ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship Competition 2022/23
We are currently making preparations to launch our 2022/23 Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme Competition. Please check back in November 2022 for more information.
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The 2021/22 competition has now closed
Due to industrial action during 2022, the competition timeline has been revised accordingly, affecting some of the dates we update applicants on the outcome of their applications.
The Scottish Graduate School of Social Science is delighted to announce the launch of the 2022/23 ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship Competition.
Six Postdoctoral Fellowships are available from the SGSSS-DTP to start on 01 October 2023. The fellowship must be held at an institution that is part of a DTP eligible to participate in this initiative and aligned to an accredited pathway. All Fellows are required to have a mentor based at the institution where the Fellowship is held. The mentor should have experience and a strong interest in the applicant’s field of research but should not normally be the applicant’s PhD supervisor. We anticipate that many applicants will identify potential mentors independently, or with advice from previous supervisors/academic contacts. However, should candidates need assistance in identifying a suitable mentor, they should get in touch with your relevant HEI Champion or alternatively contact SGSSS directly.
Applicants to Scottish institutions should note that the SGSSS-DTP has a two-stage application process (see below for full details). Only applicants successful at Stage 1 will be invited to submit a full application at Stage 2:
- Stage 1 Application Deadline: 4pm, 12 January 2023
- Stage 2 Application Deadline: 4pm, 23 March 2023
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to applicants who have completed their PhD at an institution that is part of a DTP, and must be held at one of the 12 institutions that form the SGSSS-DTP and aligned to an accredited pathway (see here for the SGSSS pathways).
Applicants are not required to have previously held an ESRC-funded studentship in order to be eligible to apply.
To be eligible applicants must:
- Have been awarded a PhD or have passed their viva voce with minor amendments completed by 23 March 2023 and have been awarded their PhD by the fellowship start date of 01 October 2023
- Have no more than 12 months active postdoctoral experience since passing their viva voce (allowing for career breaks) by 23 March 2023
- Permanent members of staff in an academic position with a research component are not eligible for this scheme. If a candidate has previously been employed on a part-time basis, that employment can be calculated pro-rata
Please see the ESRC PDF Call Specification and ESRC PDF FAQs (see Competition Guidance and Documents section) for further information on eligibility.
This call welcomes proposals from those returning to research following a career break, however applicants are required to meet the eligibility criterion of having no more than 12 months of active postdoctoral experience.
- The deadline for Stage 2 applications is 4pm on 23 March 2023.
Competition Guidance 2022/23
Please note, postdoctoral fellowships are bound by the same conditions as ESRC standard grants.
Only nominated applicants should submit a Stage 2 Application.
- Only nominated applicants should submit a Stage 2 Application
Stage 1 applications have now closed. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their Stage 1 application on Monday 21 February 2022.
Application Process
Contact your Mentor
Candidate: Before submitting your Stage 1 application, you must first seek out a Mentor at the institution you are applying to. If you do not have a Mentor in mind, see here for a list of HEI Champions who should be able to point you in the right direction.
Mentor: Please check the eligibility of the Candidate and support them to produce their Stage 1 application. As part of this application we ask Mentors to provide a Mentor Statement of Support for the Candidate to upload alongside their Stage 1 application. This should be a more generalised version of the Mentor Statement required for Stage 2 applications (if a candidate is shortlisted) and should not exceed 500 words (see the ESRC PDF Call Specification for more details). Please note, a Mentor CV is only required at Stage 2.
Stage 1 Application (Expression of Interest)
- Download the Stage 1 Application form
- Complete this form with support from your Mentor(s)
- Register with SGSSS Apply
- Submit your Stage 1 Application to SGSSS via SGSSS Apply by 4pm on 12 January 2023
- Include your Mentor Statement of Support, written by your Mentor
Initial Candidate Selection
Institutions will review all Stage 1 applications internally (HEI Review Stage). Candidates will be notified of their application status on Tuesday 22 February 2023. Successful candidates will be invited to submit a Stage 2 application.
Stage 2 Application (see ESRC Call Specification)
All Stage 2 applicants are required to contact their Mentor(s) as soon as possible for support in preparing their submission. For additional support please contact your relevant HEI Champion or SGSSS.
- Download the Stage 2 Application form
- Complete this form with support from your Mentor(s)
- Submit your Stage 2 application to SGSSS via SGSSS Apply by 4pm on 23 March 2023
- Include the following attachments (as detailed within the ESRC Call Specification):
- Stage 2 Application Form
- Case for Support (maximum six sides of A4)
- Justification of Resources (maximum two sides of A4)
- CV (maximum two sides of A4)
- Head of Department Statement (maximum one side of A4)
- Mentor Statement and Summary CV (maximum two sides of A4)
- Referee Statement (maximum two sides of A4)
- Workplan (maximum two sides of A4)
- Data Management Plan, if applicable (maximum three sides of A4)
- List of Publications, if applicable (containing the bibliography for references cited in the proposal)
Final Candidate Selection
SGSSS will review all applications in a further two-stage review process (Peer Review Stage and Final Selection Review Stage). Candidates will be notified of their application status after the Peer Review Stage (on or around 03 May 2023) and after the Final Selection Review Stage (on or around 16 June 2023). Feedback will be provided for all Stage 2 applicants.
Awards
Institutions will appoint Postdoctoral Fellows, working together with SGSSS to ensure that an induction, as well as continued mentoring and support is provided.
