APPENDIX 27
Memorandum submitted by the Natural Environment
Research Council (NERC)
1. An analysis of the cost efficiency of
Fellowships and other training schemes, indicating whether accounts
isolate associated administrative costs:
It is difficult to disassociate the administration
of our Fellowships from that of our other schemes. However, there
is no reason to assume that the efficiency of the administration
of Research Fellowships is any different to that of our other
schemes. The NERC Operating Plan calculates NERC's overall administration
costs to be 4.1 per cent.
2. A comparison of the characteristics of our
schemes, for example career breaks and mentoring:
A summary of Fellowship schemes is provided
below. Full details can be found on our web site at:
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/forms/fellbook2001.doc.
The NERC Fellowship scheme is intended to provide opportunities
for outstanding environmental scientists to develop, establish
and maintain an international reputation in environmental research.
Awards are available at three different levels, each corresponding
approximately to different stages in an academic career.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Three years (+ two extension years[8])
Recurrent grant of £7k pa
Early career development award, to provide further
post-doctoral experience and to support outstanding environmental
scientists as they become independent investigators. Up to one
year can be spent at a collaborative institution in the UK or
overseas.
Advanced Research Fellow
Five years (+ five extension years)
Recurrent grant of £8k pa
To enable outstanding early/mid career researchers
to develop into team leaders of international standing. Up to
two years can be spent at a collaborative institution in the UK
or overseas.
Senior Research Fellow
Five years (+ five extension years)
Recurrent grant of £10k pa
To enable proven researchers of international
standing at mid/peak career level (eg HEI Readership level) to
devote themselves to personal research. Up to two years can be
spent at a collaborative institution in the UK or overseas.
Our Fellowship schemes have standard "characteristics"
with respect to issues such as career breaks and mentoring. NERC
Fellowships are also covered by sickness, maternity and paternity
provision. As part of NERC's policy of promoting equal opportunities,
Fellowships may be held on a part-time/flexible basis if required,
and Fellows may, subject to NERC approval and the support of the
host institution, move to part-time or more flexible working if
their personal circumstances change.
NERC expects host institutions to carry out
regular appraisals of all Fellows. Appraisals will normally be
undertaken under the regulations and mechanisms of the host institution
and should enable the department and Fellow to form the best possible
assessment of, and feedback on, the individual's performance and
future development. Appraisals should include consideration of
in-service training requirements, career guidance and personal
development.
In addition, NERC co-sponsors a number of Fellowships
with the Daphne Jackson Memorial Trust, which are aimed at providing
opportunities for scientists to return to research following a
career break.
3. An explanation of how schemes deal with
applications for interdisciplinary research
For convenience, our applications are classified
into five areas (atmospheric, earth, freshwater, marine, terrestrial).
As with all classification systems, it is inevitable that some
applications cross the boundaries, and indeed NERC encourages
interdisciplinary research. In such cases, one of the five committees
will take the lead in assessing the proposal, although views will
be sought from the other relevant committee(s), and the wider
science community in the case of peer review. The applicant will
be advised of which committee is taking the lead, and is able
to discuss this with NERC if there are any concerns. Applicants
are also provided with the names of the panel members before the
interview.
It should be noted that one of our successful
applicants this year is carrying out research that cuts across
both the atmospheric and earth sciences.
8 Applications for extensions to existing Fellowships
are considered in open competition with applications for new Fellowships. Back
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