2023 CALL CLOSED
We anticiapte the 2024 call will open August 2024

The 2023 call for applicatons for Medical Research Scotland-sponsored Daphne Jackson Fellowships is closed.

MRS sponsored Daphne Jackson Fellowships provide two or three year part time fellowships for scientists wishing to return to medical research after a career break of two years or more. The Fellowships must be undertaken at a Scottish university and involve a challenging research project that addresses a question of relevance to human health or disease. There is no restriction on the specific discipline of the research and Fellows benefit from an individually tailored retraining programme throughout the course of their Fellowship.

Up to two MRS sponsored Daphne Jackson Fellowships are available per year and provide a Fellowship salary paid on the University pay scale; £5,000 consumables per annum; and £1,500 extraordinary expenses (for courses, attendance at conferences, training and equipment). The University hosting the Fellowship will be the employer and will set the salary: its value will depend on the host University and the Fellow’s experience, but is expected to be on the postdoctoral salary scale (between National spine points 29 and 34).

Candidates will be required to develop their proposal and identify a host University and supervisor, but these details are not required at the initial application stage.

COVID-19 EXTENSIONS FOR CURRENT MRS-SPONSORED DAPHNE JACKSON FELLOWS

We are aware that the Covid-19 pandemic caused restrictions to research. We wish to give reassurance that, in the event of Covid-19 demonstrably effecting completion of Fellowships, we will be open to discussion as to how best to manage the situation, including no-cost extensions to research expenses and the possibility of salary costs. Fellows should contact the Daphne Jackson Trust in the first instance. We advise all our researchers to follow the advice given by their Universities and the Government.

Eligibility and Requirements

To be eligible for consideration applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • have a good first degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM)
  • have a PhD, or ideally at least three years research experience (academic or industrial) prior to the career break ((with evidence of research impacts and outcomes)
  • have had a career break of at least two years’ duration taken for family, caring or health reasons
  • be resident in the UK with the right to remain in the UK indefinitely
  • have good command of English (spoken and written)
  • have good computer skills.

MRS sponsored Daphne Jackson Fellowships must be held at a Scottish university.

There is no requirement or restriction on the subject or nature of the research, provided it addresses a question relevant to human health or disease – the causation, prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness or the development of medical or surgical appliances, including hearing aids.

Applying

Applications and enquiries should be made to the Daphne Jackson Trust.

Application Review Process

The application and review process for MRS sponsored Daphne Jackson Fellowships is rigorous and differs from other funding awards. Details are available at “Step by step guide to the application process“. Medical Research Scotland works closely with the Daphne Jackson throughout the candidate selection process and a Trustee of Medical Research Scotland sits on the Interview Panel.

Award

Successful candidates will be notified by the Daphne Jackson Trust by email. Award decisions will normally be available in July.

Reporting

MRS sponsored Daphne Jackson Fellows and supervisors are required to submit progress reports to the Daphne Jackson Trusts 6 months after the start, 12 months after the start and at the end of the Fellowship. Reports are assessed and reviewed by the Daphne Jackson Trust and Medical Research Scotland.

Payment

Medical Research Scotland will transfer funding for the Fellowship to the Daphne Jackson Trust at the start of each year of the Fellowship. The Daphne Jackson Trust is responsible for payment to the host university. Payment is contingent on satisfactory progress reports having been received.

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