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http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/research/vif.htm

The Department of Sociology at the University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom, has established a Visiting International Fellowship (VIF) to foster the development of sociological research methods. Between one and three Fellowships are awarded by competition each year. Applicants for the Fellowship will be established scholars in social science with a track record in a field of social research methodology. They will normally hold, or recently have held, an established academic appointment in social science. The Fellowship committee regrets that it cannot consider applications from candidates seeking training, updating of methodological skills, or who are currently registered for an undergraduate or graduate degree.

Former VIF holders include: David Morgan (Portland State), David De Vaus (La Trobe), Ed Brent (Missouri), Norman Blaikie (Emeritus, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Irwin Deutscher (Akron), Edith de Leeuw (Utrecht), Seppo Laaksonen (Helsinki), Luis Antunes (Lisbon), Ming Yan (Beijing), Cesar Cisneros (Mexico), Tom W Smith (Chicago), Bob Belli (Lincoln), Jin-Kyu Jung (Grand Forks), Carl Roberts (Iowa), Warren Thorngate (Ottawa), Linda Williams (Massachusetts Lowell) and Gerd Wagner (Germany).

The awards are open to those who would value the opportunity to advance methodological understanding, for example by reflecting on methods used in previous empirical research, by validating existing or new methodological procedures, or by reviewing and synthesising methodological approaches. 'Methods' may be interpreted widely, to include, for example, statistical techniques and conversation and discourse analysis.

Applications from female and ethnic minority candidates are particularly encouraged.

An award of £2,500 will be made as a contribution towards travel and subsistence expenses incurred in holding the Fellowship.  It is expected that VIF award-holders will normally be on paid leave of absence from their employment.  Award-holders should be prepared to visit the Department on one or two occasions during the academic year with a duration of about one month in total. VIFs will become honorary Research Fellows of the University and be entitled to use the University Library and make use of University facilities. The holder of a Fellowship is usually permanently resident outside the United Kingdom.

The Department of Sociology at Surrey is a centre of methodological expertise and specialises in research methods for the application of social research to contemporary society. It promotes high methodological standards and new developments in methodology for the social science research community.  The Department is the home of CAQDAS, an internationally acclaimed centre for Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software, and is well known for its work on the secondary analysis of large data sets, and work on online research methods. Other methodological specialisms include the computer simulation of social phenomena (CRESS) and cross-national comparison. The Department publishes the quarterly Social Research Update online and houses the office of the journal Sociological Research Online. Applications should be sent by email to Louise Jones, VIF Administrator, 
Email: [log in to unmask] 

Applications must be received by Friday 28th September 2012 for visits during the calendar year 2013. Applications must be made on the application form posted on the VIF website noted below. Application forms should be submitted by email as an attachment. Decisions will be made and notified by the end of November 2012.  Proposals for collaborative research with members of the Department of Sociology are especially welcome.

The application form and more information about the Visiting International Fellowship, and the Department of Sociology at the University of Surrey, are available at:

http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/research/vif.htm

Louise Jones - Department Administrator

01483 689365

Working hours 9.30-14.00 Monday - Thursday