Description (via University of Reading)
We will be looking to appoint at least two Fellows in 2023/24 with a minimum of a further two Fellowship appointments in 2024/25 and 2025/26. We are looking for individuals who can push the boundaries of their discipline, who are willing to build and lead interdisciplinary research teams, and who can demonstrate the potential to deliver ground-breaking research discoveries.
Each Fellow will be appointed on the Lecturer scale as a Research Intensive contract, initially for three years with the intention to extend for a further two years if probationary targets have been met. The expectation is then that the Fellow will transition to a permanent academic post in their home School. A generous support package will be provided to aid the development of each Fellow (£20k p.a. research expenses, peer support, mentoring, leadership training and a PhD studentship fund equivalent to one UK student fee, stipend and research training and support grant). We anticipate that applicants will already have some post-doctoral experience, will be able to evidence high quality publications and their potential to obtain external funding for impactful research.
We have identified two priority areas for the first cohort and are particularly seeking appointments in these topics. However, we welcome applications from people representing any discipline who have the potential to develop a transformational research programme relevant to the challenges facing agriculture and food.
Priority areas:
• Addressing the interactions between a changing climate and food systems
• Innovative food processing of novel ingredients emerging from protein and oil crops
Potential applicants are encouraged to connect with the Research Dean as soon as possible to discuss their proposed programme of work. We have funds available to support potential high quality applicants to visit the University of Reading ahead of the deadline to meet potential collaborators, view our excellent facilities and get a sense of the welcoming research environment they could be joining.
Applicants should attach a full academic CV through the online application portal. In addition, applicants should send their research proposal separately via email to AgriFoodFellowships@reading.ac.uk This proposal should be a maximum of 5 pages in a PDF/ Word document, with minimum size 11 font and 2cm margins.
The proposal should include details of: (1) the vision, aims and objectives of your proposed work, (2) your proposed methodology or approach, highlighting any key facilities you need (3) how this work impacts world-leading research, society, the economy and/or the agriculture and food environment (4) the collaborations you will seek to foster internally and externally and (5) your plans for developing your own leadership potential and fostering the careers of others.
Interviews for shortlisted candidates are planned for the first week of April 2024.
Please see the job description and personal specification for further details.
Closing date - 18 March 2024
Informal contact details
Contact role: Research Dean for Agriculture, Food and Health
Contact name: Prof Carol Wagstaff
Contact email: AgriFoodFellowships@reading.ac.uk
