The ESRC Postdoctoral fellowship was a great opportunity to work more closely with my PhD examiners and turn my research into publications. The Anthropology Department at Durham is large and staff are very supportive, so there was also a huge breadth of expertise to draw upon.
The Department of Anthropology are accepting proposals to be considered for the AWF call, led by the Institute of Advanced Study (IAS). The scheme is intended to provide early career researchers of outstanding promise with an opportunity to complete an ambitious programme of original research.
Departments are limited in the number of applications that can be nominated to the IAS, so we will be holding an internal review panel to determine those to go forward.
Please explore relevant expertise via our staff list and approach colleagues directly to discuss the possibility of mentorship.
Our departmental deadlines and requirements are as follows:
25th Feb
Prospective applicants to register their intent to apply via Anthropology to Senior Research Administrator, Kate Payne (kate.payne@durham.ac.uk) with an indication of their proposed research title and mentor.
2nd March (9am)
Applicant CV, detailed outline of proposed research project and confirmation from proposed mentor that they have agreed to support to be sent to kate.payne@durham.ac.uk. Supporting mentors to submit a brief statement to demonstrate how the applicant has an outstanding track record of prior achievement and an exceptional level of preparedness to undertake an ambitious postdoctoral project.
11th March
Departmental Panel - decisions will be shared as soon as possible after this date to confirm which applications the department is agreeing to host. Selected applicants will be invited to proceed with full application to the Institute for Advanced Study.
Please note that we will expect successful applicants to be resident in Durham during their fellowship. We would prefer that any non-UK fieldwork does not exceed more than 6 months in a 12-month rolling period, due to potential tax liability.
This scheme is to support recent PhD graduates in consolidating their doctoral research and advancing their careers. This scheme offers a unique opportunity for early-career researchers to build on their achievements through publications, network development, and a range of development-oriented activities.
Full guidance is available here: Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme - NINE DTP
It is not expected that this fellowship competition will run in 2026/27.
Please keep checking back or contact kate.payne@durham.ac.uk to be informed of any upcoming or future opportunities.
The aim of the scheme is to develop the next wave of world-class research and innovation leaders in academia and business.
You can apply for funding over four years both to tackle ambitious and challenging research and innovation and to develop your career. Funding can be extended for up to a further three years to support long-term focus on a particular area of research or innovation and continued career development.
Applications
Durham's internal deadline for this scheme has now closed. Please contact Kate Payne, Senior Research Administrator (kate.payne@durham.ac.uk) for more information.
British Academy International Fellowships
The aim of the International Fellowships programme is to attract and retain emerging talent in the UK and build a globally connected, mobile research and innovation workforce. Applicants should be intending to work in any aspect of the humanities or the social sciences. The Fellowships offer support for two years.
Durham has an internal demand management process for this call, with a strict Expression of Interest deadline of 30th January 2026. Please contact Kate.Payne@durham.ac.uk for further guidance.
Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships provide an opportunity to undertake a significant piece of publishable research for those who are at a relatively early stage of their academic careers, but with a proven record of research. Awards are for three years.
Unfortunately, we are not able to support applications to the current round of this scheme.
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships
These fellowships allow researchers holding PhDs to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. Find out more.
Durham is operating an internal Intention to Submit process for this scheme, where interested applicants will need to register by 19th June 2025. Please contact kate.payne@durham.ac.uk for more details.
We are one of the largest departments of Anthropology in the UK, spanning social anthropology, evolutionary anthropology and the anthropology of health.
A vibrant postgraduate research community gives you one of the most diverse and exciting research environments in the UK. Together we carry out research on every inhabited continent including everything from primate behaviour to rhetoric culture and indigenous knowledge to internet technologies.
Contact us to find out more about undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities in our Department.
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