Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowship (EXPIRED)

In order to maintain our position at the forefront of academia, Professor Sir Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, has created up to twenty Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowship positions, one of which is available in the Department of Philosophy. These are open to candidates with a track record of the highest calibre research and who have the potential to be research leaders of the future in any academic area. Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowships support researchers in the development of their programme of research. We particularly encourage: research proposals of an interdisciplinary nature that cross boundaries between different fields of research; pioneering proposals that address new and emerging fields of research; and proposals that introduce unconventional, innovative approaches and scientific inventions.   

As a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow you will use your research, skills, knowledge and expertise to contribute and complement the aims of your Department. Your immediate priority will be to establish a programme of personal research, which will attract external funding, in order to develop research of international standing. You will build, lead and manage your programme of research, undertake a significant piece of publishable research, and commit significant time and effort in managing future research activity. 

You will develop your reputation through publication in the highest-quality journals (or other appropriate form of publication as appropriate to your discipline) and attendance at national and international conferences, along with a range of other professional activities. You will be an active contributor to the University’s research community and will take on supervision and leadership roles commensurate with your skills and experience. You will supervise and provide pastoral care or guidance to students, and engage in teaching and administration duties associated with PhD supervision. You will be expected to work toward gaining Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and will be expected to align your work to departmental teaching and administrative duties. You will help to raise the profile of the University through civic engagement activities. As a Fellow you will be both aspirational about your career and inspirational to others. You will place strong emphasis on your personal development by committing to a rigorous development plan. 

You must show the potential for research independence and evidence of research maturity.  A PhD in a relevant subject area is essential. You must have produced and published at least one important publication without the participation of your PhD supervisor (at the time of application). You should demonstrate a promising track record of early achievements appropriate to your research field and career stage, including significant publications (as main author) in your respective field. You may also be able to demonstrate a record of invited presentations at well-established international conferences, and awards of grants and prizes. 

A Research Support Grant will be provided to support your preliminary research. The amount awarded will be decided on a case-by-case basis, and determined by your estimation of research ‘running costs’ in the first eighteen months of appointment. In all cases, £3,000 will be ring-fenced for costs associated with the publication and dissemination of your research. You will be supported individually and as a cohort, through monthly personal and professional development training. You will be mentored by an internationally excellent academic who is around ten years ahead in career terms. After the four-year Fellowship period of this post you will become a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer.