RCUK Academic Fellowships

Academic Fellowships Information

Aims

• Aid the development of a clearer career path for contract research staff into academia.
• Facilitate the progress of research staff.
• Build the expertise and reputations of contract research staff.
• Provide clear career-related training.
• Ensure individuals are prepared for academic careers.
• Be accessible to underrepresented groups (such as women and ethnic minorities).
• Encourage outreach work into schools, to enthuse future generations.
• Provide a permanent position at the end of the award.

Applications

See FAQ's

Funding

• Funds of £125,000 are available for each Fellow.
• The funds will be provided to the HEI in quarterly equal instalments, over the period of the award; however these funds can be used in a flexible way across the duration of the award to best support the individual Fellow. The typical profile is likely to include significant research funding from another source, or from the HEI, in the first two years although other models may be appropriate.
• The proposed profile of how the funds will be used and the anticipated source of supporting funds must be considered by the HEI before appointing a Fellow, and is the responsibility of the employing organisation.
• Fellows should not normally be supported, as a postdoctoral researcher on a research grant or by a fellowship awarded by another sponsor, beyond the mid-point of the award.
• HEIs in receipt of more than one fellow may vire funds between awards; although approval should be sought to vire funds from a Fellow who has failed to complete their fellowship.
• Funds may be used for salary costs, travel and/or consumable costs.
• Redundancy costs are not supported by the scheme.

Duration

• The overall duration of the fellow will be 5 years, although individual Fellows may work part-time hours within that period.
• The duration will not be adjusted except for period(s) of maternity or sick leave.
• The duration of the grant will be 6 years with a fixed start date of 1 October. The grant may be extended to allow for Fellows appointed during year two to complete their fellowship.

Fellows

• All posts must be advertised in open competition.
• Recruitment must be in line with current employment legislation, ensuring accessibility for minority groups and allowing for mobility into the HEI.
• Candidates should have a PhD or be of postdoctoral standing (someone who can demonstrate equivalent and relevant professional experience).
• Individuals who have been promised a permanent position or have held a permanent position are considered to have achieved the aims of the scheme already and will not be eligible.
• Training provision towards an academic position must be provided by the HEI.
• The Fellow must undertake outreach to schools.
• Teaching should remain an important aspect of the Fellowship while not being overly onerous. Teaching duties must fall within nationally agreed limits and time counted towards teaching duties should include preparation and marking.
• Annual performance appraisals and personal development advice should be provided to the Fellows.
• Each fellow must be offered a permanent post (not fixed term) at the end of the fellowship that is appropriate to their career path.
• Fellows must be provided with general infrastructure, equipment and technical support.
• The period of probation for the Fellow should be in accord with the HEIs normal practices, but must be completed within the period of the award.
• The HEI must take due care and attention to providing a clear career path for each Fellow, from a research focussed post into an academic position.
• Fellows may work part-time hours for personal reasons only (e.g. family commitments), with a minimum level of 50 per cent FTE, but the duration of the award will remain 5 years.
• The Academic Fellowship provides funds in addition to the other sources of funding. However the minimum level of salary from other sources on appointment should be Spine point 6 on the JNCHES scale although higher salaries are encouraged.

Awards

• Fellowships are awarded to the Institution and are not transferable between individuals or institutions.
• If the Fellow fails the probationary period in the final year, the HEI must demonstrate that the post that would have been given to that Fellow remains available and that efforts are being made to fill it.

Reporting

• Relevant personal details of each individual fellow will be collected.
• An annual progress review will be required at institutional level, which must include a statement on the progress of each Fellow.
• Details of the proposed profile of payments, their anticipated usage, and details of funding from other sources will be required when data is provided on the Fellows appointment.
• The destinations of the Fellows will be monitored to ensure that the aims of the scheme are being met.
• A plan of how the various facets (i.e. research, teaching & outreach) of the fellowship will be required.
• The Organisation’s HR procedures must be in accordance with best practice identified by the Funding Councils.