ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship

Past Calls

ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship 2024

The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership invites applications for up to four, one-year Postdoctoral Fellowships to commence on 1 October 2024. The fellows will be based at one of our partner institutions: Brunel University London, The Open University or the University of Oxford. 

Fellowships are aimed at those in the immediate postdoctoral stage of their career, to provide the opportunity to consolidate their PhD and prepare for the next stage of their research careers. This is likely to be a research career in academia; however, those with a clearly articulated programme of activities to support their transition to a research career outside of academia (e.g. a researcher in public, private, or civil society organisations) will also be considered.

Proposals are welcome from single or multi-disciplinary backgrounds but the fellowship activities must be aligned to one of the Grand Union DTP’s 23 thematic pathways and based at least 50% within the social sciences.

Grants will cover salary costs, and candidates can apply for up to £10,000 to support mentoring costs and additional research activity (eg. travel conference attendance, training, and fieldwork). As a general guide, mentor costs will be around £4,000 and candidates can apply for around £6,000 for additional activity. 

Fellows must be based in a Department or academic unit that is a host for the relevant pathway (these are listed on the individual pathway pages).

Eligibility

The call will be open to applicants who have undertaken their PhD at a UK research organisation and the fellowship must be held at a research organisation that is part of a DTP eligible to participate in this initiative and aligned to an accredited subject area: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/esrc-postdoctoral-fellowships/. At the application submission deadline (16 May 2024), the applicant must either have been awarded a PhD or have submitted their thesis and passed their viva voce with minor corrections, with the expectation that the PhD will be awarded by the fellowship start date (expected to be 01 October 2024).

Grants are restricted to those with no more than 12 months of active postdoctoral experience. This is measured from the applicant's viva voce pass date to the application deadline of 16 May 2024.

Application Process

Full details on the scheme are available below in the ESRC Call Specification and FAQ Documents. This year, there will be a two-stage competition:

1. An expression of interest stage
2. A full application stage.

Candidates should identify the DTP pathway to which they would be aligned and consult the relevant department/academic unit about potential applications to ensure compliance. Details are available on the specific Pathway Page.

Fellows are required to have a mentor who is a senior colleague based at the University and in the pathway where the Fellowship is held. The mentor, wherever possible, should not be the PhD supervisor. If you need help identifying a suitable mentor, please contact the relevant Pathway Lead. 

OSGA holds an annual internal competition to decide which application will be put forward under the scheme. Those who are interested in applying for this scheme should note that following the procedure:

1) Expression of Interest Stage

Applicants should submit their Expression of interest form, CV (2x sides of A4 maximum, font size 11) and Case for support (6 sides of A4 maximum, font size 11) - please see form -  to research@area.ox.ac.uk if they wish to be considered by OSGA.   The deadline for submitting the documents for the Expression of Interest to research@area.ox.ac.uk is midday 20 March 2024. 

Interested Applicants will receive a confirmation by 11 April 2024 from OSGA if they are to be asked to submit the application in full.

2) Full Application Stage

If invited by the OSGA to submit a full application, an application form and all required documents detailed in the ESRC Call Specification must be submitted as a single pdf via the relevant department/academic unit by midday on 16 May 2024 to granduniondtp@socsci.ox.ac.uk. The DTP will not accept applications submitted directly by candidates. 

In order to support ESRC equality and diversity monitoring, applicants are also asked to complete and return an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form separately to the main application. Information received will be anonymised, will not form part of any selection process and will not be disclosed to the selection panel or department/academic unit.

The Grand Union DTP will peer review the proposals and make funding decisions on behalf of the ESRC by the end of June 2024.

Full details on the scheme and application process may be found on the Grand Union DTP website. 

Requests for further information are welcome. Please, contact reserach@area.ox.ac.uk, Francesca Tucci, OSGA Research Development Officer

ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship 2023

The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership is pleased to invite applications for ESRC-funded postdoctoral Fellowships to commence on 1 October 2023. They will be based at one of our partner institutions: Brunel University London, The Open University, or the University of Oxford.

Fellowships are aimed at those in the immediately postdoctoral stage of their career, to provide the opportunity to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills. Proposals are welcome from single or multi-disciplinary backgrounds but the fellowship activities must be aligned to one of the Grand Union DTP’s 23 thematic pathways and based at least 50% within the social sciences.

