British Academy
Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Who should apply?
Outstanding early career researchers who:
will be in possession of a doctoral degree by 1st April
2010.
2.
have not held their doctoral award for more than 3
years, i.e. on or after 1 October 2006 (exemptions are
considered for special circumstances).
3.
have never held a permanent academic position before
And most importantly
4.
have a significant piece of publishable research to
complete.
1.
Who should apply?
You should have some association with the UK
academic community – three usual routes:
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British citizens
Applicants of any nationality who have obtained (or expect to
obtain by 1st April) a doctorate from a UK university
Applicants who are European Economic Area nationals
(regardless of whether or not they have a UK doctorate).
If you do not meet the criteria above you are unlikely
to be eligible. However, you can make an argument
for eligibility on the basis of a strong prior association
with the UK research community. Contact the British
Academy to discuss.
What should you be applying for?
Outstanding early career researchers should
demonstrate how a fellowship would:
1.
2.
3.
Enable them to develop their CV and improve
prospects of obtaining an academic position.
Enable them to complete a significant piece of
publishable research.
Enable them to participate in an active and
critical research environment relevant to the
proposed research fellowship project (why
Nottingham?)
Application Basics - timetable
A two stage application procedure.
 Stage 1 – deadline 26th November 2009,
outcomes given in January 2010 (est.
20% of applicants – c. 140 people - will
make it to stage 2).
 Stage 2 – deadline March 2010, outcomes
given in May 2010 (c. 45 awards out of c.
140 shortlisted applicants).
Crucial first steps
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Talk to the School/Department in which you hope to
undertake the fellowship – have you got their support?
Is that School/Department the best fit for your proposed
research? You will need to state why within your
proposal.
Do you have the language skills required to complete the
project? If not how will you manage this and
demonstrate competence to the BA?
Who will you use as referees? Ask them as soon as
possible so that they have time to do you justice.
Eligible Referees
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Both referees should be acquainted with your academic
career.
The BA’s advice is that one should normally be your
doctoral supervisor, and the other must be from a
different institution, ideally not that at which you
undertook doctoral research nor your present institution
(if different).
Normally the external examiner will be the most
appropriate second referee.
It is unacceptable, in any circumstances, to have two
references from scholars working in the same institution.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that two
references are received on time (by 26 November
2009). Applications may be withdrawn from
consideration if one or both references are not received.
Criteria of assessment - how you will be judged
1.
Is the proposed research project of
outstanding academic merit?
2.
Has the applicant demonstrated the capacity
to make a significant contribution to research in
the chosen field through his or her work and/or
publications to date?
3.
Does the applicant have the potential to go
on after the award to a successful academic
career?
4.
Is the applicant proposing to work in a
suitable host institution?
At the final stage of selection, the following
additional points may be taken into account:
5.
How strong is the case for support in comparative
value for money terms?
6.
Has the applicant demonstrated necessary language
competence where the understanding of material in a
foreign language is crucial to the achievement of the
research objectives?
Your project should be original, viable, specific,
achievable and significant to your field.
Previous successful application titles (last year)
Al-Andalus in Exile: Regional Identities of Andalusian
Scholars in the Eastern Mediterranean (11th - 14th
Centuries) (Oriental Studies);
Geographies of Transition in the Mekong Region: Gender,
Labour and Domestic Life in Cambodia and Vietnam –
(Geography)
Personal Laws in the British Empire: A Comparative History
(History)
Transnational Moral and Market Entrepreneurs: Carriers,
Drivers and Products of Globalisation (Sociology)
Consequentialist Evaluation of Security for Cooperative
International Society (Politics)
The Roots of Arithmetic: Linking Numerical Cognition With
Mathematics Education (Psychology – UoN success)
Finally
The second-stage application will
require the submission of an example
of written work, a published article,
submitted article or extract from a
doctoral thesis. Make sure you have a
really good example of your written
work ready or in preparation in time.
How to apply
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This year, applications will be made via the BA’s
new electronic system, e-GAP, accessed via the
website:
www.britac.ac.uk
Your application will need to be approved by the
University’s research office (RIS) before it goes
to the British Academy, so ensure you allow time
for this process.
Alert your School and HSSRC as soon as possible
if you plan to apply and leave plenty of time
before the closing date to allow for
administrative procedures to be completed.
Support in developing your application
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Talk to your School
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It is crucial that you gain support from your School in
putting in your application.
Send your proposal to others: your supervisor,
other academics (esp. those who have
previously gained BA funding) and peers, for
feedback on:
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Clarity of language and terms
Academic content
Whether the proposal fits the scheme (i.e., 3 years,
realistic timetable, major research output etc.)
Support in developing your application
 At the HSSRC, we can support you in:
 Giving your proposal a final read through and
providing feedback (please provide us with proposals
by 17th Nov for this purpose)
 Answering queries on specific aspects of the scheme
 Contacts:
 Arts/Humanities: sally.bowden@nottingham.ac.uk or
sue.hopcroft@nottingham.ac.uk
 Lisa.mccabe@nottingham.ac.uk
 Social Sciences:
paula.gurteen@nottingham.ac.uk or
rosamund.aubrey@nottingham.ac.uk
Alternatives
 Think carefully before applying to the scheme:
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Is the time right? Might you be better off applying
next year (esp. if have publications in the pipeline or
if there is doubt about whether your viva will be held
before April 1st)?
Is the project right? Will you produce a significant
piece of research? Will it occupy 3 years of your time?
Have you got access to the appropriate academic
support?
Is your research field within the British Academy’s
remit? (If on the ‘science’ side of social sciences may
wish to consult the BA on eligibility)
Alternatives
 For discrete research projects:
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The BA offers a small grants scheme:
up to £7.5k for discrete research projects.
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The ESRC offers a small grants scheme
in responsive mode which is open to postdoctoral researchers. Up to £100k FEC.
 The ESRC offers a first grants scheme with
an annual deadline for a significant piece
of research. Up to £400k FEC.
Alternatives
 Other sources of fellowship funding:
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ESRC post-doctoral fellowships (one year to
consolidate PhD research in the social sciences)
Leverhulme Early Career fellowships (2-3 years to
carry out significant piece of research – should bear
in mind Leverhulme criteria on originality and
breaking down of traditional disciplinary boundaries)
Bear in mind that you may not be successful first
time around and be prepared to revise your
proposal for other funding sources.