Current Vacancies at DAMTP

Internal Vacancies

External Vacancies

Internal Vacancies

Mechanical Workshop Technician

Salary; £20,559 p.a. - £23,811 p.a.

Please quote reference: LE16391

The Department has a vacancy for a skilled Instrument Maker or Toolmaker to provide technical support for research projects undertaken within the GK Batchelor Laboratory. The Laboratory is housed in a prestigious modern building to the West of Cambridge, the Centre for Mathematical Sciences.

You will join a team of three other technicians in a purpose-built, well equipped, busy Mechanical Workshop, who provide a service to the experimental research groups within the Laboratory. The Workshop has recently benefited from a cash injection and has invested in new machinery. You will use a range of manual and CNC machines to construct, repair and maintain precision mechanical devices, electro-mechanical and optical equipment. You will also provide assistance with the running of experiments and have a range of other duties within the Laboratory and Workshop.

Qualifications required: a recognised apprenticeship as an Instrument or Toolmaker and a number of years experience in a Workshop environment, with good attention to detail. You should also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to interact positively with a range of people.

Further details are available here and from Mr David Page-Croft, Chief Technician, GK Batchelor Laboratory, DAMTP, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA (tel: 01223 337842, email: d.pagecroft@damtp.cam.ac.uk).

Applications including contact details, a CV, a covering letter and the names and contact details of two referees, as well as a completed CHRIS 5 application form Parts I and III (available from http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris5/) should be sent to Mr Page-Croft (details as above) before 28 May 2012.

Limite of tenure: This position is funded until 30 June 2017.

Closing date: 28 May 2012

Interview date: 31 May 2012

University Lectureship in Astrophysics

Salary: £37,012 - £46,846 p.a.

Please quote Reference: LE16371

Applications are invited for a University Lectureship in Astrophysics to commence on 1 September 2012 or thereabouts. Appointments will be made at an appropriate point on the scale for University Lecturers and will be for a probationary period of five years with appointment to the retiring age thereafter, subject to satisfactory performance.

Candidates should have an outstanding record of research in an area relevant to the research interests of the DAMTP Astrophysics Group. (See 'Astrophysics in DAMTP' section of the Further Particulars.) For more information about this and other groups in DAMTP see: http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/research

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to teaching and other academic activities in the Department. The candidate will also be elected to a Fellowship at Girton College (http://www.girton.cam.ac.uk), where they will be assigned appropriate College teaching duties.

Further information regarding the Department can be found at: http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk.

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor John Papaloizou (email: J.C.B.Papaloizou@damtp.cam.ac.uk) or to Professor Peter Haynes (Head of Department, email: phh@damtp.cam.ac.uk).

Further Particulars of this position are available here.

Applications should be sent by email to the Secretary to the Head of Department, email: jobLE16371@damtp.cam.ac.uk, and should include a full curriculum vitae, list of publications, a one page statement of research interests and future plans and the contact details of three academic referees, and should be accompanied by a completed application form CHRIS6, Parts I and III (downloadable from: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris6.doc)

Applicants should ask their referees to email references directly to the Secretary to the Head of Department (email as above) to reach her by the closing date.

Closing Date: 8 June 2012

David Crighton Fellowships

See www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/vacancy/crightonfellowship.html for more information.

Up to four David Crighton Fellowships are available to research students and postdoctoral Fellows in fluid mechanics, acoustics, waves and vibration to undertake a visit for two to three months' study and research either in Cabmbridge, if they are currently based outside Cambridge, or elesewhere, if they are currently based in Cambridge. The award is to be used to cover actual travel and subsistence expenses; the maximum amount of any one award is currently £2,800.

Closing date: The 2012 scheme has now closed. Information on next year's round will be published here as soon as it becomes available.

External Vacancies

Research Council, Royal Society, EU and Other External Research Fellowships

The Research Councils, Royal Society, EU and other organisations have several competitive Fellowship schemes to support talented researchers for periods of two to five years, or sometimes more. DAMTP has hosted many holders of such Fellowships in the past, most of whom have moved on to very successful longer term academic/research careers. Enquiries are welcomed from those considering applying for such Fellowships with DAMTP as host institution. A first step is to make contact with a relevant member of the DAMTP academic staff (see our Research pages for more information) or else to email the Head of Department (Professor P. H. Haynes, email: P.H.Haynes@damtp.cam.ac.uk) giving brief details of research area and intended application.

