Durham International Senior Fellowships (COFUND)
Durham University’s Senior Research Fellowship programme is designed to attract lively, inventive and influential figures in academia, to provide them with an environment in Durham that will challenge their thinking and ours and to foment new and sustainable research collaborations across the panoply of our collective activities.
Fellowships are available for periods of 6 weeks to 6 months between October 2018 and 30th September 2019 (with a typical stay of 3 months). Applications are considered from researchers with an established or emerging international reputation for scholarship or research leadership. Research proposals must be developed collaboratively with researchers in Durham. To meet the eligibility requirements of the EU Marie Curie programme, applicants may not have resided in the UK for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to the reference date for this call (1 July 2018). Up to 16 Durham Senior Research Fellowships are available in 2018-19.
Applications are encouraged from Senior Research Fellows who wish to work on collaborative research projects with one of Durham University’s thematic Institutes or with the Durham University Business School:
- Durham Energy Institute (DEI
- Biophysical Sciences Institute (BSI)
- Institute of Computational Cosmology (ICC)
- Institute of Particle Physics Phenomenology (IPPP)
- Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (IHRR)
- Wolfson Research Institute (WRI)
- Institute of Mediaeval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS)
- Durham Global Security Institute (DGSI)
In addition, applications are also welcome from individuals wishing to collaborate on a research project associated with other research groups or Research Centres at Durham University.
A full list of the 53 Research Centres at Durham is available online or by emailing the COFUND team.
Durham Senior Research Fellowships are administered by Durham’s Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) and are partly funded by the European Union, through the COFUND ‘Durham International Fellowships For Research and Enterprise2’ scheme under grant agreement no 609412.
What the Durham Senior Research Fellowship offers
A Durham Senior Research Fellowship provides the holder with the opportunity to develop their research and ideas in a thriving community of intellectuals within Durham’s Institutes, Centres, Departments and Colleges.
The IPPP, ICC, BSI, DEI, IHRR, WRI, IMEMS, and DGSI cover a very broad spectrum of activity and therefore offer opportunities for researchers with a wide range of interests. Researchers who wish to work on projects outside the remit of these eight institutes (i.e. with a specific research group or Research Centre) can apply for a ‘free-standing’ Durham Senior Research Fellowship, which would be hosted by the Institute of Advanced Study (IAS). There is no restriction therefore on the field of research other than that there must be a strong justification for carrying out the proposed work in Durham.
Fellowships are available for periods of 6 weeks to 6 months, with a typical stay of 3 months. Fellowships are available during the following periods: October-December 2018, January-March 2019, April-June 2019 and exceptionally July-September 2019. Fellowships cannot be funded beyond 30th Sept 2019 as this represents the end date of our contract with the EU. Since the number of Senior Fellows that the Colleges can accommodate in any one term is limited, applicants are encouraged to offer more than one possible period for their Fellowship.
For the duration of their stay, Durham Senior Research Fellows will be provided with
- an office with a computer and access to the University’s IT network;
- accommodation in a one or two-bedroom flat, usually in one of Durham’s 16 Colleges;
- membership of a College Senior Common Room;
- IAS Affiliate status with the opportunity that affords to participate in its academic, social and cultural activities;
- access to Durham’s specialist research facilities.
During term-time, Fellows will be provided with meals in a College.
Durham University will cover the costs associated with the Senior Research Fellow travelling to Durham, UK from their home institution (return fare–economy class) and will provide all Senior Research Fellows with an honorarium (£3,000 for three months, prorated for shorter stays, not subject to UK tax).
In exceptional cases, teaching buy-out costs up to a maximum value of €11,200 (prorated for periods of less than 3 months) can be applied for by academics who will not be on research leave/sabbatical whilst holding a Senior Research Fellowship at Durham.
Expectations of Durham Senior Research Fellows
To ensure the best experience Durham Senior Research Fellows are expected to
- be based in Durham for the duration of the Fellowship;
- participate in activities and engage with staff and research students in the relevant Institute, Research Centre or Department, and College;
- participate in IAS events (such as seminars, lectures and social events) where appropriate;
- produce an ‘End of Fellowship’ report detailing their activities and achievements during their Senior Research Fellowship;
- deliver appropriate outputs (normally those specified in their research proposal);
- acknowledge the support of the IAS and EU in any publications resulting from their Fellowship in Durham.
In addition, each Fellow will be invited to give a public lecture/seminar.
Eligibility Criteria
In line with the terms of funding set by Marie Curie, “researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the refer ence date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account”. The reference date is 1 July 2018.
Applicants from any discipline are eligible to apply.
Applicants should be active researchers with an established or emerging international reputation for scholarship and research leadership.
Applicants must satisfy the EU definition of an ‘Experienced Researcher’.
Durham Senior Research Fellows must carry out a programme of collaborative research in association with one of the Durham’s 9 Research Institutes, with the Durham University Business School, or with one of Durham’s other academic research groups.
Applicants must submit a complete application as described in the Application Procedures.
Applicants must agree to the conditions of the Durham Senior Research Fellowships as described above.
Durham Policy and Enterprise Fellowships
Policy and Enterprise Fellowships are designed to increase the socio-economic impact of research and scholarship at Durham University, interpreted broadly: examples include technology innovation, public policy and public understanding of science and the arts.
Fellowships are available for periods of 6 weeks to 6 months between October 2018 and 30th September 2019 (with a typical stay of 3 months). Applicants should have an established or emerging national or international reputation for influencing public policy or professional practice, for innovation or for the practical application of research and scholarship. Proposals must be developed collaboratively with researchers in Durham. Up to 8 Durham Policy and Enterprise Fellowships are available in 2018-19.
Policy and Enterprise Fellows are encouraged to work on collaborative projects with one of Durham’s thematic Research Institutes (listed below), or with the Durham University Business School:
- Durham Energy Institute (DEI)
- Biophysical Sciences Institute (BSI)
- Institute of Computational Cosmology (ICC)
- Institute of Particle Physics Phenomenology (IPPP)
- Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (IHRR)
- Wolfson Research Institute (WRI)
- Institute of Mediaeval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS)
- Durham Global Security Institute (DGSI)
- Institute of Advanced Study (IAS)
In addition, applications are also welcome from individuals who wish to work with other research groups or Research Centres at Durham.
Durham Senior Research Fellowships are administered by Durham’s Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) and are partly funded by the European Union, through the COFUND ‘Durham International Fellowships For Research and Enterprise2’ scheme under grant agreement no 609412.
What the Durham Policy and Enterprise Fellowship offers
A Durham Policy and Enterprise Fellowship provides the holder with the opportunity to develop their ideas in a thriving community of scholars and researchers within Durham’s Institutes, Centres, Departments and Colleges.
Fellowships are available for periods of 6 weeks to 6 months, with a typical stay of 3 months. Fellowships are available during the following periods: October-December 2018, January-March 2019, April-June 2019 and exceptionally July-September 2019. Fellowships cannot be funded beyond 30th Sept 2019 as this represents the end date of our contract with the EU. Since the number of Fellows that the Colleges can accommodate in any one term is limited, applicants are encouraged to offer more than one possible period for their Fellowship.
For the duration of their stay, Durham Policy and Enterprise Fellows will be provided with:
- an office with a computer and access to the University’s IT network;
- accommodation in a one or two-bedroom flat, usually in one of Durham’s 16 Colleges;
- membership of a College Senior Common Room;
- IAS Affiliate status with the opportunity that affords to participate in its academic, social and cultural activities;
- access to Durham’s specialist research facilities.
During term-time, Fellows will be provided with meals in a College.
Durham University will cover the costs associated with the Policy and Enterprise Fellow travelling to Durham, UK from their home institution (return fare–economy class) and will provide all Policy and Enterprise Fellows with an honorarium (£3,000 for three months, prorated for shorter stays, not subject to UK tax).
In exceptional cases salary replacement costs up to a maximum value of €11,200 (prorated for periods of less than 3 months) can be applied for.
Expectations of Durham Policy and Enterprise Fellows
To ensure the best experience Durham Policy and Enterprise Fellows are expected to
- be based in Durham for the duration of the Fellowship;
- participate in activities and engage with staff and research students in relevant Institute, Research Centre or Department, and College;
- participate in IAS events (such as seminars, lectures and social events) where appropriate;
- produce an ‘End of Fellowship’ report detailing their activities and achievements during their Policy and Enterprise Fellowship;
- deliver appropriate outputs (normally those specified in their proposal);
- acknowledge the support of the IAS and EU in any publications resulting from their Fellowship in Durham.
In addition, each Fellow will be invited to give a public lecture/seminar.
Eligibility Criteria
In line with the terms of funding set by Marie Curie, “researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account”. The reference date for the 2018-19 Fellowships is 1 July 2018.
The IAS also offers a small number of Policy and Enterprise Fellowships for applicants who do not meet the EU mobility criterion: for further information, please contact the IAS Administrator.
Applicants should be actively engaged in translating academic research and scholarship into policy, public practice or technological innovation.
There are no restrictions on the career background of applicants; however, applicants are expected to have an interest and track record in the exploitation of research in policy, public practice or technology and meet must satisfy the EU definition of an ‘Experienced Researcher’.
Durham Policy and Enterprise Fellows must carry out a programme of collaborative work allied to one of Durham’s Research Institutes, to the Durham University Business School, or to individual research Centres or research groups in Durham.
Applicants must submit a complete application as described in the Application Procedures.
Applicants must agree to the conditions of the Durham Policy and Enterprise Fellowships as described above.
Selection Procedures
Evaluation Criteria
All applications will be carefully considered by the Durham International Fellowship Scheme Selection Committee and against the following evaluation criteria (weighting applied to each criterion is given in brackets):
- Criterion 1. International standing and contribution of the candidate to his/her field, as appropriate to the career stage of the candidate (40%)
- Criterion 2. Quality of proposal for activities while at Durham, including the impact of the proposed outputs (40%)
- Criterion 3. Contribution to the wider scholarly community at Durham (10%)
- Criterion 4. Collegiality and ability to contribute to the Durham academic community (10%)
The sources of information for assessing applications include the application materials provided by the applicant, publicly accessible information (including published articles or books, personal and professional websites), the advice of Institute & Centre Directors, Heads of Departments or equivalent on applications relevant to their Institute/Centre/Department, and advice sought from experts within or out side of Durham University.
In selecting the final list of successful Fellows, the Selection Committee will also take into account
- (i) the availability of accommodation and specialist research facilities during the period requested
- (ii) the disciplinary balance of Fellows
- (iii) the case for and availability of teaching buy-out / salary replacement, if requested.
It is intended that decisions will be announced by end of March 2018. Applicants are normally informed of the outcome of their application by letter, unless they request this information to be relayed by email.
Offers of appointment are subject to successful candidates securing a valid visa, if required, from the UK Visas and Immigration.
