Cambridge University Reporter


Smuts Visiting Fellowship in Commonwealth Studies 2009-10: Notice

In association with Wolfson College

Applications are invited for one or two Smuts Visiting Fellowships in Commonwealth Studies in association with a Visiting Fellowship at Wolfson College to be held during the academical year 2009-10.

Fellowships are available for research in the field of Commonwealth Studies, including the Commonwealth-related aspects of archaeology, anthropology, economics, history, human geography, law, literature, oriental studies, sociology, politics, and social psychology. The maximum duration of a Fellowship is nine months, beginning in October 2009, but the Managers would be willing to consider applications requiring less time in Cambridge. Fellowship holders are expected to live in Cambridge for the bulk of their tenure and accommodation is normally offered by Wolfson College. Fellows are expected to advance Commonwealth Studies in Cambridge mainly by pursuing research, but also by taking part in seminars and similar activities within the University. Fellows will have access, by agreement, to the holdings of Faculty and Departmental libraries, to the libraries of the Centres of African Studies and South Asian Studies and to the University Library, which houses the extensive collection of materials relating to the history of the British Empire and Commonwealth formerly housed in the Royal Commonwealth Society Library in London.

Fellows will receive a contribution towards their expenses of £38,019 a year pro rata for a nine-month stay (taken from the 1 August 2007 pay scales). This sum may be reduced to the extent that the Fellow receives income from another source or if the duration of the Fellowship is less than nine months. The contribution to expenses is subject to tax and national insurance in the UK. However, depending on personal circumstances it may be eligible for tax exemption following assessment from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. A further sum of up to £6,000 is available towards travel and related costs for a nine-month stay. The Managers are not, however, able to provide additional sums for the travel or living expenses of anyone accompanying the Fellow to Cambridge.

Applicants should be members of staff of another university or similar institution outside the UK. They should hold a Ph.D. Degree or, if not, be working at a postdoctoral level. The Managers will give preference to scholars with a distinguished research profile who are nationals or permanent residents of the overseas countries of the Commonwealth and who have active research interests in an area or areas of scholarship falling within the remit of the Smuts Fund as specified above. The Managers expect that applicants would be intending to come to Cambridge to work on a project building on existing research for which a period of residence in Cambridge is demonstrably appropriate, although they would not rule out the initiation of a new piece of work where there is a realistic expectation that it could be completed by the end of the tenure of the Fellowship.

Applicants should write or send an e-mail to the Secretary, Smuts Memorial Fund, 4 Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RZ, UK (e-mail kfw20@admin.cam.ac.uk), for an application package. Applicants should note that for security reasons neither applications nor references can be accepted via e-mail and should make arrangements accordingly. The closing date for completed applications and references to be received in Cambridge is 27 August 2008 and applications received after this date will be declined. The Managers will appoint Fellows in November 2008 and all applicants will be notified of the result.