Research Fellowships

Purpose

This scheme supports individuals at all stages of their career not in established academic posts, wishing to undertake a period of research.

Strong preference is given to applicants with a good prospect of achieving an academic career as a specialist in medical history and humanities.

What's included

The maximum duration is three years.

The awards are full-time but can be tenable on a part-time basis if a case can be made that personal circumstances require this.

Fellowships provide research expenses and a salary, plus appropriate employer's contributions.

Research expenses include travel to libraries and archives or overseas fieldwork, and a set amount for travel to conferences, seminars and other meetings of a scholarly nature.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply if you are a postdoctoral scholar not in a tenured or otherwise long-term established post (employment on a rolling contract is regarded as tantamount to holding an established post), wishing to carry out an extended period of research on a specific project.

You will also be expected to have been awarded your PhD before you are eligible to apply. Applications from candidates who are still awaiting their viva by the time of the full application will not normally be accepted.

Your application must be sponsored by an established and normally senior member of the department, unit or institute in the UK or Republic of Ireland in which the award is to be held.

Application process

Preliminary applications should be made in writing, and must include:

• a brief CV and full publication list
• a letter of support from the head of department in which you will be working
• the approximate cost of the proposal, broken down into equipment and project running expenses.

Please also submit a maximum of two pages in which you describe your proposed project. In addition to elaborating your research questions, you should also consider the following points:

• How does this research advance the field? Why is it important?
• If your approach is not obviously historical, please explain how the project will be 'historically grounded'.
• What sources do you intend to consult and how will they help answer your research questions? Please give an indicative list of archives or secondary material.

If your preliminary application is successful, you will be invited to submit a full application.

Full applications are be considered by the Medical History and Humanities Expert Review Group.

If your full application is successful, you will be shortlisted for interview.

Strong preference will be given to applicants with a good prospect of achieving an academic career as a specialist in the history of medicine.

Deadlines

A preliminary application must be submitted before a full application is invited.

Preliminary application deadlines are:
20 June (with a full application deadline of 1 August)
1 December (with a full application deadline of 1 February)

Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held shortly after the Funding Committee review.

Contacts

Grants Section - Medical History and Humanities
Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE, UK

T +44 (0)20 7611 8499
E mhh@wellcome.ac.uk