Initial discussion with a relevant member of DAMTP academic staff should begin as soon as possible and certainly at least one month prior to the closing date (in some cases earlier). Potential applicants should also email the DAMTP Accountant (Mr J. M. Turner, email: j.m.turner@damtp.cam.ac.uk) at an early stage indicating their intention to apply for a Fellowship and liaise with him over financial aspects as preparation of an application proceeds. For any Fellowship Scheme the completed application must be ready for submission at least 10 days prior to the official closing date. Arrangements for specific Schemes may require earlier preliminary discussion and earlier submission of completed applications.

The following Fellowship schemes are advertised annually (closing dates are usually in the August - November period) but you may find relevant information at the links below. Please refer back to this page on a regular basis for updates on funding opportunities.

The Royal Society

See http://royalsociety.org/Funding/.

University Research Fellowships

See http://royalsociety.org/grants/schemes/university-research/ for more information.

The scheme provides the opportunity to build an independent research career. Those appointed are expected to be strong candidates for permanent posts in universities at the end of their fellowships.

Eligibility: Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent research experience in any area of the life and physical sciences, including engineering, but excluding clinical medicine. Applicants who have just submitted their PhD will not be considered. Applicants must also be at an early to mid-stage of their career (between 3 to 8 years of research experience since their PhD) at the time of submission. They must not hold a permanent post in a university or not-for-profit organisation in the European Economic Area (EEA) and be a citizen of the EEA or a be a Swiss citizen or have a relevant connection to the EEA or Switzerland. A relevant connection to the EEA or Switzerland can be established if an individual has a PhD form a University in the EEA or Switzerland, or has worked as a research scientist in a University or research institute in the EEA or Switzerland for at least the past two years, or has done so before taking up an appointment outside the EEA or Switzerland.

Funding: Funding will cover the applicant's salary costs, estates costs and indirect costs. Under the full economic costing model, 80% of these costs will be met by the Royal Society. Research expenses (up to £13,000 for the first year and up to £11,000 annually thereafter) will also be provided.

Initially funding is provided for five years. It may then be followed by an extension of three years or, in exceptional circumstances, up to a maximum of 10 years. The University Research Fellowship provides researchers with maximum flexibility and can be held part-time, and allows sabbaticals, secondments or international experience.

The basic salary requested should be at a level commensurate with the applicant's skills, responsibilities, expertise and experience, up to a maximum of £37,555. An annual spine point increase of 3% may be applied to the salary. No indexation should be applied to the salary; the Society will apply an annual inflationary increase to the salary of successful awards. The level of inflation applied will be determined by HM Treasury's GDP deflator. This will be reviewed on an annual basis and the value of awards amended in line with increases or decreases in the GDP deflator.

Application procedure: Applicants should apply for this grant via the Royal Society electronic submission system e-GAP (details at https://e-gap.royalsociety.org/).

Contact: The Royal Society at http://royalsociety.org/grants/contact-us/ for more information.

Application Closing Date: This year's scheme has now closed; information on next year's round will be advertised here as soon as it becomes available.

Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships

See http://royalsociety.org/grants/schemes/dorothy-hodgkin/ for more information.

This scheme is for excellent scientists in the UK at an early stage of their career who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances such as parenting or caring responsibilities or health issues. Female candidates are particularly invited to apply. About 5 Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships are offered each year.

Closing date: This year's scheme has now closed; information on next year's round will be advertised here as soon as it becomes available.

Royal Society / British Academy: Newton International Fellowship Scheme

See http://www.newtonfellowships.org/ for more information. Detailed notes of the scheme can be found at: http://www.newtonfellowships.org/media/228/2012%20nif%20scheme%20notes.pdf.

The Scheme has been established to select the very best early stage post-doctoral researchers from all over the world and enable them to work at UK research institutions for two years. Fellowships include £24,000 per annum to cover subsistence and up to £8,000 to cover research expenses, plus a one-off relocation allowance of up to £2,000. Funding, worth £6,000 per year for ten years after the Fellowship ends, may be available to support follow-on activities to enable Newton Fellows to build long-term links with the UK.

