Applications are invited for Mildred Blaxter postdoctoral fellowships for applicants of all nationalities. The education program is open for the academic year 2023/2024.

The award provides support for individuals who have recently completed a PhD in the field of the sociology of health and illness, to enable them to disseminate findings of their thesis through publications and presentations, and/or to develop a new program of work related to their thesis.

The Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness (SHI Foundation) makes grants to fund research fellowships and the following are the terms and conditions attached to such grants and the ways in which the Foundation requires the grants to be administered.

Application Deadline: 31 October 2023.

Brief Description

• Course Level: Postdoctoral program.
• Study Subject: Fellowships are awarded to applicants working in the field of sociology of health and illness. This may include social science, healthcare, and medical departments.
• Award: Up to 5
• Number of Scholarships: Usually two fellowships are awarded each year; this is dependent on the Foundation’s income and is usually confirmed a minimum of three months before the deadline.
• Nationality: Awards will not be restricted to UK or EU citizens, therefore, applicants of all nationalities.
• Scholarship can be taken in the UK

Eligibility

• Eligible Countries: Awards will not be restricted to UK or EU citizens, therefore, applicants of all nationalities are eligible to apply for these fellowships.
• Entrance Requirements: Applications will be considered from individuals who have been awarded a PhD in the field of sociology of health and illness by a UK university and who meet the following criteria:
  • The PhD must be awarded on the basis of a research thesis; those with a PhD by publication are not eligible to apply.
  • The applicant must have been awarded the degree at the point of application.
  • The fellowship is intended to support individuals in their first postdoctoral post but the applicant may normally have up to one year’s active experience from the date of award of their PhD (pro-rata for part-time experience) at the time of application. In exceptional circumstances (e.g. maternity leave or prolonged absence due to illness), applicants may be allowed more than one year’s post-PhD experience. Applicants should provide details of this on the relevant part of the form, and are encouraged to discuss this with the Foundation in advance of their application.
  • Any new research proposed should be in the field of the sociology of health and illness.
  • The application must be supported by the head of a department that can provide an appropriate research environment for a postdoctoral fellow working in the field of the sociology of health and illness, and by a mentor who is able to provide appropriate support and encouragement for the fellow.
  • The applicant must not have made a previous application for this fellowship.

  Mildred Blaxter Post-Doctoral Fellowships can only be held in a UK university but awards will not be restricted to UK or EU citizens. The fellowship need not be held in the university which awarded the PhD.

  Trustees will not be eligible for awards, but other members of their departments will not be excluded from applying.

Postdoctoral Scholarships

Application Procedure

How to Apply

• An application should be made by the recent PhD graduate, using the application form provided below, and signed off by the nominated mentor, the head of a department (or equivalent), and an appropriate university finance officer or similar at the UK university where the Mildred Blaxter postdoctoral fellowship is to be held.
• The application should outline the work to be undertaken and the expected outputs, in terms of specific publications and grant applications. If ethics approval is required for the planned program of work, please indicate the ethics committee to which you intend to apply.
• Please supply the names of two external referees. Since assessment of the application will be based in part on the quality of the PhD at least one of these referees should be the external examiner of the thesis.
• Applications will be considered by a panel of three Trustees of the Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness, using the following criteria:
• the quality of the applicant’s PhD
• the contribution to the sociology of health and illness likely to arise from the planned dissemination and/or the proposed new research and
• the feasibility of the activities proposed for the award period.

Decisions are normally made within eight weeks of the deadline for receipt of applications, and applicants will be informed as soon as possible after a decision has been made. The Trustees regret that they cannot give feedback on applications or the reasons for unsuccessful applications.

Application form

Benefits

The award provides full salary costs for one year (including on-costs but not an estate or indirect costs), usually at spine point 30 as appropriate, plus £2,500 for research and/or conference expenses. London’s weighting will be payable where appropriate.

Scholarship Link