MOBILITY Fellow

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Birmingham invites applications for the MOBILITY Fellowship, a five-year postdoctoral scheme providing salary support and a research budget to help exceptional researchers build a track record for independent funding.

Fellows will be embedded in a STEM research environment with a senior mentor and are expected to develop an independent programme, lead funding bids, publish outputs, and secure an independent fellowship within 36 months.

Qualifications

• PhD in a STEM discipline is required or imminent.
• Competitive research track record (publications/awards) expected.
• A research proposal ready for major funding submission within 12 months.
• Strategic plan to strengthen external funding competitiveness.

Responsibilities

• Develop and advance an independent research programme with mentorship.
• Lead or contribute to research funding bids and fellowship applications.
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data using appropriate methods.
• Publish outputs and present findings at seminars, conferences, and posters.
• Contribute to development of new models, techniques and methods.
• Guide postgraduate students and support staff where relevant.
• Support departmental research activities and administration.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion within the community.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Workload management

Equality Act knowledge

Education

PhD in STEM

Job description

The University of Birmingham has secured European Union MSCA COFUND funding to launch the MOBILITY Fellowship, a competitive pump-priming scheme for exceptional early career researchers. This fellowship supports postdoctoral researchers in building the track record, skills, and preliminary data needed to compete successfully for prestigious independent funding — such as NIHR Postdoctoral Awards, ERC Starting Grants, UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships, and Wellcome/MRC Career Development Awards.

The Fellowship provides salary support for up to five years alongside a research budget and is open to both internal and external candidates. Fellows are expected to apply for an independent fellowship within the first 36 months of appointment. Where an independent fellowship is secured, the Fellow will transfer to it as soon as practicable, at which point the MOBILITY contract will conclude.

Fellows will be embedded in a high-quality research environment within a STEM discipline and supported by a senior academic mentor.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and advance an independent research programme, with mentorship as appropriate
• Lead or contribute significantly to research funding bids and fellowship applications
• Collect, analyse, and interpret research data using methods appropriate to the discipline
• Publish research outputs and present findings at seminars, conferences, and as posters
• Contribute to the development of new models, techniques, and methods
• Provide guidance to postgraduate students and support staff where relevant
• Contribute to departmental research activities and associated administration
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, acting as a role model within the research community

Person specification

• PhD in a relevant STEM discipline (awarded or imminent)
• Demonstrable competitive track record in research, including publications, awards, or other esteem indicators commensurate with career stage
• A research proposal in active development, suitable for submission to a major funding body within the first year of appointment
• Clear strategy for using the fellowship to strengthen competitiveness for independent external funding (e.g. completing outputs, gaining complementary skills, or generating preliminary data)
• High-level analytical capability and ability to interpret complex data
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write for both academic and funding audiences
• Fluency in techniques and methods relevant to the research area, with the ability to contribute to their development
• Ability to manage own workload, meet deadlines, and coordinate effectively with colleagues
• Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 and a commitment to fair and inclusive practice in day-to-day work

Informal enquiries can be made to Tim Giles ([e-mail])

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

Full-time starting salary is 80,400 Euros (Grade 7)