- The Vice-Chancellor’s Prize Fellowships are open to talented early career researchers
- Up to 15 places available each year to postdoctoral-level researchers
- Applications for the scheme will open in Spring 2025.
Aston University is launching a prestigious new scheme to recruit and nurture the global research innovation and impact leaders of tomorrow.
The Vice-Chancellor’s Prize Fellowships are open to talented early career researchers who will be chosen on the basis of excellence within their chosen field.
Up to 15 places will be available each year to postdoctoral-level researchers across science, engineering, social sciences and humanities within the University’s established and growing areas of expertise.
Aston University is home to six institutes which advance key areas of research including AIME a hub for translational membrane science, Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics and the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI). Their teams conduct groundbreaking studies to address local, national and global challenges to drive innovation and change.
In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions 79% of Aston University’s work was rated as ‘world leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*). In addition, 74% of the impact of the University’s research has been rated “very considerable” or “outstanding” for reach and significance. One example is research that has shaped an ambitious action plan by the Crown Prosecution Service to eliminate racial bias in prosecution decisions, a significant step towards addressing racial disproportionality within the sector.
Following the three-year fellowship, it is anticipated that the recipients will progress to become members of the University’s academic staff. Applications for the scheme will open in Spring 2025 and the programme will start from September 2025.
Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University said:
“The Vice-Chancellor’s Prize Fellowships represent a significant step forward in our commitment to advancing world-class, transformative research. Aligned with our ambitious 2030 strategy, this initiative will attract top talent from around the globe to undertake pioneering research projects that push boundaries and shape the future of their disciplines.
“These exceptional researchers will not only drive innovation but also establish themselves as leaders in their fields as they transition into continuing academic roles at Aston University. I am excited to welcome these talented individuals in the coming months, as they join us in our mission to develop our workforce of the future and create positive change for industry and society.”
The successful candidates will have the opportunity to undertake some teaching alongside their research and to gain a higher education qualification.
The new fellowship announcement comes just two months after the University announced its pioneering fully funded doctoral scholarship called PhD+ which includes an integrated four-month industrial placement. The scholarships are fully funded for three and a half years and include training in the latest advancements in AI, leadership and business.
- Notes to editors
About Aston University
For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally.
Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world.
Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020.
Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Press and Communications Manager on (+44) 7825 342091 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk