In recognition of the increasing demand for Early Career Fellowships, the consistently high standard of the applications received by the Trust, and the importance of supporting researchers in the early part of their careers, the Trust Board has allocated an additional £2 million to the Research Awards Advisory Committee’s budget for Early Career Fellowships.
This additional funding means that a total of up to £7.2 million will be distributed via the scheme in 2012. It is anticipated that over 80 Fellowships will be offered. Following a strategic review of the Trust’s activities, the Trust Board has also agreed that from 2012 only three-year (36 month) Early Career Fellowships will be available.
By offering only three-year Fellowships we hope to:
- improve the research experience and career development prospects of award holders
- foster a deep commitment from the host institution to mentoring and developing the Fellow for their future career
- align the scheme more closely with other high-profile Fellowship opportunities for academics at this stage in their careers.