Money and a room of one’s own: fellowships and funding for PhDs and ECRs

1. Money and a room of one’s own: fellowships and funding for PhDs and ECRs Dr Charlotte Mathieson University of Surrey

2. “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction” (Virginia Woolf)

3. Outline Fellowships and funding for early career researchers: • What’s out there • Things to consider in applying • Smaller resources • Questions and troubleshooting

4. Fellowships for early career researchers: postdoctoral schemes • Research-focused • Full-time work on research project • Minimal/no teaching component (often optional) • Distinct from PhD • Topic: new project, not (/rarely) for thesis-to-book • Academic career preparation • Expected ambition towards permanent academic position • Training and preparation element as important as the research project

5. Leverhulme: “Early Career Fellowships aim to provide career development opportunities for those who are at a relatively early stage of their academic careers, but who have a proven record of research. The expectation is that Fellows should undertake a significant piece of publishable work during their tenure, and that the Fellowships should lead to a more permanent academic position.” British Academy: “opportunities for outstanding early career researchers to strengthen their experience of research and teaching in a university environment which will develop their curriculum vitae and improve their prospects of obtaining permanent lecturing posts by the end of the Fellowship. The primary emphasis is on completion of a significant piece of publishable research.”

6. Main schemes at a glance • Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (3 years) • British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (3 years) • Wellcome Trust (Medical Humanities) Research Fellowship (3 years) • Institutional schemes (various – 2, 3, 5 years typical)

7. Postdoctoral fellowships British Academy • within 3 yrs of doctorate (date of viva) • UK/ EEA national or PhD in UK HEI • apply through a UK host institution • Salary and research expenses • Full economic costing from BA • Success rate c. 5% ; reapplication invite only • Deadline in October (Outline stage followed by full stage) Leverhulme • within 5 yrs & not had FT perm. post • PhD from UK HEI • apply through UK host institution • Salary and research expenses • NOT FEC: match-funded by HEI • Success rate similar; reapplication allowed • Deadline in February

8. Postdoctoral fellowships Wellcome Trust Research Fellowships • Medicine funder with medical humanities remit • PhD awarded prior to application; no year limit, but must not have held permanent or established post • Provides salary and research expenses • Can hold for up to 3 years • Apply through a UK host institution with a supervisor and sponsor • 2 rounds of application per year (January/July) with a preliminary followed by full application

9. Postdoctoral fellowships Other postdoctoral fellowship schemes have included: • Warwick Institute of Advanced Study • Nottingham Research Fellowships • Birmingham Research Fellowships • Sheffield Vice-Chancellor Fellowships • Surrey research fellowships • Advertised variously as they appear; usually on jobs.ac.uk and circulated through networks

10. What are funders looking for? Person – Place – Project

11. What are funders looking for? Person • Track record: publications, funding • Outstanding research ideas • Why you are the best person to conduct this research • Commitment to academic career • How the fellowship will develop you for an academic career • Check requirements for number of years out of PhD and whether reapplication allowed

12. What are funders looking for? Place • Suitability of research environment for you & project • Research specialisms and centres, resources (e.g. archive collections), skills training opportunities, colleagues & mentor • Mobility: not always required but encouraged • “the development of an academic career is best served by gaining experience at different institutions” (Leverhulme) • Build on existing relationships and contacts, make use of opportunities such as conferences to foster these… • Don’t be afraid to “cold-call”

13. What are funders looking for? Project • Distinct from previous work • “It is not advisable to base the research proposal for the three-year Fellowship simply on publishing the PhD thesis in book form. Rather, evidence of progression to a second project will be required” (BA) • Outstanding, original research contribution • value to the field, significance, rigour; timeliness, research context and contribution • Strong and clear aims and objectives, methodology, feasible plan and timescale • Outputs that it will generate and opportunities for dissemination • Impact and Public reach of research • Value for money/well justified resources • Continuity and connection with person and place • Connection with funders themes/values

14. Fellowships: general advice • Planning: • research options well in advance; check requirements/ eligibility; contact potential hosts in good time; • Identify gaps in CV & what you need to work on • Weigh-up applying early vs. building up track-record • Seek out examples of successful applications • Writing: • Allow time for re-writing, multiple revisions, feedback from peers and colleagues; • Clarity, consistency; a clear sense of why, what, and how; • Allow time for costings and discussion with finance, internal peer review and any other institutional procedures including sign off

15. Other funding Small grants to support research – Victorian societies, archives • BAVS research funding scheme • £500 for PGs/ECRs to support research activity • See also events and public engagement awards • Gladstone library • Scholarships & bursaries • RSVP • Curran fellowships for travel and research in 19th century • Also see: smaller specialist societies, e.g. author societies for smaller grants

16. Rejection • Rejection is the norm… • … But that doesn’t make it easier. • Rejection can take its toll on mental health: have strategies for dealing in the short-term and recognise longer term impacts. • Use the feedback if it’s available; and speak to anyone who supported your application. • Sometimes it takes time for ideas to develop, building up track record; • Or a new place/people… • Sometimes it takes a new project.

17. Questions and troubleshooting

18. Dr Charlotte Mathieson University of Surrey @cemathieson http://charlottemathieson.wordpress.com c.Mathieson@surrey.ac.uk