Eligibility

The call is open to applicants who have undertaken their PhD at a research organisation that is part of an ESRC-funded DTP. . At the application deadline (23 March 2023), the applicant must either have been awarded a PhD or have submitted their thesis and passed their viva voce with minor corrections, with the expectation that the Ph.D. will be awarded by the fellowship start date (expected to be 01 October 2023). 

Grants are restricted to those with no more than 12 months of active postdoctoral experience, between passing their viva and the application deadline of 23 March 2023.

Application Process

OSGA holds an annual internal competition to decide which application(s) will be put forward under the scheme. Those who are interested to apply for this scheme should note that following the OSGA internal application procedure:

• By 17 January 2023, please submit your 2-page CV, a draft of the application form available on the Grand Union DTP website, the Case of Support, and a supporting statement from a potential mentor, a current member of the School to research@area.ox.ac.uk and cc francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk. 
• By 22 February 2023 (updated date), the shortlisted candidates will be invited to send the first draft of their complete application and all the related supporting documents required by the funder and available on the Grand Union DTP website
• By 14 March 2023, the selected proposals will be invited to send the final application and all the related supporting documents required by the funder to research@area.ox.ac.uk  and in CC francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk. 

Selected applications forms and required documents will be submitted as a single pdf via the department by 16.00 on 23 March 2023 to granduniondtp@socsci.ox.ac.uk.

The Grand Union DTP will peer review the proposals and make funding decisions on behalf of the ESRC by end of June 2023.

Full details on the scheme and application process may be found on the Grand Union DTP website. 

Requests for further information are welcome. Please, contact reserach@area.ox.ac.uk, Francesca Tucci, OSGA Research Development Officer

ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship 2022

The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership is pleased to invite applications for ESRC-funded postdoctoral Fellowships to commence 1 October 2022. They will be based at one of our partner institutions: Brunel University London, The Open University or the University of Oxford.

Fellowships are aimed at those in the immediately postdoctoral stage of their career, to provide the opportunity to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills. Proposals are welcome from single or multi-disciplinary backgrounds but the fellowship activities must be aligned to one of the Grand Union DTP’s 23 thematic pathways and based at least 50% within the social sciences.

Eligibility

The call is open to applicants who have completed their PhD at a research organisation that is part of an ESRC-funded  DTP or CDT. At the application deadline (23 March 2022), the applicant must either have been awarded a PhD or have submitted their thesis and passed their viva voce with minor corrections, with the expectation that the PhD will be awarded by the fellowship start date (expected to be 01 October 2022). 

Grants are restricted to those with no more than 12 months of active postdoctoral experience, between passing their viva and the application deadline of 23 March 2022.

Application Process

OSGA holds an annual internal competition to decide which application(s) will be put forward under the scheme. Those who are interested to apply for this scheme should note that following the OSGA internal application procedure:

• By 17 January 2022, please submit your 2-page CV, a draft of the application form available on the Grand Union DTP website, the Case of Support, and a supporting statement from a potential mentor, a current member of the School to research@area.ox.ac.uk and cc francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk. Applicants will be informed within 10 days if they have been shortlisted.
• By 14 February 2022, the shortlisted candidates will be invited to send the first draft of their complete application and all the related supporting documents required by the funder and available on the Grand Union DTP website
• By 14 March 2022, the selected proposals will be invited to send the final application and all the related supporting documents required by the funder to research@area.ox.ac.uk  and in CC francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk. 

Selected applications forms and required documents will be submitted as a single pdf via the department by 16.00 on 23 March 2022 to granduniondtp@socsci.ox.ac.uk.

Full details on the scheme and application process may be found on the Grand Union DTP website. 

Requests for further information are welcome. Please, contact Francesca Tucci, OSGA Research Development Officer (francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk)

ESRC Poctoral Fellowship 2021

The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership is pleased to invite applications for ESRC-funded postdoctoral Fellowships to commence 1 October 2021. They will be based at one of our partner institutions: Brunel University London, The Open University or the University of Oxford.

Fellowships are aimed at those in the immediately postdoctoral stage of their career, to provide the opportunity to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills.

