Tom West Analytical Chemistry Fellowships, UK

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Tom West Analytical Fellowships

The Object of the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund is to promote, assist and extend the science and study of Analytical Chemistry and of all questions relating to the analysis, nature and composition of natural and manufactured materials for the benefit of the public.

Closing date for applications: Friday 11th September 2015

  1. Purpose of the Tom West Analytical Fellowships

The Tom West Analytical Fellowships have been established to celebrate the life and work of Professor Thomas Summers West FRS CBE, 1927-2010.  He can be considered as a role model for younger researchers to follow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Summers_West).  Please refer to the Appendix for an appreciation of his life and work.

The purpose of the Fellowships is to assist early career analytical chemists within 5 years of their first full-time junior academic appointment at a UK or Irish HEI to establish their own independent analytical science research identity.  The Fellowships, which are valued at a fixed sum of £15,000, may be used by the Fellow in any way that advances the purpose of the Fellowships and of the ACTF, including but not restricted to one, some or none of:-

  • a 3-to-6 month sabbatical
  • buy-out from teaching commitments
  • purchase of equipment or materials
  • visit(s) to UK, Irish or overseas laboratory(ies)
  • purchase of time on third party facilities
  • employment of a research assistant
  • public engagement and schools, including training in communication
  • fieldwork
  • hosting visiting researcher(s) of acknowledged standing
  • establishing a research network

  1. Definitions

ACTF                          Means the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund.

Trustees                      Means the Trustees of the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund.

Trust Secretary           Means the Trust Secretary of the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund.

Fellowship                   Means a Tom West Analytical Fellowship.

Fellow                          Means the holder of a Tom West Analytical Fellowship.

HEI                              Means Higher Education Institution in the United Kingdom or the Irish

Republic, as defined by the Scottish Funding Council, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, the Department of Employment and Learning Northern

Ireland and the Higher Education Authority of the Republic of Ireland.

Home Institution          Means the UK or Irish HEI at which a Fellow holds their first full-

time academic appointment.

Work Programme       Means the programme of work contained in the applicant’s application for

a Tom West Analytical Fellowship.

Analytical Chemistry   Means a discipline of the chemical sciences which in the judgement of the

Trustees is consistent with the Object of the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund.

Analytical Chemists    Means practitioners of Analytical Chemistry.

  1. Who is Eligible
  • Early career and outstanding Analytical Chemists within 5 years of the date of appointment to their first full-time junior academic position at a UK or Irish HEI. The Fellowship must be completed within 5 years of the date of appointment.
  • There are no restrictions on age.
  • There are no restrictions on nationality, but a Fellow must normally be resident in the UK or Ireland.
  • Applications are welcomed from candidates who wish to re-establish themselves after a career break or other period of absence from active research.
  1. How to Apply
  • The application form can be obtained by e-mailing the Trust Secretary at david.ferguson@ntlworld.com.
  • The application form must be approved by the applicant’s Head of Department or School in their Home Institution.
  • Applicants must append a list of publications relevant to their application.
  • Applicants must append a 1-page CV to their application.
  1. Time Line
  • Call for applications (ACTF)                         June 2015
  • Deadline for receipt of applications (applicant) 11th September 2015
  • Decision by Trustees (ACTF)                         mid-October 2015
  • Announcement of award (ACTF)             end October 2015
  • Conduct of Fellowship (applicant)          in following calendar year or years                         (2016+)

 Work Programme

At a minimum, applications must specify:-

  • The start and end dates of the Fellowship
  • Aim(s) and objective(s) of the Fellowship
  • How time and money will be spent.
  • Deliverables, benefits
  • Medium to long term professional development of the Fellow
  • Impact on UK or Irish analytical chemistry
  • In the application, the budget must specify how and when money will be spent; salaries, consumables, equipment, subsistence, travel (by economy class: including visas, insurance etc), teaching buy-out and other expenses.
  • All applications must include a statement that the project is compliant with the best standards of ethical practice.

