apply - Durham University

How to Apply for an IAS Fellowship

IAS Fellowship

Application for an IAS Fellowship can only be made once a full and open call has been announced.
The IAS hopes to reinstitute an open Fellowship scheme in 2022-23. Applicants would be required to seek a Durham sponsor/collaborator, and to articulate joint plans for collaboration. This person should provide a statement of support using the . Resources permitting, the Fellowship offer will include the provision of teaching buyout where needed: for example to assist practitioners who do not have a University salary, or academics without access to paid research leave. This is particularly intended to support greater diversity in our Fellowship cohorts, enabling the inclusion of Fellows from less advantaged parts of the world.

Introduction to the IAS

The Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) was launched in October 2006 to mark the 175th anniversary of the foundation of Durham University. The IAS provides a unique intellectual and physical environment for scholarship and interdisciplinary research across the disciplinary spectrum, promoting open and imaginative exchanges of knowledge across disciplinary boundaries. It offers foundational support to adventurous and interdisciplinary research initiatives, and to the potential for these to illuminate disciplinary perspectives. It brings into this environment leading international researchers and assists their collaborative engagement with Durham’s academic community. It communicates the outcomes of this collaborative research, and the University’s leadership in this area, to national and international networks, and to policy and decision-makers.

The IAS Distinguished Fellowship scheme brings together world-leading researchers from all disciplines to work with Durham colleagues in developing collaborative projects of major intellectual, scientific, political and practical significance. Up to twenty visiting IAS Fellows will come to Durham each year to work with its scholars to spark new investigations and participate in a varied programme of activities.

Each year, the Institute sponsors several major interdisciplinary projects and a range of other research developments. Fellows are expected to collaborate with Durham colleagues carrying out such activities. Fellowship applicants should therefore consider whether their interests complement the 2022/23 projects (see projects here), and whether they might want to apply to work with a project team during the Fellowship period (see pro forma below). Or they can apply to join Durham colleagues in other collaborative research developments.

Fellowships are available for a 3-month period between October 2022 and March 2023. Applications are considered from international, world-leading researchers (or practitioners, such as writers, artists, policy makers etc.) who meet the criteria for the IAS Distinguished Fellowship scheme. Thus, they must have a well-established or strongly emerging international reputation and a substantial publication record (or equivalent achievements); they must have made major contributions to their field; and they must be able to provide substantial evidence of research leadership and/or public impact. They are expected to have played a significant role in shaping their discipline or field through their outputs, achievements and indicators of esteem, and they should also be able to offer experience in leading or participating directly in interdisciplinary research.

In accord with the IAS’s remit to establish international collaborations, preference will be given to nominations and applicants from outside the UK.

IAS Fellowships are not available to undergraduate or postgraduate students. A completed PhD with five years’ post-doctoral experience is the minimum requirement for Fellows undertaking a traditional academic trajectory, or they must have an equivalent level of experience and track record in other areas. Applications from early career researchers will only be considered if they demonstrate exceptional promise. Previous recipients of an IAS Fellowship are not eligible for a further Fellowship either by nomination or application.

What the Fellowships offer:

An IAS Fellowship provides recipients with the opportunity to develop their ideas and collaborations in a thriving community of researchers, and through engagement with the University’s Departments, Institutes and Colleges.

All Fellows will be provided with office space. Each will be welcomed into a Durham College where they will be offered accommodation (in a one bedroom flat, or similar), and membership of the College’s Senior Common Room.

The IAS will cover the costs associated with the Fellow travelling to Durham from their home institution (one return fare – economy class), and will provide all Fellows with an honorarium (£3,000 for three months; pro-rata for a shorter stay).

Fellows from Universities who provide study leave are expected to make use of this to take up Fellowships. Academics whose institutions do not make such provision are eligible to apply for teaching buy-out costs of up to £8,000 (for the three month period or pro rata for shorter stays). Similarly, practitioners who will experience a loss of income as a result of accepting an IAS Fellowship are eligible to apply for a contribution towards their salary/earnings of the same amount (up to £8,000).

Fellows’ contribution to the IAS:

Fellows are required to fulfil a number of expectations:

They will reside in Durham for three months; however, if this is impossible, the IAS may consider alternative arrangements as long as the Fellowship provides significant benefits to Durham’s research community; however a two-month stay is the minimum duration of a Fellowship;
They will participate in IAS activities, including informal discussions and networking within the IAS community, and engage with staff and research students in relevant Departments, Institutes and Colleges at the University;
They will present a ‘work in progress’ IAS seminar within the IAS;
They will deliver a public lecture with a Durham College;
They will either:
- establish a collaborative undertaking with a Durham academic: this can be a joint publication; research project; co-convened workshop or conference; exhibition; or other joint research development.
Or:
- Contribute to IAS sponsored research projects. In this case the project PI (see projects here) should be asked to peer review their proposal;
They must acknowledge IAS support in any publications resulting from their Fellowship in Durham;
They must produce an ‘End of Fellowship’ report of no more than 1,000 words detailing their activities and achievements during their time at the IAS, within two months of completing their Fellowship.

