Restricted Call: RAEng Research Fellowships 2022/23 [apply by 30th June]

Up to £625k fellowship for outstanding early-career researchers to support them to become future research leaders in engineering.

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• Internal deadline: 30th June
• Funder deadline: 20th September
• Funding: up to £625k (80% fEC)
• Duration: 5 years

*Please note: this call is being managed in accordance with the University of Cambridge restricted calls procedure.*

The Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) has just launched their annual call for applications to the Research Fellowship scheme. The 2022/23 round accepts applications for the following research fellowship schemes:

1. Research Fellowship
2. Engineering for Development Research Fellowship (EDRF)

Important aspects of the call:

• It is a very competitive and prestigious fellowship. We would therefore encourage all applicants to read the funder’s guidance notes in detail – and pay particular attention to the ‘Why applications are unsuccessful’ section on page 23.
• The proposed research must not be an extension to the candidate’s PhD.
• Track record is one of the scheme’s assessment criteria and the candidates should demonstrate their experience/ability to plan and manage the proposed project – and their potential to become future research leaders. If possible, they should also show an established record of independent research.
• Independence in research is a key element for this scheme. RAEng are keen to fund people who clearly have the ability to build a self-sustaining and internationally-leading research group – and who have strong support from their Department.
• Novelty, vision, excellence, impact – all must be clearly explained – and all must be realistic.
• Research that has societal relevance can be advantageous.

Eligibility

• Early career researchers who have been awarded their PhD Certificate (or whose PhD has been unconditionally approved) no more than four years prior to the funder’s submission deadline. A margin of up to three months is acceptable. Extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration. 
• The proposed research project must be in an engineering subject area – as explained in the funder’s guidance notes (this includes "Medical and bioengineering")
• Applicants who applied to this scheme before and were unsuccessful are eligible to reapply.
• An important change this year: In previous rounds, applicants must not hold a permanent academic position. This eligibility criterion is no longer applicable.

Funding & Duration

The duration of a Research Fellowship is five years full time, calculated on a pro-rata basis for part-time awards. Candidates can apply for up to £625k at 80% full economic costs.

University Internal selection:

The standard application limit for the University is two nominations. However, as part of the Academy’s positive action initiative to support applicants from groups that are persistently underrepresented within UK engineering, additional two nominations will be accepted from candidates who self-identify as belonging to an underrepresented group. The Academy has identified the following groups as underrepresented in UK engineering research:

• Women
• Black people, including those with any mixed ethnicity with Black ethnic background(s)
• Disabled people

Therefore, this call will be managed according to the University’s restricted calls policy.

As part of this process, departments are not capped on the number of submissions to the internal selection process – however, all candidates must be ranked by their department. Once ranked, departments should send their nominations to researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk by 30 June 2022. 

Applications from the Department of Engineering should be submitted and ranked by Divisions. 

All internal nominations should include:

1. Information about departmental ranking.
2. The attached internal selection form.
3. Applicant’s brief CV (up to 3 pages).

• Applicants are asked not to include personal information in the CV (e.g. gender, date of birth, nationality).
• The CV should include a list of publications that are most significant/relevant to the proposal.
• DORA principles should be considered when presenting research outputs.

4. A support letter from the Head of the Department (for Engineering: Head of Division). Following the funder’s instructions on the letter (funder’s guidance notes, section 6, page 19) the letter should demonstrate:
   
   1. that the department is capable of fully supporting the proposed researcher and their engineering-focused research project;
   2. suitability of the applicant;
   3. alignment of the proposed project with the department’s research strategy and priorities;
   4. details about mentoring, resources, and support that will be provided to the applicant if successful;
   5. details of career development support offered to the candidate if successful;
   6. details of how the department adopts a proactive approach in encouraging researchers from underrepresented groups to apply;
   7. evidence of the department’s commitment to equality and diversity.

If possible, the letter should be no longer than 2 pages (in line with the funder’s requirements).

Funder deadline: 20 September 2022 (4pm UK time).

If you have any questions, please contact: researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk.

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Apply (see above)

Originally published by the University of Camrbidge Research Strategy Office: https://www.research-strategy.admin.cam.ac.uk/research-funding/restricted-calls