In person

Viamu; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 33,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meal allowance

Research allowance £4,500

Visa and healthcare surcharge covered

Job summary

Lucy Cavendish College invites applications for a three-year Junior Research Fellowship beginning October 1, 2027. The post targets early-career PhD researchers who have recently earned a PhD or are near completion, with research and dissemination duties and potential college participation.

The fellowship includes a £36,498 annual salary, a £4,500 research allowance, and a meal allowance. Part-time options may be discussed; teaching is optional and paid separately.

Qualifications

• Early-career researchers eligible for the fellowship.
• PhD must be completed by start date or within 18 months prior.
• Engagement in research dissemination and college life is expected.

Responsibilities

• Carry out research and dissemination activities within college research areas.
• Participate actively in college life and scholarly community.
• Optional small-group teaching duties may be undertaken and paid.

Skills

Research dissemination

Collegial engagement

Teaching (optional)

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Job description

Duration Three years from October 1, 2027; part-time may be discussed; not renewable.

Annual Salary GBP 36,498

Application Deadline 2026-10-30 17:00 GMT

Application Materials Initial CV and research/college-life statement up to 1,000 words OR two pages. Two referee contact details are submitted initially; referees use individual email links and references are due 10 November 2026 at 10:00 GMT. If longlisted, prepared written work up to 10,000 words plus up to 500 contextual words may be requested within two weeks of notification.

Appointment Paid fixed-term research fellowship with early-career PhD-stage eligibility and research/dissemination focus.

Eligibility Source: no prior stipendiary research fellowship at another UK institution. Linked particulars: no prior Cambridge or Oxford College stipendiary research fellowship.

End Three-year non-renewable fellowship; no fixed Sep 30 2030 end date stated.

Meal Allowance provided; amount not stated

Non Renewable Yes

Part Time College willing to discuss part-time holding.

Phd Eligibility Timing Source wording is “no more than 18 months post-PhD”; it does not identify the reference date. Planned viva route separately requires degree award by fellowship start.

Reference Deadline 2026-11-10 10:00 GMT; distinct from application deadline.

Reference Submission Two referee contact details requested; referees use unique emailed link; no initial reference-letter upload.

Research Allowance GBP 4,500; the source does not say whether this is annual or for the whole fellowship.

Research Allowance GBP 4,500

Research Allowance Period Unspecified by source; do not describe as annual or total.

Source Date Precision Both official sources state 17:00 UK local/GMT on 30 October 2026. That date falls in GMT.

Start Expected October 1, 2027; not guaranteed date.

Teaching Optional limited small-group teaching may be undertaken and will be paid.

Work Sample If longlisted, up to 10,000 words plus up to 500 contextual words, requested within two weeks.

Written Sample If longlisted, prepared work up to10,000 words plus up to500 contextual words due within two weeks of notification.

Pay and benefits

• Research allowance of £4,500; official source does not state whether it is annual or for the whole fellowship.
• Meal allowance; amount not stated.
• College covers visa and associated healthcare surcharge for successful candidates who need a visa.
• Optional limited small-group teaching may be undertaken; if undertaken, it will be paid.
• College participation and research dissemination are part of the fellowship; part-time holding may be discussed.

Lucy Cavendish College invites applications for a three-year Junior Research Fellowship beginning October 1, 2027. The call is for early-career researchers who have recently obtained a PhD (no more than 18 months post-PhD) or whose viva is scheduled, with the degree awarded by the Fellowship start. Research areas are English in specified medieval/early modern or African/Indian literature fields; modern global history, especially African or Indian history; and physical/environmental geography focused on climate change, quantitative environmental change, or natural hazards.

The post is a paid research fellowship with a stipend of £36,498 per year, a £4,500 research allowance, and meal allowance. Fellows are expected to participate fully in college life and engage in research and dissemination; limited small-group teaching is optional and paid separately. The official vacancy says applicants should not hold or have held a stipendiary research fellowship at another UK institution. The further particulars say not another Cambridge or Oxford College; preserve this source conflict for applicant review.

Initial application: CV; a maximum 1,000-word or two-page statement describing research and contribution to college life; and contact details for two referees, submitted through the College CASC portal by 5 p.m. GMT Friday October 30, 2026. Longlisted applicants may later be asked for a previously prepared written work up to 10,000 words, with up to 500 contextual words; interviews are planned for February 2027.

Who can apply

A paid fellowship for early-career PhD researchers in defined research fields, with research/dissemination duties, college participation, and optional limited teaching. Applicants should note a wording conflict between the vacancy page’s prior UK fellowship restriction and the linked particulars’ Cambridge/Oxford restriction.

Source says “no more than 18 months post-PhD” but gives no reference date for measuring that period; alternatively, applicants with a scheduled viva must receive the degree by fellowship start.

• “No more than 18 months post-PhD”; reference date not stated
• OR scheduled viva and degree awarded by fellowship start

Proposed work must fit one of the three subject routes and their published fields.

• English: Medieval/Early Modern or African/Indian-subcontinent literature in English or translation
• History: modern global, particularly Africa/India

The prior-fellowship restriction differs between the vacancy page and linked particulars; both source scopes are preserved pending resolution.

• No prior stipendiary research fellowship at another UK institution (vacancy page)
• No prior stipendiary fellowship at a Cambridge or Oxford College (linked particulars)

Use your profile to see which requirements you meet and what still needs checking.

The College reviews initial CV, research/college-life statement, and referee details; longlisted candidates may submit a prepared work sample and shortlisted candidates are interviewed in February 2027. The source does not publish a weighted rubric.

Important dates

• Initial application deadline: October 30, 2026 at 17:00 GMT.
• Reference deadline: November 10, 2026 at 10:00 GMT.
• Longlist notifications expected before the end of November 2026 (period only).
• Interviews expected in February 2027 (month only).
• Expected fellowship start: October 1, 2027; three-year, non-renewable appointment.

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