Application process
The application process for a Daphne Jackson Fellowship is rigorous and unlike any other in the fields of science, engineering, technology and mathematics. Success is entirely dependent upon how suitable the case for support is in terms of achieving better employment potential. Knowing that you are not competing against anyone else for a limited number of awards, or required to meet specific deadlines, allows you to take due care and considerable effort in the planning of the Fellowship and, through it, your future.
It can take up to a year from initial enquiry to being awarded a Fellowship by the Awards Committee and then a further period of time before a Fellow can commence their Fellowship if funding is not in place when the award is made.
Please click on the link to download a copy of the application process guidelines,
Although each application is different, they all follow the same basic process:
Eligibility Check
If the Trust Office believes you may be eligible to apply for a Fellowship, your curriculum vitae and related information are passed to a Fellowship Coordinator to conduct an eligibility check. This eligibility check takes the form of a telephone interview and covers your curriculum vitae, career break, field of interest and future employment prospects. All the Fellowship Coordinators are Past Daphne Jackson Fellows, who have successfully completed the application process and a Fellowship. They are therefore uniquely placed to discuss your current situation and opportunities and advise you on your eligibility. If you are deemed eligible to apply for a Fellowship, you will receive an ‘Invitation to Apply’ letter from the Trust Office. This letter contains guidelines on how to write and present your proposal, comprising a research project and training programme, and is accompanied by additional material, which should be given to your potential Supervisor. Personal references are also requested at this time.
The Interview
You are invited to attend an interview when all the necessary information and paperwork, i.e completed application form, proposal, personal and supervisor(s) references, are in place. The Trust holds interviews about six times a year at a venue convenient to the majority of candidates. The interview is individual to each candidate and includes the candidate’s Fellowship Coordinator, another Coordinator and the Trust Manager. All Sponsors have the opportunity to attend the interview, and occasionally do so if they have a specific interest in the proposal / discipline. A Sponsor cannot, however, influence either the application process or the proposal.
The interview is an opportunity for you and the Trust to discuss your background, proposal and future employment prospects in detail. Questions you may be asked include:
• How did you devise your proposal?
• How will you benefit from the training described in your proposal?
• How often have you visited your proposed Host Institution and what did you do when you were there?
• Will a Fellowship fit in with your circumstances (i.e. work/life balance)?
• In what ways do you think you will make use of the Fellowship, if you are successful with your application?
You will have been advised on wording, layout and length of your proposal and timetable in readiness for your interview. You should take notes during the interview as you will be given advice on the likely success of your application.
Remember - The interview is in place to help you. Be prepared to ask and answer questions about issues directly related to your return to a SET career.
Finalising the Proposal
You are likely to be asked to revise your proposal following your interview, taking into account the comments made at the time. You should ask your Fellowship Coordinator to review your revised proposal before finally submitting it to the Trust Office.
Technical Reference
Fellowship Coordinators will identify and approach an independent technical referee for each application, once the revised proposal has been submitted. Technical referees are experts in their field and eminently suitable to comment on the scientific / engineering soundness of the proposal. On occasion, candidates are required to respond to the technical referee’s comments, clarifying or justifying certain aspects of the proposal.
Awards Committee
When the technical referee is happy with the proposal, the final paperwork is completed by Trust staff and the application sent to the Awards Committee. The Committee has 30 days to make its decision, after which the Chair of the Committee confirms this to the Trust Office. Occasionally the Committee may decide a final interview is needed before a decision can be made. You will be informed if a final interview is required. The committee will approve Fellowships in principle subject to funding.
Timescales
The time taken from initially contacting the Trust to commencement of a Fellowship is dependent upon several factors. These include the time taken by a candidate to define a suitable research project / training programme and write the proposal, as well as the Trust Office requesting and obtaining references, and eventually securing funding. The Trust Office will endeavour to process and progress your application as quickly as possible. In some cases securing suitable sponsorship can lead to a delay between the approval of a Fellowship by the Awards Committee and the actual commencement of the Fellowship.