The Royal Academy of Engineering (The Academy) and
the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
(together referred to as ‘The Scheme Providers’)
award Research Fellowships to individuals of proven
ability to carry out independent research in key
areas of engineering.
The Scheme Providers agree to contribute to the
costs of a fellowship subject to a formal agreement
based upon the following conditions:
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The period of tenure shall
be 60 months, normally over five (5) years, or
full time equivalent, commencing on a date to be
agreed with The Scheme Providers, or for such
period as the post-holder remains in post.
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During the period of
tenure, the post-holder shall be known as The
Royal Academy of Engineering/Ministry of Defence
Research Fellow and all publications shall carry
this title.
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The post is provided in
respect of a given individual, and is not
transferable. In the event that the post-holder
leaves his or her appointment before the end of
the 60 month period, The Scheme Providers
reserve the right to terminate the award.
Alternatively, and only under exceptional
circumstances, requests to move the place of
tenure, to another host university within the
UK, may be considered but only after prior
consultation with the Host University. The costs
submitted in the original application process
will apply to the new Host University. The
Scheme Providers’ decision regarding such
relocation will be final.
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The post-holder will be a
University employee and shall be subject to the
normal terms and conditions for research and
analogous staff.
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Post-holders are expected
to devote their time to research and should not
accept or hold any other appointment paid or
otherwise, except with the prior knowledge and
approval of The Scheme Providers.
Notwithstanding the above, permission will
normally be given to post-holders to undertake
limited amounts of teaching and other
non-research duties, providing that these duties
do not exceed an average of four hours per week
over the course of any one (1) year.
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Payments will be made, in
respect of but not exceeding, the figures
contained within the summary of resources
submitted at the time interview, to the Host
University against invoices submitted quarterly
in arrears.
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Any equipment purchased
with the funding from The Scheme Providers shall
remain the property of The Scheme Providers.
Should the post holder move the place of tenure
of their appointment or should he or she move
within the period of the Fellowship, The Scheme
Providers reserve the right to require that such
equipment be transferred with the post holder.
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Post holders are
encouraged to seek additional funding from third
parties and shall follow the Host University’s
normal procedures for applying for and accepting
such funding. Patent and intellectual property
rights in such cases may be apportioned in
accordance with the Host University’s normal
funding arrangements.
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The Academy will appoint a
mentor, for as long as remains practicable, to
provide informal advice and guidance to the
incumbent. The mentor will be a Fellow of The
Royal Academy of Engineering. The mentor shall
liaise with the post-holder as often as he/she
deems appropriate for the duration of the
appointment.
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The post-holder will be
encouraged to initiate industrial links during
the Fellowship and the mentor will assist with
this activity wherever possible.
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The Incumbent will keep
the results of his or her research confidential
in accordance with any confidentiality and
publication policy and guidelines of the Host
University and the non-disclosure agreement with
Dstl, particularly where the Host University and
Dstl may wish to protect the results of the
research work with intellectual property rights
prior to the publication of the results.
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Any publication of the
results shall carry an acknowledgement of the
financial support received from The Scheme
Providers.
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Ahead of any proposed
publication the Incumbent will disclose the
nature of his or her research and its results to
the ‘knowledge transfer office’ of the Host
University in order that any intellectual
property arising from the work might be
protected in a timely and efficient fashion.
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The post-holder shall
submit a written progress report to The Scheme
Providers every six (6) months during the
appointment, and should cover the performance
measures as set out by The Scheme Providers.
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In addition to the
biannual reports, the post holder shall submit
to The Academy, when requested, details of any
additional sources of funding in connection with
the programme of research, whether from
industry, the Research Councils, or other
sources.
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If access to a Facility is
essential to the Incumbents research programme,
and hence the Fellowship, both access and
external funding for the cost of the Facility
must be secured within one year of the start
date. Failure to secure the necessary access to
the Facility may result in termination of the
Fellowship.
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The Scheme Providers
reserve the right to terminate the award on the
grounds of an individual’s failure to comply
with the Conditions of Award or if, in the
opinion of The Scheme Providers, the post holder
becomes unfit or unable to pursue the research
for which he or she was appointed. Similarly,
should the annual assessment reveal that
performance has fallen below a standard which is
acceptable to The Scheme Providers, The Scheme
Providers reserve the right to terminate the
award.
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In exceptional
circumstances, an award may also be terminated
by reason of the desirability of the award being
held elsewhere or for any other reason, but only
after prior consultation with the Host
University and with a minimum of three months
notice, in writing.
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In the event of
termination of the Fellowship, The Scheme
Providers shall pay the Host University their
share of the costs that were properly incurred
up until the date of termination, provided that
such amounts do not exceed the amount which
would have become payable in that year.
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The Incumbent may be
permitted to interrupt his or her award not more
than twice during the period of his Fellowship
to spend time on activities unsupported by the
Fellowship but directly related to it. The
agreement of The Scheme Providers must be sought
in advance.
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The payment of all monies
to the Host University in respect of the
Research Fellowship shall be conditional in all
respects upon the acceptance of these conditions
by both the Host University and by the holder of
the award.
