Fulford Non-Stipendiary Junior Research Fellowships
Somerville College invites applications for up to ten Fulford Non-Stipendiary Junior Research Fellowships for the period 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2028 (or for the duration of the postholder’s post-doctoral appointment if this is shorter). The posts are open to applicants holding research posts, or who will definitely hold research posts by 1st October 2026, from across all four divisions (Medical Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences). The posts are intended to provide the opportunity for outstanding early career researchers to benefit from association with a College, and to encourage interactions with the wider Somerville community. There is no stipend offered for these posts as they offer an association to the College, not employment.
Eligibility and selection criteria
You should hold a post-doctoral appointment or similar in a Department or Faculty of the University of Oxford and be doing research in a subject area where Somerville College has Fellows. In exceptional circumstances, those living and working in Oxford but holding a research post with another University may be considered
Applicants should have completed their doctorate or expect to have completed it before the start of the Fellowship. They should not have completed their doctorate more than five years before the start of the Fellowship, allowing for extensions due to caring responsibilities. Although the Fellowship is intended for a relatively junior scholar, this refers to the stage a candidate has reached in their career, rather than to the age of the candidate. The College welcomes qualified candidates of all ages and will take into account the individual circumstances of each in selecting the successful candidate.
A list of College Fellows and their subject areas can be found at:
https://www.some.ox.ac.uk/people/
Selection criteria will be based on: quality of research, academic fit with College Fellowship and resources, post-doctoral funding, and aptitude for teaching (if applicable). Preference will be given to applicants with an interest in public engagement and widening access work.
Benefits
- Each Fulford JRF will be paired with a College mentor, a more senior member of our academic community working in the same or a related field
- Full Common table rights i.e., free lunch and dinner whenever the College kitchens are open
- Guest membership of the Senior Common Room
- Opportunities for undergraduate teaching may also be available (which would be paid at the external tuition rates set by the Senior Tutors’ Committee). If employment is offered at a later date, then this would be subject to satisfactory right to work checks and provision of a valid NI number.
For further details please download a copy of the further particulars from the link below:
Fulford Junior Research Fellowships - Further Particulars
You must submit all elements of your application by 12:00 noon on 23 February 2026
