This programme is designed to support Warwick doctoral candidates whose research focuses on science 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 on a full- or part-time basis. 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 Research Students Skills Programme (RSSP) 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. Please clearly indicate your (expected) submission date on the application form.

Programme Specifications

• Eligibility
• Duration of Awards
• Value and Number of Awards
• Deadline: Noon Monday 9 January 2012
• Application Procedures
• Selection Criteria and Process
• Conditions of Taking up the Award

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Eligibility

The competition is open to Warwick students focusing in science 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 June 2011 and 31 January 2012 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 Awards

Fellowships will be awarded for a period of up to 6 months, starting 1 February 2012. Shorter Fellowship periods can be arranged to accommodate non-Home/EU candidates’ visa status.

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Value and Number of Awards

It is expected that there will be a maximum of five (5) Fellowships in the academic year 2011-12 running from February to July. Four of these will be part-time (described below). One of these will be full-time and designated to assist the Wolfson Research Exchange for ten hours a week with specific programmes to accelerate science focused activity.

Fellows will be paid a small bursary for the duration of the Fellowship. This will be calculated using the Research Council stipend (£13,590 per annum full-time) 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 £566.25 per month. One award is also available full-time for which the maximum total award is £6,795 for 6 months. In addition Fellows may claim up to £150 towards research expenses (eg towards costs of attending a conference). This expenditure must be agreed in advance with the IAS Director.

Fellows will have access to the Warwick Library and Wolfson Research Exchange and to hot-desking, office and seminar room facilities at the IAS.

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Deadline

The closing date for the next round of applications is 12:00 noon on Monday 9 January 2012. Results of the competition will be announced later in the month and successful candidates are expected to take up the award on or after 1 February 2012. Postgraduate doctoral research students who have submitted or expect to submit their thesis between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012 inclusive are eligible to apply. Candidates awarded a Fellowship who do not meet this requirement will not be able to take up the Fellowship.

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Application Procedures

Applications must be made electronically, using the IAS application form. Completed applications will comprise:

1) a completed application form received by the deadline

2) a project statement of up to 1,000 words

3) a statement of up to 150 words on how their research would benefit from/contribute to the IAS

4) the CV of the applicant

5) 2 letters of reference

6) signatures of the applicant’s Head of Department and Departmental Administrator.

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.

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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:

1) Output arising from the doctoral research

2) Conference papers, if any, based on the doctoral research

3) Grants and fellowships awarded during postgraduate career

4) Supervisor’s report

5) Length of time as a doctoral candidate (priority will be given to students who submit their thesis without extensions, excluding approved periods of leave).

B. Quality of proposal, including:

1) Intellectual ambition and scope of proposed programme of activities

2) Ability of the proposed programme of activity to advance the candidate’s postdoctoral research career

3) Supervisory/support arrangements available at Warwick to enhance the applicant’s research

4) Feasibility (ability to accomplish stated goals within the Fellowship period).

C. Applicant’s ability and willingness to situate his/her research project within the broader interdisciplinary research framework of the IAS.

D. Applicants who wish to be considered for the Research Exchange activity should make this clear in their application.

Applications will be considered by a panel of senior Warwick academic staff including the IAS Director and the Dean of the Faculty of Science.

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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).

Some 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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IAS Early Career Fellowship (Science) 2011-12 Application Form

doctoral research students whose research focuses on science, and who have submitted or expect to submit their thesis between 1 June 2011 and 31 january 2012 inclusive, are eligible to apply.