Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships 2021

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Deadline: 3 March 2021
Open to: research Chairs are professorial appointments, so applicants should already be a professor or equivalent. Senior Research Fellowships are senior academic appointments, so applicants should already be a Reader or Lecturer level or equivalent.
Benefits: funding available

Description

Applications are open for the RAEng Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships 2021. This scheme aims to strengthen the links between industry and academia by supporting exceptional academics in UK universities to undertake use-inspired research that meets the needs of the industrial partners.

Awardees are expected to:

  • Establish or enhance a world leading engineering research group.
  • Deliver ‘use-inspired’ research that meets the needs of their industrial partners.
  • Disseminate the outcomes of their research for appropriate academic impact.
  • Become a self-sustaining research group by the end of the award (by securing substantial external grant income: RCUK, EU, industry, charities, etc.).

Eligibility

  • Awards can only be held at UK universities.
  • All such awards made in this round must start on September 1, 2021.
  • Research Chairs are professorial appointments, so applicants should already be a professor or equivalent.
  • Senior Research Fellowships are senior academic appointments, so applicants should already be a Reader or Lecturer level or equivalent.
  • It is expected that applicants should be able to demonstrate an outstanding research profile including a proven track record in securing external grant income (RCUK, EU, industry, charities, etc) and developing collaborations.
  • Applications are welcome from any engineering discipline. Engineering is defined in its broadest sense, encompassing a wide range of diverse fields, including computer science and materials.
  • The duration of an award is five years, normally on a full-time basis. The industrial sponsor must commit to fund the entire five-year period. Applications for shorter time periods will not be accepted
  • The industrial sponsor must have a significant base in the UK. Usually no more than a maximum of two industrial sponsors per application would be allowable.
  • In special circumstances the ‘industrial sponsor’ may be another funding body such as a charity or government department. In such cases, the funding body is subject to the same terms and conditions as an industrial sponsor, and must also demonstrate suitable pathways to impact in order to exploit research outcomes
  • The industrial sponsor should contribute at least £250,000 towards this collaborative research project over the five-year period. The amount of funding the industrial sponsor is willing to contribute is an important assessment criterion, being an indicator of the level of commitment to the post and the level of ambition for the group to be created
  • The university is expected to have already identified an appropriate collaborative research project and secured the support of an industrial partner prior to submitting an application
  • This research programme will naturally align with the interests of the industrial sponsor and its ‘use-inspired research’ should be underpinned by world-class basic research. This collaborative research proposal must be of mutual benefit to both industry and academic partners. Please note that it is not a contract research or consultancy agreement.

Benefits

In this round, the Academy’s contribution will be capped at a maximum of £45k per annum which equates to a total of £225k over five years.

  • The awardee will be provided with a mentor (a Fellow of the Academy) to provide independent expert advice and guidance on research related matters throughout the duration of the award.
  • Networking opportunities with and through the Academy’s Fellowship and events programme.
  • Training and additional funding opportunities provided by the Academy,
  • The awardee can spend no more than 4 hours per week on teaching/administration duties enabling them to focus on delivering use-inspired research, that creates impact for their industrial sponsor

How to apply?

You must discuss your proposal with your Dean/Pro Vice-Chancellor, the research grants office and the industrial co-sponsor before submitting an application. Applicants are advised to refer to the guidance notes when completing their application online. You can read the FAQ. 

For more information please visit the official website.