Alan Turing Institute Fellowships
This is a unique opportunity for early career researchers to join The Alan Turing
Institute. The Alan Turing Institute (ATI) is the UK’s new national data science
institute, established to bring together world-leading expertise to provide leadership
in the emerging field of data science. The Institute has been founded by the
universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Oxford, UCL and Warwick and EPSRC.
Fellowships are available for 3 years with the potential for an additional 2 years of
support following interim review. Fellows will pursue research based at the Institute
hub in the British Library, London. Fellowships will be awarded to individual
candidates and fellows will be employed by a joint venture partner university
(Cambridge, Edinburgh, Oxford, UCL or Warwick).
Key requirements: Successful candidates are expected to have i) a PhD in a data
science (or adjacent) subject (or to have submitted their doctorate before taking up
the post), ii) an excellent publication record and/or demonstrated excellent research
potential such as via preprints, iii) a novel and challenging research agenda that will
advance the strategic objectives of the Institute, and iv) leadership potential.
Fellowships are open to all qualified applicants regardless of background.
Alan Turing Fellowship applications can be made in all data science research areas.
The Institute’s research roadmap is available here. In addition to this open call, there
are two specific fellowship programmes:
Fellowships addressing data-centric engineering
The Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF) / Alan Turing Institute programme to support
data-centric engineering is a 5-year, £10M global programme, delivered through a
partnership between LRF and the ATI. This programme will secure high technical
standards (for example the next-generation algorithms and analytics) to enhance the
safety of life and property around the major infrastructure upon which modern society
relies. For further information on data-centric engineering, see LRF’s Foresight
Review of Big Data. Applications for Fellowships under this call, which address the
aims of the LRF/ATI programme, may also be considered for funding under the datacentric engineering programme. Fellowships awarded under this programme may
vary from the conditions given above; for more details contact
fellowship@turing.ac.uk.
Fellowships addressing data analytics and high-performance computing
Intel and the Alan Turing Institute will be supporting additional Fellowships in data
analytics and high-performance computing. Applications for Fellowships under this
call may also be considered for funding under the joint Intel-Alan Turing Institute
programme. Fellowships awarded under this joint programme may vary from the
conditions given above; for more details contact fellowship@turing.ac.uk .
Further details:
Informal enquiries about the application process should be directed to
fellowship@turing.ac.uk.
A job description and a person specification can be accessed below.
To apply for these positions, please send material to fellowship@turing.ac.uk—see
the end of this advert for details of how to do this.
Diversity and equality are promoted in all aspects of the recruitment and career
management of our researchers. In keeping with the principles of the Institute, we
especially encourage applications from female researchers.
Job description:
Role: Alan Turing Institute Research Fellow based at the Alan Turing Institute hub at
the British Library, London and employed by a partner university. A partner university
allocation will be made for successful applicants, taking applicant choice (if
expressed) into consideration.
Remuneration: Competitive with research fellowship pay scales and dependent on
level of experience. An additional allowance is payable to assist with London living
expenses.
Main purpose of the post:
 To develop a research programme at the new Alan Turing Institute and
conduct outstanding, creative and innovative research in data science, in
order to develop internationally-significant outcomes through high-impact
publications.
 To collaborate with others across the Institute and its partners towards
outputs and outcomes that yield significant academic, societal or economic
impact.
 To play a role in advancing the research programmes of the Institute.
 To achieve research excellence as appropriate to the applicant’s discipline.
Main duties and responsibilities: It is expected that the postholder will:
 Generate and pursue original research ideas, designing and conducting a
successful programme of investigation and developing innovative, world-class
research.
 Build research collaborations within the broad spectrum of activity of the
Institute.
 Develop research collaborations nationally and internationally to support the
research programme, facilitating and participating in crosscutting research
collaborations as appropriate.
 Support and contribute to the development of research links between the
Alan Turing Institute and its partners.
 Publish in high quality peer-reviewed national and international journals and
conferences. Present research results at national and international meetings,
conferences, seminars and workshops.
 Take part in knowledge exchange and/or translation activities as appropriate;
e.g., collaborative working with the Institute’s partners, and on public
engagement, policy events, etc.
 Maintain their own professional development, with the help of others in the
Institute and the partner university.
Person specification:
Qualification
PhD in appropriate discipline, or a nearly completed PhD
E
Skills and aptitude
 Excellence in research in data science
E
 An outstanding approach to identifying future research directions in data
science
E
 Ability to plan a creative and collaborative research programme E
 Potential to lead and inspire others, for example, through mentoring and/or
self-organisation of peers
E
 Good communications and interpersonal skills and an aspiration to develop
these across a broad audience
D
E=Essential and D=Desirable
Basic Terms and Conditions of Grant: (further particular terms and conditions are
available on request)
1. Competitive with research fellowship pay scales. Salary will be offered
dependent on level of experience. An additional allowance is payable to
assist with London living expenses. Salaries will be paid through the partner
university.
2. Duration of appointment: Funding is available for three years in the first
instance, with the potential for an additional 2 years of support following
interim review. Full terms and conditions of the grant are available on request.
3. Mentoring: fellows will be mentored by one or more senior academics, at the
Alan Turing Institute and the partner university.
4. The partner university will be allocated to each candidate by the Institute,
taking the candidate’s preference (if expressed) into consideration.
Application procedure:
Applications for the position should be made by email to fellowship@turing.ac.uk and
should include:
 Your Curriculum Vitae including publications and previous degrees
 A single page list of any resources necessary to carry out your research
proposal
 A research proposal with emphasis on your vision and ambitions (maximum
of 3 x A4 sides)
 The names and addresses of three referees
 Current stipend or salary details if appropriate
 Your preferences regarding partner university (optional).
Optional: Any preferences of university partner may also be submitted on a separate
page, and if submitted should be kept distinct from the above material.
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 20 DECEMBER 2015
Assessment process:
Assessment of applications for Alan Turing Institute Fellowships will be carried out in
three stages. Each stage will focus on different elements of the proposal.
Stage 1- Person specification
This stage will primarily assess the qualities of the applicant against the person
specification above; however, all elements of the application will be considered.
Guidance for applicants:
This phase of the process will focus predominantly on the applicant’s CV and track
record, although other sections of the application will also be reviewed. Candidates
are advised to approach these materials as would be the case with any academic job
application.
Stage 2- Research Quality and Visions
This stage will focus primarily on the proposed research agenda, specifically its
quality and ambition.
Guidance for applicants: Please ensure that your research proposal includes the
following criteria:
 General summary - this should be a short paragraph explaining the focus of
your research in a non-technical manner, suitable for a non-specialist.
 Scientific aims and objectives.
 Vision and ambition - a short paragraph outlining the vision and ambition of
your research program, identifying individual research challenges. Innovative
and ambitious approaches to challenges from across data science are
strongly encouraged, and collaborative aspects will be highly valued.
Stage 3- Interview
At this stage of the process, successful candidates will be invited to interview. This
will involve a short presentation from the candidate on their application, which will
then be followed by discussion with the interview panel.
Guidance for applicants- Further advice on specific requirements and guidance will
be provided to candidates when invited to interview.
Eligibility
As this scheme is predominantly aimed at early-career researchers, it is expected
that applicants have between 0-5 years of postdoctoral experience at the time of
application. Consideration will additionally be given to applicants who have taken a
non-standard career path after their PhD.
Applicants are expected to hold a PhD by the start date of the Fellowship or have
equivalent research experience.
There are no nationality restrictions on this Fellowship call.
The Alan Turing Institute reserves the right to reject, at any stage, applications that
do not fit the remit, eligibility or ethos of this scheme.