Applications are now open for the AHRC-RLUK Professional Practice Fellowship Scheme, for colleagues working within academic and research libraries.

The scheme is designed to develop and promote research capacity, capability, and confidence amongst colleagues working across the research and academic library community, including within both RLUK and non-RLUK libraries. This includes colleagues working within a broad range of disciplines, professions, and institutions, and any unit or department that belongs to a research or academic library.

Application surgeries

If you are thinking about applying please feel free to attend one of our drop-in application surgeries, where we'll be happy to answer any questions you may have:

🗓 Under-represented groups: Tuesday 15 November, 14.00-15.00

An application surgery specifically for colleagues from under-represented groups, and ethnic minority communities in particular, to support their application to the scheme.

🗓 Working with your research office (with ARMA): Wednesday 16 November, 14.00-15.00

This surgery will focus on the importance of developing a close working relationship with members of your institution’s research office when developing your fellowship application.

🗓 General application surgery (2): Wednesday 23 November, 14.00-15.00

An open drop-in session where applicants and prospective mentors can ask specific questions they may have about the scheme.

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Eligibility for the scheme

The scheme is open to colleagues working within any unit or department that sits within a research or academic library which belongs to a recognised UK Higher Education Institution (HEI), Independent Research Organisation (IRO), or is a member of Research Libraries UK (RLUK).

The scheme is open to both RLUK and non-RLUK member institutions, and has been designed to enable a wide variety of applications from individuals, institutions, and professions, from across the academic and research library communities.

RLUK and AHRC welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and career stages. The scheme would particularly like to encourage applications from early-career professionals who are seeking to develop their research capability, confidence, and capacity. RLUK and AHRC would also like to encourage applications from members of ethnic minority communities, who constitute an underrepresented group within the library and information sectors.

Background

The creation of this scheme is a direct response to the findings and recommendations of a joint RLUK-AHRC scoping study regarding the role, and potential role, of research and academic libraries as research partners and leaders. The report, published in July 2021, highlighted the need to support colleagues working across research and academic libraries in the development of their research capability, capacity, and confidence.

Further details about the scheme can be found here – please note this webpage currently holds information for the 2021 scheme but this will be updated on 7 November for the second year of the scheme.