Stipendiary and Non-Stipendiary research fellowships

The College Council wishes to make elections to two Research Fellowships, each tenable for three years and not renewable, to commence on 1 September 2025. One Fellowship is intended for researchers in the Sciences (including Mathematics, Engineering and the Biological, Medical and Veterinary sciences) and the other for researchers in Historical Studies: History (ancient to contemporary); History of Art, Science or Music; Archaeology.

Research Fellowships provide opportunities for scholars at an early stage of their academic careers to establish a successful research profile. The successful candidates are expected to be either graduate students, who are expecting to submit their PhD thesis (or equivalent) no later than June 2025, or post-doctoral researchers who have completed their PhD within the last three years.

The starting stipend will be spine point 29 on the Cambridge University Pay Scale which currently equates to £25,742. There will be an increase of one spine point in each of the second and third years. If the Fellow does not hold a PhD, the stipend until the PhD is submitted will be spine point 23 which currently equates to £22,681 per year. The stipend is pensionable in the USS Pension Scheme.

Research Fellows who are keen to acquire teaching experience within the University will be supported to do so, with priority being given to undergraduate supervisions for the College, remunerated at the standard University rate. Teaching may not exceed four hours per week (up to 80 hours over the academic year).  Prior permission of the College Council is required for other paid work, and all emoluments received must be disclosed to the Council, which may reduce the stipend in the light of other income. Applications for non-stipendiary positions are welcomed from those with an alternative source of funding. 

The successful Research Fellows will be entitled to Fellows’ dining and other privileges. Single rent-free residential accommodation is usually offered which would be subject to a service charge of £109 per month. For a successful candidate not able to take advantage of the single rent-free accommodation, there is a non-pensionable annual living out allowance of £5,700. Research Fellows who do not live in College will be provided with an office. Research grants of up to £1,300 per year are available to cover research expenses, and there is an additional entertainment allowance of up to £445 per year.

The stipends quoted above are applicable to 2023-24, but are typically reviewed ahead of each academic year. The charges and allowances quoted are for 2024-25 and are also reviewed annually ahead of each academic year.

All applications, including references, must be made using the online application form on the College website: https://app.casc.cam.ac.uk/fas_live/sidrf/.   The closing date is Tuesday 1 October 2024 (noon) for the receipt of the online application and Thursday 3 October 2024 for two supporting references. The latter must also be submitted using the online form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that both referees submit the form prior to the deadline. It is planned to interview short-listed applicants on Wednesday 27 November 2024.

If the successful candidate does not already have the right to work in the UK, the College may be able to sponsor them under the Skilled Worker Visa route. This will be subject to consideration of individual circumstances and details will be discussed at the offer stage.

All enquiries should be directed to the Research Fellowship Administrator and sent to the Research Fellowship Competition, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge CB2 3HU or by e-mail to research.fellowships@sid.cam.ac.uk.

The College reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Sidney Sussex College is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes diversity amongst its students, staff, Fellows and visitors, recognising the particular contributions to the achievements of the College’s mission that can be made by individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experience.

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