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants of any nationality are eligible to apply in line with Durham University’s equality and diversity policies. The IAS particularly welcomes applications from individuals from under-represented groups. Preference will be given to nominations and applicants from outside the UK. (https://www.dur.ac.uk/equality.diversity/positiveworking/policies/eanddpolicy/)

Applicants from any disciplinary area(s) are eligible to apply.
Applicants may come from an academic or non-academic background (e.g. public intellectuals, artists, writers, film makers, journalists, policy makers, politicians);
Applicants must meet the criteria for the IAS Distinguished Fellowship scheme. They must have a well-established or strongly emerging international reputation and a substantial publication record (or equivalent achievements); they must have made major contributions to their field; and they must be able to provide substantial evidence of research leadership and/or public impact. They are expected to have played a significant role in shaping their discipline or field through their outputs, achievements and indicators of esteem, and they should also be able to offer experience in leading or participating directly in interdisciplinary research.
Applicants must submit a complete application as described in the Application Procedures. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or considered;
Applicants must agree to the conditions of the IAS Fellowships as described in the Further Particulars.
Previous recipients of an IAS Fellowship are ineligible to apply.

Application Procedures:

The following application materials are required by the deadline 5pm 25 June 2021 GMT:

A letter of application;
A Curriculum Vitae/Resume;
A Fellowship proposal;
Two references from suitably qualified referees. These must be requested by the applicant, and submitted by the deadline by the referee (not the applicant). They must be from colleagues external to the applicant’s own institution, and to Durham University.
A peer review request from the Durham colleague(s) with whom they hope to collaborate.

Materials #1 - #4 must be emailed to the IAS Manager, Linda Crowe (ias.manager@durham.ac.uk) by 5pm GMT on 25 June 2021.

The Peer Review Request pro forma (#5) (see: ) must be completed by the applicant and submitted for peer review to a Durham academic with whom the proposed research most closely aligns. Applicants must allow sufficient time to make contact with a potential Durham Reviewer and seek their agreement to undertake this task, so that s/he has ample time to complete the review. Applicants should therefore request peer review no later than 04 June 2021 GMT. Any applicant who has not made contact with a peer reviewer by then will not be considered for an IAS Fellowship. A supportive review from a Durham academic is crucial in terms of ensuring that the Fellow’s proposed work is of strategic benefit to Durham University. Further details about how to locate an appropriate reviewer are provided below.

Application Materials

Letter of Application

The letter of application must state which period applicants would like to spend at Durham (October – December 2022 or January – March 2023). If either period is suitable, please indicate).

Academics whose Universities do not provide sabbatical leave are eligible to apply for teaching buy-out costs of up to £8,000 (for the three month period). Practitioners can similarly apply for funding to cover loss of income. If such a teaching buy-out or contribution is required, a costing must be included with the application. This cannot be done retrospectively (i.e. once an offer of a Fellowship has been made).

Buy-out covers teaching replacement at a junior level. In due course, should the IAS offer a Fellowship, a letter from the applicant’s home institution will be required supporting the applicant’s claim. The buy-out costs of salaried Fellows will be paid to their home institutions. Fellows who are self-employed will be reimbursed directly.

Applicants must indicate in the letter of application if they will be accompanied by a spouse or partner and/or if they have a family that will be travelling with them. However, accommodation suitable for families is limited, and the IAS cannot guarantee that such family accommodation will be provided. The IAS cannot cover the costs of family travel, family subsistence costs or any additional costs relating to family members during the fellowship period.

Finally, applicants must indicate in the letter of application how they were made aware of the Fellowship (word of month; via their own institution; website etc.).

Curriculum Vitae/Resume

The Curriculum Vitae/Resume should include evidence of research interests and career to date, international recognition, impact in the field and experience in interdisciplinary research.

References

References must be from suitable colleagues external to the applicant’s own institution. They should be emailed by referees directly to the IAS Manager (see below) by the appropriate deadline on 25 June 2021. The IAS will not make any request for references, including any not received by the application deadline. No applications will be considered without the provision of two references by the application deadline (25 June 2021). Applicants should therefore ensure that their referees are made fully aware of the deadline and conditions of application. References should include comments about: the applicant's standing in their particular field; the quality of the applicant's research; the level of recognition that has been received for this research; the quality of the proposed research to be undertaken at Durham; the applicant’s interdisciplinary experience; comment upon and the degree to which the applicant would contribute to and benefit from being in an interdisciplinary community of Fellows; and elaborate on the applicant’s collegiality/teamwork).

Fellowship Proposal

The Fellowship proposal (c.500-1000 words) should describe the activities planned whilst holding an IAS Fellowship, the contacts and contribution envisaged in Durham. Applicants should take into consideration the evaluation criteria when completing the proposal. This proposal must be submitted with the application letter and CV.

The Fellowship proposal detail must also be uploaded to the pro forma (see bottom of page) and sent to an appropriate Durham academic no later than 04 June 2021 GMT. Applicants must seek agreement in advance from a Durham scholar, that s/he will undertake peer review. Durham Peer Reviewers will return the completed pro forma by the application deadline of 5pm GMT 25 June 2021. If the Durham academic agrees to act as Reviewer, he/she will complete the relevant section of the pro forma and return it directly to the IAS (not to the applicant). Please note: all applicants are expected to seek an appropriate peer reviewer themselves; the IAS will not undertake this task.

The IAS recommends using the Find an expert section of Durham University’s research directory. This has a tool for searching the Research Directory. Here applicants can search for a particular research topic and find associated staff members and publications.

Further sources of information include:

Application Evaluation

All applications will be evaluated by the IAS Fellowship Selection Committee according to the following criteria:

Criterion 1. International standing and contribution of the candidate to the field, as appropriate to the career stage of the candidate (40%)
Criterion 2. Quality of the proposed research activities while at the IAS (30%)
Criterion 3. Contribution to the wider scholarly community at Durham (20%)
Criterion 4. Experience in carrying out/leading interdisciplinary research (10%)

The sources of information for assessing applications include the application materials (including references) provided by the applicant, publicly accessible information (including published articles or books, works of art etc.) and advice sought from peer reviewers.

In selecting the final list of successful Fellows, the Selection Committee will also take into account:

the limit of 10 Fellowships in each of the Oct-Dec and Jan-March periods;
the geographical and disciplinary diversity of the Fellows in each period;

Decisions for the 2022/23 recruitment phase will be communicated by email only by the end of October 2021.

Closing Date

The closing date for applications to the IAS Fellowship scheme for 2022/23 is 5pm GMT 25 June 2021. Applications must be emailed/ to the IAS Manager at ias.manager@durham.ac.uk no later than this date/time. No applications lacking any of the required material will be considered.
Email: ias.manager@durham.ac.uk

Tel: +44(0)191 3344686
Fax: +44(0)191 3344699

Should applicants wish to discuss informally matters relating to the IAS Fellowships in general they are welcome to contact the IAS Manager, Linda Crowe, or the Executive Director, Professor Veronica Strang. The other Directors, Professor Alex Easton (Psychology), Professor Nicholas Saul (Modern Languages and Cultures), Professor László Polos (Business) and Professor Rob Barton (Anthropology), are also available for informal consultation.

Additional Relevant Web Addresses

https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/advanced-study/
https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/advanced-study/fellowships-funding/ias-fellowships/
https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/advanced-study/fellowships-funding//apply/

2022/23 Projects

Fellowship Research Proposal Proforma

Guidance for Referees

The Durham IAS hosts a Distinguished Fellowship scheme aiming to host 20 stellar international scholars each year. The selection criteria aim at the highest level. Fellows are expected to be international, world-leading researchers (or practitioners, such as writers, artists, policy makers etc.) They must have a very well-established or strongly emerging international reputation; they must have made major contributions to their field; they must have a substantial publication record (or equivalent achievements); and they must be able to provide substantial evidence of research leadership and/or public impact. They are expected to have played a significant role in shaping their discipline or field through their outputs, achievements and indicators of esteem.

In providing a reference for potential Fellowship applicants and nominees, it would be therefore be helpful if referees could respond to the following questions.

Is the applicant/nominee recognised internationally as a world-leading scholar?
What are the major contributions they have made to their field?
Do they have a substantial track-record of publication (or equivalent achievements) that demonstrates the quality of their work and their prominence in the field?
Have they provided research leadership or achieved significant impact in the public sphere?
How have they helped to shape their discipline or field?
Can you point to particular achievements and/or indicators of esteem that reflect the quality of their work?
Do they have substantial experience of working in interdisciplinary environments?
Can you comment on their collegiality and ability to work collaboratively?

Privacy Notice

Durham University processes information about individuals with whom it has dealings, for its own administrative purposes and to comply with its legal obligations. This includes personal data concerning current, prospective and former employees, students, suppliers, research partners and others in order to carry out our function as a university. Durham University is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of individuals in accordance with appropriate UK and European legislation.

For further information about Fellowship Application materials see:https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/.

For those applicants who are successful in their application and take up a Fellowship at Durham University, see https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnvisitors/.

For Durham University's full data protection policy, please review https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/policies/dppolicy/.