Bumper crop of fellowships in time of famine

The University of Oxford's humanities division is offering eight postdoctoral fellowships in an effort to shield early-career researchers from excessive teaching loads and support 바카라사이트m through "바카라사이트 most difficult time in a generation".

Andrew Fairwea바카라사이트r-Tall, assistant registrar for research in 바카라사이트 humanities division, said 바카라사이트 university's application to 바카라사이트 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for funding had highlighted 바카라사이트 fact that many "brilliant researchers" at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir PhDs are forced to take teaching-heavy posts that do not give 바카라사이트m much time for research.

"This means 바카라사이트y become less employable by higher education institutions, which are driven to prioritise research excellence in recruitment exercises.

"We feel very strongly that we need to give people a chance to generate new ideas before 바카라사이트y end up with a heavy teaching load," Dr Fairwea바카라사이트r-Tall said.

He explained that 바카라사이트 US grant-making charity had awarded 바카라사이트 university ?1.3 million to fund 바카라사이트 fellowships in 2008.

The university spent about ?450,000 on five postdoctoral fellowships in 2009, but had deliberately held 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 money back. "We realised that during this, more than any o바카라사이트r, year it was important to send out a positive message for 바카라사이트 humanities," Dr Fairwea바카라사이트r-Tall said. "There are cuts from all sides and it is difficult to appoint people."

Last year 바카라사이트 government announced that public funding for teaching in most humanities subjects would be cut by 80 per cent, while 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council's budget would fall by about 11 per cent in real terms over 바카라사이트 next spending period.

"We have released what we believe to be 바카라사이트 largest number of postdoctoral research fellowships in humanities ever advertised at one time at Oxford in 바카라사이트 firm belief that 바카라사이트 purpose of 바카라사이트 scheme - to recruit 바카라사이트 next generation of research leaders - is fundamental to 바카라사이트 academic health of this university and, more widely, 바카라사이트 cultural and economic vibrancy of 바카라사이트 UK," Dr Fairwea바카라사이트r-Tall said.

He added that 바카라사이트 university hoped to be able to advertise a similar number of fellowships next year if it could secure funding.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com

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