International fellowships for research and enterprise help to address pressing global issues
Early-career and established researchers at Durham University addressed challenging problems through the EU-funded project DIFERENS (Durham international fellowships for research and enterprise). By means of a junior research fellowship and three senior fellowship schemes, the appointed fellows were given access to unique facilities. These include specialist collections, supercomputers, state-of-the-art imaging facilities, wind tunnels, a sleep lab and the University’s Palace Green Library. The fellowships provided academics from around the world with the opportunity to undertake research projects designed by them. DIFERENS set up a dedicated web page, and four calls for fellowships were widely publicised. The scheme was promoted on various job portals, and through relevant media with global reach, professional societies, networks and social media platforms. Four recruitment cycles were carried out, with applications from over 50 countries. Each round witnessed a jump in applicants. Junior research fellowship applications increased from 111 in round 1 to over 300 in round 4. The senior research fellowships saw a similar rise, with applications increasing from 18 in round 1 to 24 in round 4. In total, Durham University welcomed 49 junior research fellows, 59 senior fellows (senior research fellows and policy and enterprise fellows), and 47 Institute of Advanced Study fellows. Successful applicants came from Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, and North and South America. Fellows participated in more than 75 academic activities and published or submitted for publication over 100 articles. Through DIFERENS, Durham University designed a scheme to embrace diversity by promoting and maintaining an inclusive and supportive work and study environment. DIFERENS boosted the careers of emerging and established leading academics. It also established collaborative transnational links, built international networks of scholars and delivered world-class research.
Keywords
Fellowships, research and enterprise, DIFERENS, international fellowships
