ROYAL COMMISSION 1851: Industrial Fellowships 2010

"Extending the influence of science and art upon productive industry."

The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 offers major awards to scientists and engineers for research, development and design. Its aims are to support education for the benefit of productive industry.

Industrial Fellowships
The aim of the scheme is to encourage profitable innovation and creativity in British Industry – to the mutual benefit of the Fellow and his or her sponsoring company. Projects in any science or engineering discipline will be considered.

About eight Industrial Fellowships are available each year, including an ERA Foundation Fellowship for the electro-technology sector.  They are awarded to selected, exceptional graduates with the potential to make an outstanding contribution to Industry for a programme of research, supported either by their employing company or in the case of EngD candidates, nominated through a sponsoring company by a UK University EngD Centre.

Eligibility:

• British or Commonwealth citizens, resident in UK
• Employed or sponsored by a British-based company
• Good first degree in engineering, science or medicine, normally within five years from degree graduation. Earlier qualified candidates may apply but it is unlikely that those already with substantial post-graduate qualifications will be accepted
• Identified research and/or development topic leading to a patent, product or process in conjunction with a higher academic award
• Established link between company and appropriate staff at a UK University, OR in the second year of a UK University based EngD programme.
  

Award:
Duration of up to three years, renewable annually on receipt of appropriate reports:

• (a) Company employed candidates
  50% of the Fellow’s salary, including the employer’s share of national insurance and    superannuation paid, up to a limit of £21,000 p.a., reviewed annually. University fees paid up to normal levels for UK students.
• (b) Nominated Company sponsored EngD candidates
  Grant of £20,000 for first year and £21,000 in year 2, apportioned by agreement to augment the Fellow’s stipend and contribute towards costs of EngD Centre and sponsoring company. For year 3, after graduation, the award will be as (a) above, with the aim of supporting the Fellow’s transition to employment by the sponsoring company as well as publication and commercialisation of the EngD research.

All candidates:

• Travel is encouraged and costs up to £3,500 p.a. are paid
• Honorarium to the University research department of £10,000 on completion

Applications:
All applications must be submitted on the downloadable Application Form and must be accompanied by:

• Full CV, including academic record
• Description by the candidate of proposed programme of work including milestones and deliverables
• A Programme showing balance of research and company activity plus costed travel details
• Letters of endorsement of project and candidate support from proposed technical (industrial) supervisor and academic supervisor, plus (EngD candidates only) a letter of nomination from the EngD Centre Director. Considerable weight is given to these
• Company profile and information (maximum 4 sides)
• For EngD candidates, EngD Centre profile and information (maximum 4 sides)

Please see www.royalcommission1851.org.uk for more details.

The closing date is 5pm Thursday 28 January 2010. Appointment to the Fellowship will be made during May 2010. Fellowships commence at the beginning of September in the year of award.

(MS)