21/10/21
The Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics welcomes applications from potential applicants for the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship Scheme 2021-22.
The scheme provides prestigious three-year fellowships awards for researchers who are near the start of their post-doctoral career. Leverhulme specify that all candidates must hold a doctorate or have equivalent research experience by the time they take up the Fellowship. Those who are or have been registered for a doctorate at any time may apply only if they have submitted their doctoral thesis no earlier than 24th February 2018 (unless they have had a career break) and not later than 4pm on 24th February 2022. NB: Due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the Trust will accept applications from candidates who submitted their doctoral thesis for examination up to five years prior to the closing date if they can make a case for their work having been impacted by the pandemic. Hence those who formally submitted their doctoral thesis for viva voce examination between 24 February 2017 and 24 February 2018 are eligible to apply if their work has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and they should explain their case in their application.
The Leverhulme Trust provides full funding for the Fellowship's first year salary costs (for those commencing their Fellowship in 2022-23) and half of the salary costs for the following two years, up to a maximum of £25,000 in each year (plus a contribution to research expenses). In Cambridge, an internal competition provides matching funding from the Isaac Newton Trust.
Applications are made over two stages. As the Leverhulme Trust provides only part of the salary cost for these fellowships, application must be made initially to the Isaac Newton Trust for match-funding. The Isaac Newton Trust runs an internal competition to decide which candidates can be offered matching funding.
If you hope to hold the award in the Faculty of MMLL, you should apply to take part in the competition for INT matching funding by the deadline of 5pm on Wednesday 22nd December 2021.
You are strongly encouraged to contact and discuss your plans with a proposed mentor from MMLL, who would follow your work if you are awarded the Fellowship.
Applications should consist of the following documents:
• A completed cover sheet, available from the Isaac Newton Trust website
• A CV (not exceeding two sides of A4) • A draft of the three items required for the Leverhulme application:
1. A list of major publications (not exceeding one side of A4)
2. A statement of current research (maximum 250 words)
3. A detailed statement of proposed research (two sides of A4)
Two letters of reference are needed, one of which should be external to Cambridge. The second reference can be either internal or external to Cambridge. Please ask your referees to send references directly to Sarah Stanbridge, Faculty research administrator (researchadmin@mmll.cam.ac.uk) by the closing date (5pm on Wednesday 22nd December).
(NB. If you are selected by the INT to be submitted to the Leverhulme competition, three references will be required at that stage, with a maximum of one from Cambridge.)
In line with the Leverhulme Trust's intention that these fellowships should encourage mobility between institutions, we welcome applicants from outside Cambridge. Since we need to demonstrate the relevance of research to the Faculty, applicants are encouraged to state briefly why it would be beneficial to them to work in Cambridge, and what they would hope to contribute to our research culture and (where appropriate) teaching. For this purpose, they should normally expect in advance of their application to contact a member of the Faculty with interests in their field; (that person, however, need not be a referee for the applicant).
Applications should be sent to Sarah Stanbridge (researchadmin@mmll.cam.ac.uk) by 5pm on Wednesday 22nd December 2021.
Full details of the Leverhulme ECF scheme including eligibility criteria are available on the Leverhulme Trust website.
