (regardless of whether or not they have a UK doctorate).(regardless of whether or not they have a UK doctorate).

If you do not meet the criteria above you are If you do not meet the criteria above you are unlikely to be eligible. However, you can make an unlikely to be eligible. However, you can make an argument for eligibility on the basis of a strong argument for eligibility on the basis of a strong prior association with the UK research community. prior association with the UK research community. Contact the British Academy to discuss. Contact the British Academy to discuss.

What should you be applying for?What should you be applying for?

Outstanding early career researchers Outstanding early career researchers should demonstrate how a fellowship should demonstrate how a fellowship would: would:

1.1. Enable them to develop their CV and Enable them to develop their CV and improve prospects of obtaining an academic improve prospects of obtaining an academic position.position.

2.2. Enable them to complete a significant piece Enable them to complete a significant piece of publishable research.of publishable research.

3.3. Enable them to participate in an active and Enable them to participate in an active and critical research environment relevant to the critical research environment relevant to the proposed research fellowship project (why proposed research fellowship project (why Nottingham?)Nottingham?)

Application Basics - timetableApplication Basics - timetable

A two stage application procedure. A two stage application procedure. Stage 1 – deadline 26Stage 1 – deadline 26thth November November

2009, outcomes given in January 2009, outcomes given in January 2010 (est. 20% of applicants – c. 140 2010 (est. 20% of applicants – c. 140 people - will make it to stage 2).people - will make it to stage 2).

Stage 2 – deadline March 2010, Stage 2 – deadline March 2010, outcomes given in May 2010 (c. 45 outcomes given in May 2010 (c. 45 awards out of c. 140 shortlisted awards out of c. 140 shortlisted applicants).applicants).

Crucial first stepsCrucial first steps

Talk to the School/Department in which you hope Talk to the School/Department in which you hope to undertake the fellowship – have you got their to undertake the fellowship – have you got their support?support?

Is that School/Department the best fit for your Is that School/Department the best fit for your proposed research? You will need to state why proposed research? You will need to state why within your proposal.within your proposal.

Do you have the language skills required to Do you have the language skills required to complete the project? If not how will you manage complete the project? If not how will you manage this and demonstrate competence to the BA?this and demonstrate competence to the BA?

Who will you use as referees? Ask them as soon as Who will you use as referees? Ask them as soon as possible so that they have time to do you justice.possible so that they have time to do you justice.

Eligible RefereesEligible Referees

Both referees should be acquainted with your Both referees should be acquainted with your academic career.academic career.

The BA’s advice is that one should normally be your The BA’s advice is that one should normally be your doctoral supervisor, and the other must be from a doctoral supervisor, and the other must be from a different institution, ideally not that at which you different institution, ideally not that at which you undertook doctoral research nor your present undertook doctoral research nor your present institution (if different). institution (if different).

Normally the external examiner will be the most Normally the external examiner will be the most appropriate second referee. appropriate second referee.

It is unacceptable, in any circumstances, to have two It is unacceptable, in any circumstances, to have two references from scholars working in the same references from scholars working in the same institution. institution.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that two It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that two references are received on time (references are received on time (by 26 November by 26 November 20092009). Applications may be withdrawn from ). Applications may be withdrawn from consideration if one or both references are not consideration if one or both references are not received.received.

Criteria of assessment - how you will be Criteria of assessment - how you will be judgedjudged

1. Is the proposed research project of 1. Is the proposed research project of outstanding academic merit?outstanding academic merit?

2. Has the applicant demonstrated the 2. Has the applicant demonstrated the capacity to make a significant contribution capacity to make a significant contribution to research in the chosen field through his to research in the chosen field through his or her work and/or publications to date?or her work and/or publications to date?

3. Does the applicant have the potential 3. Does the applicant have the potential to go on after the award to a successful to go on after the award to a successful academic career?academic career?

4. Is the applicant proposing to work in a 4. Is the applicant proposing to work in a suitable host institution? suitable host institution?

At the final stage of selection, the following At the final stage of selection, the following additional points may be taken into account:additional points may be taken into account:

5. How strong is the case for support in 5. How strong is the case for support in comparative value for money terms?comparative value for money terms?

6. Has the applicant demonstrated necessary 6. Has the applicant demonstrated necessary language competence where the understanding of language competence where the understanding of material in a foreign language is crucial to the material in a foreign language is crucial to the achievement of the research objectives?achievement of the research objectives?

Your project should be original, viable, specific, Your project should be original, viable, specific, achievable and significant to your field.achievable and significant to your field.