 

  1. Assessment of Applications
  • Applications will be assessed by three Trustees, all of whom are professional analytical chemists.

 

  1. Finance
  • The Fellowships are a fixed value grant of £15,000 or Euro equivalent.
  • A Fellowship grant will not exceed £15,000 under any circumstances.
  • Payment will be made by BACS to the Fellow’s Home Institution up to one month before the start date of the Fellowship upon receipt of the Fellow’s Home Institution’s invoice by the Trust Secretary.
  • The Fellow’s Home Institution will be responsible for disbursement of funds to the Fellow.
  • Trustees will not pay registration fees or overhead charges.
  • The Fellowship grants are exempt from VAT.
  • In consultation with the Trust Secretary, Fellows may be permitted to vire money between expenditure categories during the course of their Fellowship.
  • Fellows are responsible for their own work permits, visas, immigration clearance, travel and accommodation arrangements, insurance of their travel costs, personal belongings and medical requirements.

  1. Reporting & Final Expenditure Statement
  • A detailed report on the achievements and benefits of the Fellowship must be sent to the Trust Secretary within 3 months of the end of the Fellowship.
  • A final expenditure statement must be sent to the Trust Secretary within 3 months of the end of the Fellowship.
  • A second report outlining the medium term development of the Fellow’s research career must be sent to the Trust Secretary one year after the end of the Fellowship.
  • Fellows may be invited to make a presentation on the achievements of their Fellowship at an Analytical Research Forum or other RSC Analytical Division meeting.

  1. Variation and Termination
  • A Fellowship is a grant to the Fellow only; in the event that a Fellow is for any reason unable to conduct the Fellowship no substitution will be permitted.
  • In the event of maternity, paternity, adoption, parental or sick leave on the part of the Fellow no additional funds will be paid, but the requirement to complete the Fellowship within 5 years of the date of appointment to the Fellow’s first full-time junior academic position may be relaxed at the discretion of Trustees.
  • If a Fellow, for any reason, ceases to undertake the Work Programme the Trust Secretary must be informed immediately in writing. Where possible, at least one month’s notice should be given of any material change in the Fellow’s or the Work Programme’s circumstances.
  • If a Fellow plans to transfer to another HEI before the beginning of the Fellowship or during the Fellowship, Trustees expect the grant to transfer with the Fellow to the new HEI. Agreement is required to this from both the transferring and receiving HEI and from the Trust Secretary.
  • If a Fellow transfers before or during a Fellowship to an organisation outside the UK or the Republic of Ireland the grant will be terminated forthwith and all uncommitted funds returned to the Trust Secretary.
  • Any Fellow whose progress or conduct does not satisfy the Trustees shall have the grant terminated.
  • Trustees reserve the right to terminate the grant at any time, subject to reasonable notice and to pay any payment that may be necessary to cover outstanding and unavoidable commitments.

 

  1. Miscellaneous
  • The Tom West Analytical Fellowship scheme may be terminated or its conditions varied at any time at the discretion of the Trustees.
  • The Trustees reserve the right to make no Fellowship award if applications do not meet the required standard.
  • Fellows should seek to publish the results of their Fellowship in accordance with normal academic practice, preferably in RSC journals. The Fellow and the Home Institution shall acknowledge the support of the ‘Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund of the Royal Society of Chemistry’ in all publications and materials resulting from the Fellowship.
  • ACTF makes no claim to the intellectual property rights arising from a Fellowship.
  • The Trustees accept no responsibility, financial or otherwise, for expenditure by the Fellow or the Host Institution in addition to the Fellowship grant or liability financial or otherwise arising from the Fellowship.
  • The decision of the Trustees is final.
  • If not already a member, Fellows are strongly encouraged to become a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and its Analytical Division.

 

  1. Contact

All enquiries and correspondence should be addressed to the Trust Secretary:-

Dr David A Ferguson, 37 Lime Avenue, Camberley, GU15 2BH

Tel / TAM 01276 500780   david.ferguson@ntlworld.com