LJMU EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER FELLOWSHIP SCHEME
2015-16
Background
Research & Innovation Services and the Graduate School are pleased to welcome applications
from early career academic staff (ECR; see below for definition) to develop their career primarily
through engagement in collaborative research.
Research areas
Applications for these fellowships are welcome from right across LJMU. However, the research
proposed must be directly associated with an established area of research within the University
(i.e. one that was submitted to REF20141).
What is an ECR?
For the purposes of this scheme, ECRs are defined as:

Either, Academic or research staff who were first employed as a lecturer (or above) after 1st
January 2010 at LJMU or any other university or are lecturers who have been awarded their
PhD since that date

Or, who are currently a research assistant / research fellow at LJMU and whose contract at
LJMU extends beyond the period that the award is being sought

There is no age limit for either category

Whilst this scheme is not open to postgraduate research students we offer funds to assist
with conference attendance (see http://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/RGSO/124290.htm)

Employment as a research assistant (pre- or post-doctoral) prior to 2010 does not negate
ECR eligibility
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A DIFFERENT DEFINITION TO THAT EMPLOYED BY HEFCE FOR
THE REF – if you are in doubt about your eligibility for this scheme then please contact
Diana Leighton (d.j.leighton@ljmu.ac.uk)
The Funding
A maximum of £3,500 is available to support ECRs to help develop their research career. The
award aims to do this by supporting two important aspects of researcher career development:
1. Enabling engagement with a leading research centre here in the UK or overseas
The aim is to help you build a research track record through the creation of substantive, longstanding, collaborative links with the very best researchers in your subject. A member of staff at
the collaborating institution should be identified as a mentor with whom you will work. Applications
1
This scheme also recognises emerging research expertise in Geography, Environment Studies
& Archaeology. Sociology research currently aligns to REF unit ‘Social Work & Social Policy’
that show real ambition to work with the very best researchers worldwide will be prioritised for
funding. Applications that seek to work with local and regional research centres and HEIs will not
normally be funded. Overall, the collaborative links sought should be of the highest international
standing and the work done should have clear benefits for both your career and for LJMU and
future REF (Research Excellence Framework) submissions. Examples of expected deliverables
from the collaboration include high quality (REF3* & 4*) outputs; research grant applications to
prestigious funding bodies such as research councils; applications to external high profile
research fellowship schemes.
2. Professional development activity to support career progression
LJMU supports the UK Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF) https://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers-professional-development/about-the-vitae-researcherdevelopment-framework/developing-the-vitae-researcher-development-framework.The RDF is a
professional development framework supporting the personal, professional and career
development of researchers through the identification of key strengths and priorities. The RDF is
structured in four domains encompassing the knowledge, intellectual abilities, techniques and
professional standards to do research, as well as the personal qualities, knowledge and skills to
work with others and ensure the wider impact of research.
For this fellowship application you are asked to identify one or more developmental priorities
which will further support your career progression. These priorities might involve attendance at
relevant workshops/events to enhance research specific skills or attendance at workshops/events
to enhance personal effectiveness e.g. leadership, writing skills or events linked to developing an
understanding of public engagement or research impact. Each of these areas must be linked to a
domain/sub-domain of the RDF and be accompanied by a short statement on the
rationale/relevance of each proposed area of activity. Please note that requests to support
attendance at conferences will not be supported.
Please contact Lynn Clark (l.clark2@ljmu.ac.uk) if you have any queries concerning the
professional development aspect of this scheme.
The application form can be downloaded at https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/RGSO/58860.htm
What can the funds be used for?
These funds can be used for the following purpose:
1. Attendance at appropriate training/developmental events to support your research career as
identified through the RDF (see above: maximum of £1,000)
2. To support the direct costs of establishing / collaboration in the form of travel and subsistence
with an external mentor (maximum of £2,000)
3. Research consumables / project running costs (maximum of £500)
Please note that these funds cannot be used for replacement teaching or admin costs, research
conference attendance or for the employment of researchers / research students. All requests for
use of funding must be fully justified in your application.
All funds must be used by 31st July 2016 and cannot be transferred to the following
academic year.
How do I apply?
1. Any member of LJMU staff may apply for funding using the form provided that you fulfil the
criteria given above. Please note the following:

Previous recipients of Promising Researcher or ECR funding who are still able to meet the
criteria are permitted to apply for funding in the current round but other applications deemed
to be of equal quality will be given a higher priority

You can demonstrate that the proposed collaboration will result in research of the highest
international quality and will be of direct benefit to your career

Your application has the full approval of your Director of School (in the form of an email
attached to the application)

You provide a letter of invitation from a senior member of staff (the ‘mentor’) in the proposed
collaborating Institution
2. Please note that, if successful, you may be expected to continue to perform certain duties
within the School at the discretion of your School Director. In addition, certain other roles
including acting as Director of Studies or supervisor to PGRs or acting as PI or CI on a research
grant must continue to be fulfilled throughout the award period
3. Applications must be submitted by 4.00pm on Friday 3 July 2015
4. Awards will be announced approximately 2 weeks after the closing date
Timetable

Week beginning 1 June 2015 – scheme announced

4.00pm 3 July 2015 – deadline for receipt of applications in Research & Innovation Services

Week beginning 20 July 2015 – announcement of awards

31st July 2016 – completion of scheme (all funds must be spent by financial year-end and
cannot be rolled-forward)