Here at Durham we have just announced a Research Fellowship scheme for both junior and senior researchers, funded under the Marie Curie scheme.  These fellowships can be associated with any of the University Research Institutes, including the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience of which I am the director.  These are the two schemes:

Junior Research Fellowships (JRFs)

The JRF scheme is aimed at researchers with post-doctoral experience, but recent doctorate grdautaes of exceptional ability and researchers who have followed non-traditional academic career paths (such as in public corporations, NGOs or industry) are also encouraged to apply.  JRFs will pursue new research ideas of their own design, undertaken in collaboration within academic researchers at Durham University. In order that the JRFs can complete a significant piece of original research during the Fellowship, the normal period of the Fellowship will be 2 years, though Fellows can make a case for a shorter or longer period with a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years.  The fellowship provides a salaried post at Durham.

Up to 14 Junior Fellowships will be available, to commence between 1 October 2011 and 1 April 2012.

To be eligible,  “researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account”. The reference date is 1 October 2011.    A member of the Durham academic staff will act as host and Mentor for each Fellow.

Full details are available here.

I would love to hear from anyone who might be interested in working with me / us.

Senior Research Fellowships

We will also be hosting a senior research fellowship scheme, with an announcement later in the year.  This will be for shorter (probably 6 week to 6 month) visits.  It will be open to people from both the academic and the policy/practice area. 

In the shorter term, if there is anyone from the policy practice area who would like to come to Durham in the forthcoming academic year Sept 2011 to Aug 2012), can you drop me a line?

These are great, unique opportunities, so please do give them some consideration.