RENKEI Early Career Researcher Fellowships

The programme will focus on the researcher response to the interdisciplinary, global challenge of climate adaptation and resilience across the following RENKEI themes:

• Future risks and adaptation in floods and water shortage
• Future risks and adaptation in food production and security
• Managing future risks and building resilience in urban areas
• Future risks and adaption in ecosystems
• Future risks and adaption in human health

The network will consist of a cohort of up to 36 Early Career Researchers coming together for a programme of cohort-based virtual events, individual virtual mentoring fellowships, an in-person 1 week Winter School in Kyoto, Japan and opportunities for extended UK/Japan visits and small project funding.

The RENKEI programme will have a variety of events in 2022 and early 2023 that will bring together the members of the network to advance relationships and build collaborations. The main programme events that will occur are as follows:

• Virtual Mentor and ECR Conference: 22 September 2022, 8-10am UK 4-6pm Japan.
• In-person Winter School at Kyoto University, from 28 November to 2 December 2022.
• Virtual RENKEI Programme Closing Conference, 3 March 2023, 8-10am UK 4-6pm Japan.

All fellows must attend all events in the programme and be willing and available to fully commit to the programme opportunities.

Application Process for Durham ECRs:

Prospective fellows should complete the application form and submit it along with a two-page CV to international.partnerships@durham.ac.uk by 12 noon on 18th July 2022. 

Application form: RENKEI application IHRR

After an internal selection at your home institution, the RENKEI Fellowship and Winter School organising committee will make the final selection of fellows based upon the below application criteria, disciplinary and thematic spread, equality, diversity and inclusion considerations and match to the available mentors. Up to 3 fellows per RENKEI member institution will be selected. 

Application Criteria

• For the purposes of this programme the definition of ECR will not be rigidly defined and prospective fellows should judge for themselves whether they would derive value from taking part in the programme. As a rough guide, second year of PhD through to around 5 years post-PhD is the broad expected range, but level of experience may differ if the prospective fellow is looking to change focus or work in a different way.
• Applicants who will likely derive most benefit from the Fellowship and show clear interest and enthusiasm from taking part will be prioritised.
• Priority will also be given to those applicants whose research best fits the climate adaption and resilience thematic areas listed above.
• All candidates must commit to attending all of the main RENKEI programme events - the virtual Mentor and ECR Conference, the in-person Winter School at Kyoto University and the virtual Closing Conference.
• Applicants must have the support of their primary supervisor/line manager and their suitability will be judged partly on the strength of their statement of support.

Benefits of being a RENKEI Fellow

• Attendance at the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Winter School in Kyoto University, Japan and the virtual pre and post School conferences
• Opportunity to work with and learn from academic mentor(s) in climate adaptation and resilience from Japan and the UK
• Networking with peers across the RENKEI member universities from a variety of disciplines
• Opportunity to apply for further funding for travel to the UK/Japan and/or project seedcorn funds
• Access to career enhancing professional development opportunities and training