Applicants should have completed a PhD and have held no more than two postdoctoral positions or equivalent experience at a comparable level. Applicants should also be working outside the UK and should not hold UK citizenship at the time of application.

Closing date: 16 April 2012


EPSRC

In 2011 EPSRC have introduced a new unified Fellowship scheme covering all career stages. Previous schemes such a 'postdoctoral', 'career acceleration' and 'leadership' no longer exist as individual schemes. Applications for Fellowships under the new scheme are accepted throughout the year, but applications are accepted only in certain priority subject areas.

See http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/calls/open/Pages/fellowships.aspx for more details.


NERC

Postdoctoral and Advanced Research Fellowships

See http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/available/fellowships/ for details of the 2011 Scheme. The NERC Fellowship Handbook is available at: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/application/fellowships/documents/fellowshiphandbook.pdf

Fellowships can be awarded at either Postdoctoral or Advanced level:

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Early career development awards of up to three years, to provide further post-doctoral experience and to support outstanding environmental scientists as they become independent investigators.

Advanced Research Fellowships

Awarded for up to five years, to enable outstanding early/mid career researchers to develop into team leaders of international standing.

Application deadline for both schemes: Applications for this year are now closed; information on next year's round will be advertised here as soon as it becomes available.


STFC (formerly PPARC)

In 2011 STFC have introduced a single Fellowship scheme, the Ernest Rutherford Fellowships. These are broadly equivalent to the old 'Advanced Fellowships'. There is no longer a 'Postdoctoral Fellowship' scheme to follow immediately after a PhD.

Ernest Rutherford Fellowships

Detailed notes of the scheme can be found at: www.stfc.ac.uk/Resources/pdf/ERcallforproposals.pdf

The Ernest Rutherford Fellowship scheme will enable early career researchers with clear leadership potential to establish a strong, independent research programme. This will encourage talented researchers in UK universities to remain in the country and at the same time attract outstanding overseas researchers to the UK.

Eligibility: Applicants must have 5 years research experience from the start of their PhD programme, with normally a minimum of 2 years postdoctoral experience by 1 September 2012. Applications must fall within the remit of the STFC core Science Programme (astronomy, solar and planetary science, particle physics, particle astrophysics, cosmology, nuclear physics).

Funding: Each Fellowship will last for five years, with 12 being offered annually. Fellows will receive support for their salary and be able to bid for significant additional funds to support their research.

Application procedure: Only 4 applications will be allowed with DAMTP as host Department and DAMTP therefore needs to operate a selection procedure for potential applicants. Intending applicants who wish their Fellowship to be hosted in DAMTP must have discussed with a member of DAMTP academic staff, who will act as their 'sponsor' if their application is successful.

Applicants should also send a brief CV, plus 1-page outline summary of their proposed project, including reasons why Cambridge is an appropriate host institution, to the Pavilion F Secretary (pavfsec@damtp.cam.ac.uk).

Contact: the STFC Fellowships Team (fellowships@stfc.ac.uk) for more information.

Closing date for applications: Applications for this year are now closed; information on next year's round will be advertised here as soon as it becomes available.

European Union

The EU offers several types of individual fellowships. Two of the most common are:

Intra-European Fellowships for career development (IEF)

Who can apply?

Researchers based in EU Member States or Associated Countries can apply for an IEF. You must have either a doctoral degree or at least 4 years' full-time research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting you to embark on a doctorate. Generally, you must carry out the project on the premises of a host organisation in an EU or Associated Country other than your own. Special consideration is also given to those returning to a research career after a break.

International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)

Who can apply?

Researchers moving from Third Countries to EU Member States or Associated Countried are eligible for an IIF. To apply, you must have either a doctoral degree or at least 4 years' full-time research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting you to embark on a doctorate. But that is the minimum - the more experience you have, the better will be your chances of being accepted for this action.

Your application for an IIF should be made in liaison with the organisation or institution that would be willing to host you in Europe. Host organisations can be universities, research centres or companies.

DAMTP welcomes enquiries from potential applicants under those two schemes. Normally there is one round of applications a year, around August.

See also http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/ for further details.


Please note that the deadline for submitting completed applications to DAMTP is at least 10 days prior to the official closing date. Initial discussion with a relevant member of DAMTP academic staff should begin as soon as possible and certainly at least one month prior to the closing date.

Other sources of information

Also, you might find vacancies of interest in:

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