Proposals are welcome from single or multi-disciplinary backgrounds but the fellowship activities must be aligned to one of the Grand Union DTP’s 23 thematic pathways and based at least 50% within the social sciences.

Eligibility

The call is open to applicants who have completed their PhD at a research organisation that is part of an ESRC-funded  DTP or CDT. At the application deadline (23 March 2021), the applicant must either have been awarded a PhD or have submitted their thesis and passed their viva voce with minor corrections, with the expectation that the PhD will be awarded by the fellowship start date. Grants are restricted to those with no more than 12 months of active postdoctoral experience, between passing their viva and the application deadline of 23 March 2021.

Application Process

The Department is restricted to supporting a maximum of three applications to this very popular call, and will therefore run an internal competition to determine which applications will proceed.  The Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) internal deadline for outline proposals will be by 16.00 on 15th February 2021. The outline proposal for the Department deadline should consist of a 2-page CV, a draft of the application form available on the Grand Union DTP website, the Case of Support and a supporting statement from a potential mentor, current member of the School. Please, send the outline proposals to research@area.ox.ac.uk and cc francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk. Applicants will be informed within 10 days if they have been shortlisted.

Applicants that will be shortlisted by the School to submit an application should consider the following further deadlines:

• OSGA deadline - 1st draft review:  5th March 2021 (updated)

• OSGA deadline - 2nd draft review: 15th March 2021 (updated)
• Funder (Doctoral Training Centre) deadline: The complete application form and required documents must be submitted as a single pdf to the School to research@area.ox.ac.uk and cc francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk  department by 9 am on 19 March 2021.

An application form and required documents must be submitted as a single pdf via the department by 16.00 on 23 March 2021 to granduniondtp@socsci.ox.ac.uk.

Full details on the scheme and application process may be found on the Grand Union DTP website. 

Requests for further information are welcome. Please, contact Francesca Tucci, OSGA Research Development Officer (francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk)

Call for Applicants for 2020-2021

The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership is pleased to invite applications for ESRC-funded postdoctoral Fellowships to commence 1 October 2020. They will be based at one of our partner institutions: Brunel University London, The Open University or the University of Oxford.

Fellowships are aimed at those in the immediately postdoctoral stage of their career, to provide the opportunity to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills.

Proposals are welcome from single or multi-disciplinary backgrounds but the fellowship activities must be aligned to one of the Grand Union DTP’s 23 thematic pathways and based at least 50% within the social sciences.

The DTP expects to award six Fellowships, at least one of which must be aligned with the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, either by addressing skills gaps (eg. through use of advanced quantitative methods and/or data skills) or a programme of activities that involves direct engagement with partners in business and industry (eg. project collaboration or a placement).

Eligibility

The call is open to applicants who have completed their PhD at a research organisation that is part of an ESRC-funded  DTP or CDT. At the application deadline (23 March 2020), the applicant must either have been awarded a PhD or have submitted their thesis and passed their viva voce with minor corrections, with the expectation that the PhD will be awarded by the fellowship start date.

Application Process

The Department is restricted to supporting a maximum of three applications to this very popular call, and will therefore run an internal competition to determine which applications will precede.  The Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) internal deadline for outline proposals will be by 16.00 on 4th February 2020. The outline proposal for the Department deadline should consist of a 2-page CV, a draft of the application form available on the Grand Union DTP website, the Case of Support and a supporting statement from a potential mentor - a current member of the School. Please, send the outline proposals to research@area.ox.ac.uk and cc francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk. Applicants will be informed within 10 days if they have been shortlisted.

Applicants that will be shortlisted by the School to submit an application should consider the following further deadlines:

• OSGA deadline - 1st draft review:  27th  February 2020

• OSGA deadline - 2nd draft review: 10 March 2020
• Funder (Doctoral Training Centre) deadline: The complete application form and required documents must be submitted as a single pdf to the School to research@area.ox.ac.uk and cc francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk  department by  noon on 19 March 2020.

An application form and required documents must be submitted as a single pdf via the department  by 16.00 on 23 March 2020 to granduniondtp@socsci.ox.ac.uk.

Full details on the scheme and application process may be found on the Grand Union DTP website. 

Requests for further information are welcome. Please, contact Francesca Tucci, OSGA Research Development Officer (francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk)

Call for Applicants for 2019-20

The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership is pleased to invite applications for ESRC-funded postdoctoral Fellowships to commence 1 October 2019. They will be based at one of our partner institutions: Brunel University London, The Open University or the University of Oxford.

Fellowships are aimed at those in the immediately postdoctoral stage of their career, to provide the opportunity to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills. Proposals are welcome from single or multi-disciplinary backgrounds but the fellowship activities must be aligned to one of the Grand Union DTP’s 24 thematic pathways and based at least 50% within the social sciences.

The DTP expects to award six Fellowships, at least one of which must be aligned with the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, either by addressing skills gaps (eg. through use of advanced quantitative methods and/or data skills) or a programme of activities that involves direct engagement with partners in business and industry (eg. project collaboration or a placement).

Eligibility

The call is open to applicants who have completed their PhD at a research organisation that is part of an ESRC-funded DTP or CDT. At the application deadline (22 March 2019), the applicant must either have been awarded a PhD or have submitted their thesis and passed their viva voce with minor corrections, with the expectation that the PhD will be awarded by the fellowship start date.

Application process

The University’s deadline is 22nd March and each department is only able to submit three applications.

The Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) will therefore have an internal deadline based on outline proposals and the three selected applicants will then receive additional support to complete their applications.  The OSGA deadline for outline proposals will be by 16.00 on 10 February 2019. The outline proposal for the Department deadline should consist of a 2-page CV, a draft of the application form available on the Grand Union DTP website and of the Case of Support and a supporting statement from a potential mentor - a current member of the School. Please, send the outline proposals to francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk. Applicants will be informed within 10 days  if they have been shortlisted.

Please, consider the following deadlines:

• OSGA deadline - 1st draft review: 28 February 2019
• OSGA deadline - 2nd draft review: 11 March 2019
• Funder (Doctoral Training Centre) deadline: An application form and required documents must be submitted as a single pdf via the relevant department by  16.00 on 22 March 2019  

Full details on the scheme and application process may be found on the Grand Union DTP website.

Requests for further information are welcome.  Please contact Francesca Tucci, OSGA Research Officer (francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk).

ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship 2018 (SIAS Deadline: 22^nd Feb 2018 – University Deadline 23^rd March 2018)

The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership invites applications for three ESRC-funded postdoctoral fellowships to be based at one of our partner institutions: Brunel University London, the Open University or the University of Oxford.

Fellowships are aimed at those in the immediately postdoctoral stage of their career, to provide the opportunity to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills.

The call is open to applicants who have undertaken their PhD at a research organisation that is part of an ESRC-funded DTP or CDT, and who are within 12 months of completing their PhD.  At the submission deadline, the applicant must either have been awarded a PhD or have submitted their thesis and passed their viva voce with minor corrections, with the expectation that the PhD will be awarded by the fellowship start date of 1 October 2018.

Proposals are welcome from single or multi-disciplinary backgrounds but the fellowship activities must be aligned to one of the Grand Union DTP’s 24 thematic pathways and based at least 50% within the social sciences.

All applicants must submit proposals via the relevant department/academic unit on the provided submission form along with required attachments as a single pdf by 16.00 on 23 March 2018 to gudtp-pdf@socsci.ox.ac.uk.  The Grand Union DTP will peer review the proposals and make funding decisions on behalf of ESRC by June 2018. Full details about the call are available on Visit the Grand Union website. For general queries, please contact: gudtp-pdf@socsci.ox.ac.uk

SIAS Internal Selection Process

The School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies is running an internal selection process based on outline proposal to select up the three applications to submit within the University’s deadline on 16.00 on 23 March 2018.

The SIAS internal deadline to submit outline proposal to administrator@area.ox.ac.uk and in CC francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk is on 22^nd February 2018.  The outline proposal should consist of your CV, a 2-pages proposal and a supporting statement from a potential mentor in the School.  The applicant will be informed within 10 working days if they have been shortlisted and they should submit to the School the final draft of the proposal for the SIAS Research Committee approval with 9^th March 2018.

Requests for further information are welcome.  Please contact Francesca Tucci, Research Officer (francesca.tucci@area.ox.ac.uk).).