British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
British Academy announces record numbers of new Postdoctoral Fellowships
A record 49 outstanding researchers working across the humanities and social sciences are to receive prestigious British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships, it was announced today (18 June 2008).
The Fellowships, worth an average of £220,000 over a three year period, allow outstanding early career researchers to strengthen their experience of research in a university environment. Almost 700 researchers who have completed their PhD studies in recent years applied for the Fellowships – also a record.
The successful applicants’ proposed areas of study and research cover a wide range of academic and policy issues, from how to induce innovation in tackling climate change (Ralf Martin, London School of Economics); to a study of the processes by which infants recognise words (Nivedita Mani, University College London); and from a study of when and why the media Influences citizens( Marina Popescu, University of Essex) to the legal problems arising from EU action against terrorism (Alicia Hinarejos, University of Oxford).
Robin Jackson, Chief Executive and Secretary of the British Academy said:
"The Academy's Postdoctoral Fellowships are highly prized among researchers and it is one of our most competitive funding schemes. We are delighted to be able to make this record number of awards. I congratulate this year's successful applicants on their achievement.
“These awards make a major contribution to the development of early-career researchers, encouraging the retention of the most outstanding academic promise within higher education in the UK. The scheme delivers first-class research work and transferable skills, strengthening cultural enrichment, quality of life and economic impact. The benefits of the scheme were endorsed by the Government's 2007 spending review, which significantly increased the Academy’s funding for these Fellowships."
NOTES TO EDITORS
Published:
18 June 2008
- For further details about these Fellowships and the full range of research funding opportunities offered by the British Academy, please visit www.britac.ac.uk/funding
- For media enquiries please contact, Michael Reade, External Relations: m.reade@britac.ac.uk/ 020 7969 5263.
- Established by Royal Charter in 1902, the British Academy is an independent learned society promoting the humanities and social sciences. It is composed of Fellows elected in recognition of their distinction as scholars in the humanities and social sciences. The Academy distributes funding to support high quality research.