Operation of the scheme
The primary aim of the RCUK Academic Fellowship scheme is to provide contract research staff with more attractive and stable paths into academia. With this in mind, the five-year fellowships will be subject to the HEI guaranteeing a permanent, academic position following the end of the award. This permanent post will of course be subject to the successful completion of a probationary period, but must be appropriate to the career path of the individual fellow. Training provision towards an academic position must be provided by the HEI and the Fellow must undertake outreach to schools. Annual performance appraisals and personal development advice should be provided to the Fellows.
Details of the outcome of the first round of applications (2004/05 and 2005/06) are available below. Applications for the second round (2006/07 and 2007/08) have now closed. Applications identify, in rank order, priority areas for support of Academic Fellows over the next two years. A single assessment panel will be constituted to consider where the awards should be allocated. HEIs in receipt of awards will be expected to advertise the posts in open competition and in accordance with current employment laws. Information regarding the recipients of the awards should be provided to EPSRC as they are appointed. The release of the second year’s tranche of funding will be dependant upon a satisfactory report of progress in the first year. The scheme will be administered by EPSRC on behalf of all the Research Councils.
Applications are welcome in all areas covered by the research councils.
Award recipients should have a PhD or be of postdoctoral standing. Each five-year award is worth £125,000 in total and funds will be provided to the HEI in equal instalments across the duration of the award. The funding of £125,000 is not intended to cover the full cost of the fellowship over the period of the award. The funds may be used in a flexible way (within certain limits which will be defined in detailed terms and conditions) across the award to best support the individual fellow. 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.
The RCUK Academic Fellowship scheme will be monitored in its first few years to ensure that the main aims and objectives are being met, and where there concerns that this is not the case, adjustments may be made.
Report of the RCUK Academic Fellowship Scheme
A report created from the result of a study of data from HEIs awarded Fellowships was published on 27 July 2006, you can download it here.