Dear Colleagues
The University of Birmingham is committed to attracting the brightest and the best from around the world to develop their academic careers at Birmingham as Birmingham Fellows.
In 2011 we ran the first round of Birmingham Fellowships recruitment, and to date we have appointed over 30 Birmingham Fellows. In 2012 we are now seeking to recruit an additional 25 Birmingham Fellows of the same world-leading calibre, with a deadline for applications of 27 August 2012.
Birmingham Fellows will be appointed to a permanent academic post, and will have five years with protected time for high-quality research. This will allow these outstanding, high potential, early career researchers of any age to establish themselves as rounded academics who will go on to make a full and excellent contribution to research, teaching and academic citizenship. Our goal with the Birmingham Fellowships is to cultivate the next generation of Birmingham academics, rather than to work with outstanding post-docs for a few years and then lose them from our community.
Although research-focused, Fellows will be appointed to research and teaching contracts, reflecting our commitment to teaching as an integral part of an academic career. At the start of the Fellowship period, the emphasis will be on consolidating an already-outstanding research trajectory. However, Birmingham Fellows will also develop their teaching experience, including PhD supervision, increasing up to a normal load in their discipline by the fifth year of their Fellowship. Fellows will not be expected to contribute substantively to academic administration during the term of their Fellowship.
Fellows will receive a start-up package to support the development of their research, an academic mentor, and development support in both research and teaching. Fellows will be part of the Birmingham Fellows cohort, which will provide them a University-wide network and an additional source of support and mentoring.
Normally the appointment will be made at Lecturer grade (entry level academic career grade), although in exceptional cases appointments may be made at a higher grade.
It is intended that Birmingham Fellows will enhance the University's existing academic strengths and contribute to the growing culture of collaboration and interdisciplinarity that exists at the University. We have identified 21 priority areas representing clusters of excellence at Birmingham, but we welcome applications from outside the priority areas, as long as the applicant can explain why Birmingham is the right place for them to advance their academic career.
Applications from candidates who have won external fellowships they would bring to Birmingham are particularly welcome. Such candidates may be fast-tracked for interview. If offered a Birmingham Fellowship, they would be eligible for the full package of support during the term of their fellowship. Candidates who believe they might be eligible for fast-track consideration should contact us directly on [log in to unmask] so we can assess their suitability for this process.
Applications are welcome from candidates in the UK and overseas. Candidates must have been awarded a PhD (or equivalent terminal degree) by 27 August 2012. Candidates should be on a trajectory to become principal investigators and research leaders. Their publication records must be such that they will be able to submit 3-4 publications of a 3* (international quality) or 4* (world-leading) level to the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework (REF). This requirement may be pro rated based on certain circumstances, including early-career status as defined by the REF guidelines and parental leave. Full guidance can be seen at the University's Code of Practice for Staff Selection.
Please see the website for further information: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/excellence/fellows/index.aspx
And please do email me if you have any queries
Karen Rowlingson
[log in to unmask]
Professor of Social Policy
School of Social Policy
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
0121 415 8565
Director of CHASM (Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management)
www.chasm.bham.ac.uk
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