The College of Social Sciences (CoSS) at the University of Birmingham invites applications from exceptional candidates seeking to pursue significant, high-quality research through the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship scheme.

Our vibrant and collaborative environment within CoSS supports a growing community of early career researchers, many of whom are funded through prestigious external grants. We welcome applications to our four Schools – Education, Business, Government, and Social Policy – each of which offers exciting research opportunities and promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration. The University values inclusivity and diversity, and we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups to apply and engage with us through this scheme.

Scheme Overview

The Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships are open to candidates in the early stages of their research career who have a solid track record. Applicants should have either a degree from a UK higher education institution or be in a non-permanent role at a UK HEI, and they must be proposing to undertake a substantial piece of publishable research.

Research Scope

Leverhulme Fellowships support a broad range of research topics, except for:
- Studies of **disease, illness, and disabilities** in humans and animals.
- Research aimed at **clinical practice** or the development of **medical** or **commercial applications**.
- Research that is **advocacy-based** or explicitly policy-driven, where the primary aim is to gather evidence for **policy initiatives**.

Communication with Host School

Before applying, applicants must contact the academic leads within the relevant school to ensure their research aligns with specific areas of expertise and to identify a suitable mentor. Contact details for School leads are listed below. Applicants should clearly explain the **innovative aspects** of their research and its relevance to the chosen department.

How to Apply: Expression of Interest (EoI)

After discussing your research proposal with the appropriate school leads, please request the **Expression of Interest (EoI) form** from the relevant Director of Research. Complete the form and submit it via email to **I.Ghose@bham.ac.uk** and **researchbids@contacts.bham.ac.uk** by **12:00 noon on Friday, 15th November 2024**.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted in **December 2024** to collaborate on preparing a full application, with support from the **Research Strategy and Services team** and a departmental research mentor, ahead of the final submission deadline of **20th February 2025**.

We look forward to receiving your Expression of Interest and learning more about your research vision.

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is 12 noon on Friday, 15th November 2024