Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship: 2023 scheme

King’s College London welcomes expressions of interest from exceptional applicants who wish to apply for a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship  (ECF) with King’s College London as their host organisation.

The deadline for receipt of expressions of interest is 5pm on the 5^th September 2022; see details below.

About the scheme

The Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship scheme is open to candidates who hold either a degree from a UK higher education institution, or a non-permanent role at a UK HEI which begins no later than October 2022.  It provides a three-year fellowship in any area supported by the Trust, including the Fellow's salary and up to £6k per annum in research costs.  Please note the Trust does not support research into disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals; nor research intended to inform clinical practice or the development of medical applications.

These fellowships are for early career academics who have not yet held a permanent position in a UK HEI, and who hold a doctorate submitted on or after 23 February 2019 (earlier submission only if the candidate has subsequently had a career break; or on or after 23 February 2018 if their work has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic). Individuals should use the eligibility and person specification guidance in the Leverhulme scheme notes to establish their suitability for the scheme. Applicants are encouraged to think about how and why their proposed programme necessitates a Leverhulme ECF rather than a project grant or alternative postdoctoral fellowship; and why King’s College London is an appropriate host for them and their research project.

We welcome EOIs to the following Faculties and disciplinary areas:

The Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy: We welcome outstanding applications in research which connects with fields beyond the social sciences (e.g. technology, engineering, law, business, psychology, physical sciences), and/or projects that align with the College research strategy themes of Environment & Sustainability and Digital Research & Data. The Faculty expects all applicants to have established a relationship with a proposed mentor and be able to articulate the benefits of undertaking the Fellowship in our Faculty compared to another institution; EOIs which remain speculative on either point will not be supported.

The Dickson Poon School of Law: We welcome applications in areas of legal research including Environmental Law; Transnational Law; Equality; Sociolegal and Interdisciplinary Legal Studies; Legal Theory; Digital Law; Criminal Justice; European, International and Comparative Law; Corporate and Commercial Law; Private Law, Medical Ethics and Health Law.

King’s Business School: We welcome applications in research including Digitalisation: Reshaping Innovation & Entrepreneurship; Global Business for a Sustainable World; Governance, Risk & Regulation; Rethinking the Future of Work, Public Services & Business; Reducing Social & Economic Inequalities.

Expressions of interest

The significant support of the host institution is a critical component of these fellowships. As such, King’s has an internal process for identifying potential applicants to this scheme. Those interested in applying for a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship at King’s College London should email susanna.cornick-willis@kcl.ac.uk with the following details:

• Your full name
• Your current research status and affiliation
• Expected host department
• Confirmation that you have contacted & agreed in-principle support from a suitable mentor within your expected host department
• A CV (2pp)
• A Case for Support describing the proposed area of interest, ensuring it reflects the areas set out above; the proposed research project; an outline workplan; and reasons for choosing King’s as your host institution, including areas of research and individuals whose work complements your proposed project (2-4pp)
• Confirmation of your eligibility, reflecting the Leverhulme’s eligibility criteria

Applications must be received by 5pm on 5th September 2022 at the latest. If you have any queries about the process, or wish to contact a host department please email Camilla.Darling@kcl.ac.uk; note that we welcome conversations about the detail of the research areas set out above as you develop an EOI.  After assessment by KCL, selected candidates will be invited to develop a full application with KCL as their host institution, submitting this to the Leverhulme Trust by the 23^rd February 2023.

Please note that if your disciplinary area is not set out above, KCL is not inviting EOIs in that area this year. If you need any guidance about the expectations for applicants or for mentors please see the Leverhulme guidance at this link [https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/early-career-fellowships] or contact KCL as above.