The College wishes to make elections to two Research Fellowships, each tenable for three years and not renewable, to commence on 1 September 2024.  

One Fellowship is intended for researchers in the Sciences (including Mathematics, Engineering and the Biological, Medical and Veterinary sciences) and the other for researchers in the following Arts and Humanities: Architecture; History of Art; Classics; Divinity; English; Modern and Medieval Languages; Music and Philosophy. 

Research Fellows are important members of the College community.  The Fellowships provide opportunities for scholars at an early stage of their academic careers to establish a successful research profile. The successful candidates are expected to be either graduate students, who are expecting to submit their PhD thesis (or equivalent) no later than June 2024, or post-doctoral researchers who have completed their PhD within the last three years.  

 

Privileges of Fellowship 

Research Fellows are entitled to Fellows’ dining and other privileges, including membership of the College’s Governing Body.  

Single rent-free residential accommodation is usually offered which is subject to a service charge of (currently) £105 per month.  

For a Fellow not able to take advantage of the single rent-free accommodation, there is a non-pensionable annual living out allowance of £5,466. Research Fellows who do not live in College will be provided with an office.  

Research grants of up to £1,260 per year are available to cover research expenses, and there is an additional entertainment allowance of up to £430 per year.  

Research Fellows who are keen to acquire teaching experience within the University will be supported to do so, with priority being given to undergraduate supervisions for the College, remunerated at the standard University rate. Teaching may not exceed four hours per week (up to 80 hours over the academic year).   

 

Stipend 

The starting stipend will be spine point 29 on the Cambridge University Pay Scale which currently equates to £25,742. There will be an increase of one spine point in each of the second and third year. If the Fellow does not hold a PhD, the stipend until the PhD is submitted, will be spine point 23 which currently equates to £22,681 per year. The stipend is pensionable in the USS Pension Scheme.  

Prior permission of the College Council is required for other paid work, and all emoluments received must be disclosed to the Council, which may reduce the stipend in the light of other income. 

Applications for non-stipendiary positions are also welcomed from those with an alternative source of funding (elections will be made based on merit, and therefore the College has no preference for applications from those requiring a stipend or not). 

Application process 

All applications, including references, must be made using the online application form on the College website: https://external.sid.cam.ac.uk/research_fellowships/

The closing date is Wednesday 8 November 2023 for the receipt of the online application and Friday 10 November 2023 for two supporting references. The latter must also be submitted using the online form.  

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that both referees submit the form prior to the deadline.  

Further details 

The stipend, charges and allowances quoted are for 2023-24 and are reviewed annually.   

If the successful candidate does not already have the right to work in the UK, the College may be able to sponsor them under the Skilled Worker Visa route. This will be subject to consideration of individual circumstances and details will be discussed at the offer stage. 

All enquiries should be directed to the Research Fellowship Secretary and sent to the Research Fellowship Competition, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge CB2 3HU or by e-mail to research.fellowships@sid.cam.ac.uk. 

Sidney Sussex College is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes diversity amongst its students, staff, Fellows and visitors, recognising the particular contributions to the achievements of the College’s mission that can be made by individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experience. 

The College reserves the right not to make an appointment.