IAS Early Career Fellowships
Programme Specification
SpecificationsThis programme is designed to support Warwick doctoral candidates in the transition phase between their doctoral and postdoctoral careers. Students funded through this scheme are expected to use the Fellowship to advance the development of their research careers - by writing research publications, conference papers, job applications, and postdoctoral fellowship/grant proposals - while engaging with the interdisciplinary activities of Warwick’s Institute of Advanced Study (IAS). The Fellowships are available only on a part-time basis, and can be held in conjunction with part-time (up to 50%) employment within or outside the University. Fellows will be expected to participate in a number of activities at the IAS and Warwick Graduate School, and thus must be resident within a reasonable distance of Warwick during the tenure of their award. Fellows will be expected to run at least one research-orientated workshop for current Warwick PhDs during the tenure of their award. Help with organisation and promotion is available from the Graduate School Programme (GSP) and/or IAS. This workshop will either be focused on skills development or be subject-based, depending on the common interests of the Fellows. Limited funding to cover refreshments, materials etc. will be available from the GSP for skills-based sessions or IAS for subject-based activity. Fellows will also be expected to participate in an interdisciplinary seminar series, convened by the IAS Director in conjunction with the Fellows. Each Fellow will maintain an ePortfolio, and contribute to the IAS’s web-based resources for early career researchers. The award is explicitly targeted at PhD candidates at the University of Warwick whose thesis is under examination. It is not intended to provide financial support to students who have not yet submitted their thesis. Candidates will be expected to apply prior to submission, indicating an expected submission date. EligibilityThe competition is open to Warwick students registered for a research-based doctorate at Warwick (excluding the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology) who have submitted or expect to submit their thesis for examination between 1 October 2009 and 31 March 2010 inclusive. Candidates should not be in full-time employment during the Fellowship, but may hold contracts of up to 50%, either at Warwick or outside the University. Continuation of the Fellowship beyond the doctoral examination is contingent upon successful completion of the viva (ie a recommendation to award the PhD or other doctoral degree with or without minor corrections, but NOT a recommendation to resubmit/referral). Candidates are required to live within a reasonable distance of the University, so as to participate in IAS and Graduate School activities as appropriate. Candidates must be eligible for residence and work in the UK during their award. Duration of AwardsFellowships will be awarded for a period of up to 6 months. Shorter Fellowship periods can be arranged to accommodate non-Home/EU candidates’ visa status. Value and Number of AwardsIt is expected that there will be a maximum of sixteen (16) Fellowships per academic year. Fellows will be paid a small bursary for the duration of the Fellowship. This will be calculated using the Research Council stipend (£13,290 per annum full-time in 09/10) as a guide, prorated to take account of the Fellow’s other paid work commitments. So, for example, a Fellow who had a part-time job for approximately 17 hours per week would be eligible for an award at 50% of the Research Council rate which would amount to £554 per month. This would be the maximum award available. The maximum total award is £3,324 for 6 months. In addition Fellows may claim up to £150 towards research expenses (eg towards costs of attending a conference). The spend must be agreed in advance with the IAS Director. Fellows will have access to the Warwick Library and Research Exchange and to hot-desking, office and seminar room facilities at the IAS. Deadline
The closing date for the next round of applications is 12:00 noon on Friday 8 January 2010. Results of the competition will be announced in February 2010 and successful candidates are expected to take up the award on or after 1 April 2010. Postgraduate doctoral research students who have submitted or expect to submit their thesis between 1 October 2009 and 31 March 2010 are eligible to apply. Candidates awarded a Fellowship who do not meet this requirement will not be able to take up the Fellowship, although they may re-apply in a subsequent application round. Application Procedures
Applications must be made electronically, using the IAS application form. Completed applications will comprise:
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete with the academic references and reaches the Institute of Advanced Study by the closing date. Late or incomplete applications submitted will not be considered.
Selection Criteria and Process
Applicants will provide a narrative statement of up to 1,000 words outlining their proposed use of the time and facilities available to advance their postdoctoral research careers. Additionally, they will provide a statement of up to 150 words describing the relevance of the IAS context for their research development. Selection will be made on the basis of: A. Academic Excellence (CV, two academic references, including one from PhD supervisor) - the following will be taken into account:
B. Quality of proposal, including:
C. Applicant’s ability and willingness to situate his/her research project within the broader interdisciplinary research framework of the IAS. Applications will be considered by a panel of senior Warwick academic staff including the IAS Director and the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies.
Conditions of taking up the award
Bursaries will be continued beyond the doctoral examination date only when the viva is successfully passed (ie has resulted in a recommendation to award the PhD or other doctoral degree with or without minor corrections, but NOT to resubmit/be referred). Most Fellows will take on additional part-time work; Fellows must normally commit to undertake no more than 20 hours per week of other employment during the tenure of their award. Exceptions must be negotiated in advance, and may result in a reduction in the value of the award. Fellows should make best use of IAS and University facilities, for example through using the hot-desking and office space available in the IAS, ePortfolios, the Library and careers advice through specialist Careers Consultants. Fellows are expected to attend the IAS on a regular basis (including the Fellows’ fortnightly interdisciplinary seminars) and to maintain systematic contact with the nominated supervisor(s) during the tenure of the award. International students must ensure that they do not contravene the regulations of their visa and that acceptance of the award does not contravene any contractual obligations to an employer or sponsor. Fellows undertake to complete a progress report at the end of the first three months, and a final report at the end of the award period. It is expected that candidates will acknowledge, in their publications, support received from the Institute of Advanced Study Early Career Fellowship.
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