Previous successful application titles (last year)Previous successful application titles (last year)

Al-Andalus in Exile: Regional Identities of Andalusian Al-Andalus in Exile: Regional Identities of Andalusian Scholars in the Eastern Mediterranean (11th - 14th Scholars in the Eastern Mediterranean (11th - 14th Centuries) (Oriental Studies);Centuries) (Oriental Studies);

Geographies of Transition in the Mekong Region: Gender, Geographies of Transition in the Mekong Region: Gender, Labour and Domestic Life in Cambodia and Vietnam – Labour and Domestic Life in Cambodia and Vietnam – (Geography)(Geography)

Personal Laws in the British Empire: A Comparative HistoryPersonal Laws in the British Empire: A Comparative History(History)(History)Transnational Moral and Market Entrepreneurs: Carriers, Transnational Moral and Market Entrepreneurs: Carriers,

Drivers and Products of Globalisation (Sociology)Drivers and Products of Globalisation (Sociology)Consequentialist Evaluation of Security for Cooperative Consequentialist Evaluation of Security for Cooperative

International Society (Politics)International Society (Politics)The Roots of Arithmetic: Linking Numerical Cognition With The Roots of Arithmetic: Linking Numerical Cognition With

Mathematics Education (Psychology – UoN success)Mathematics Education (Psychology – UoN success)

FinallyFinally

The second-stage application will The second-stage application will require the submission of an require the submission of an example of written work, a example of written work, a published article, submitted published article, submitted article or extract from a doctoral article or extract from a doctoral thesis. Make sure you have a thesis. Make sure you have a really good example of your really good example of your written work ready or in written work ready or in preparation in time. preparation in time.

How to applyHow to apply This year, applications will be made via the This year, applications will be made via the

BA’s new electronic system, e-GAP, accessed BA’s new electronic system, e-GAP, accessed via the website: via the website:

www.britac.ac.ukwww.britac.ac.uk Your application will need to be approved by Your application will need to be approved by

the University’s research office (RIS) before it the University’s research office (RIS) before it goes to the British Academy, so ensure you goes to the British Academy, so ensure you allow time for this process. allow time for this process.

Alert your School and HSSRC as soon as Alert your School and HSSRC as soon as possible if you plan to apply and leave plenty possible if you plan to apply and leave plenty of time before the closing date to allow for of time before the closing date to allow for administrative procedures to be completed. administrative procedures to be completed.

Support in developing your applicationSupport in developing your application Talk to your SchoolTalk to your School

It is crucial that you gain support from your It is crucial that you gain support from your School in putting in your application.School in putting in your application.

Send your proposal to others: your Send your proposal to others: your supervisor, other academics (esp. those supervisor, other academics (esp. those who have previously gained BA funding) who have previously gained BA funding) and peers, for feedback on:and peers, for feedback on: Clarity of language and termsClarity of language and terms Academic contentAcademic content Whether the proposal fits the scheme (i.e., 3 Whether the proposal fits the scheme (i.e., 3

years, realistic timetable, major research years, realistic timetable, major research output etc.)output etc.)

Support in developing your applicationSupport in developing your application At the HSSRC, we can support you in:At the HSSRC, we can support you in:

Giving your proposal a final read through and Giving your proposal a final read through and providing feedback (please provide us with providing feedback (please provide us with proposals by 17proposals by 17thth Nov for this purpose) Nov for this purpose)

Answering queries on specific aspects of the Answering queries on specific aspects of the schemescheme

Contacts: Contacts: Arts/Humanities: Arts/Humanities:

[email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected]@nottingham.ac.uk

[email protected]@nottingham.ac.uk Social Sciences:Social Sciences:[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]@nottingham.ac.uk

AlternativesAlternatives Think carefully before applying to the Think carefully before applying to the

scheme:scheme: Is the time right? Might you be better off applying Is the time right? Might you be better off applying

next year (esp. if have publications in the pipeline next year (esp. if have publications in the pipeline or if there is doubt about whether your viva will or if there is doubt about whether your viva will be held before April 1be held before April 1stst)?)?

Is the project right? Will you produce a significant Is the project right? Will you produce a significant piece of research? Will it occupy 3 years of your piece of research? Will it occupy 3 years of your time? time?

Have you got access to the appropriate academic Have you got access to the appropriate academic support?support?

Is your research field within the British Is your research field within the British Academy’s remit? (If on the ‘science’ side of Academy’s remit? (If on the ‘science’ side of social sciences may wish to consult the BA on social sciences may wish to consult the BA on eligibility)eligibility)

AlternativesAlternatives For discrete research projects:For discrete research projects: The The BABA offers a offers a small grants schemesmall grants scheme: :

up to £7.5k for discrete research projects. up to £7.5k for discrete research projects. The The ESRCESRC offers a offers a small grants small grants

schemescheme in responsive mode which is in responsive mode which is open to post-doctoral researchers. Up to open to post-doctoral researchers. Up to £100k FEC.£100k FEC.

The The ESRCESRC offers a offers a first grants schemefirst grants scheme with an annual deadline for a significant with an annual deadline for a significant piece of research. Up to £400k FEC.piece of research. Up to £400k FEC.

AlternativesAlternatives Other sources of fellowship funding:Other sources of fellowship funding:

ESRC post-doctoral fellowships (one year to ESRC post-doctoral fellowships (one year to consolidate PhD research in the social sciences)consolidate PhD research in the social sciences)

Leverhulme Early Career fellowships (2-3 years Leverhulme Early Career fellowships (2-3 years to carry out significant piece of research – to carry out significant piece of research – should bear in mind Leverhulme criteria on should bear in mind Leverhulme criteria on originality and breaking down of traditional originality and breaking down of traditional disciplinary boundaries)disciplinary boundaries)

Bear in mind that you may not be Bear in mind that you may not be successful first time around and be successful first time around and be prepared to revise your proposal for other prepared to revise your proposal for other funding sources.funding sources.

Documents

British Academy Post-Doctoral Fellowships