LUCAS-LAHRI Virtual Research Fellowships Scheme 2022

“African Knowledges for Global Challenges”

The Leeds University Centre for African Studies (LUCAS), in collaboration with the Leeds Arts and Humanities Research Institute (LAHRI), is pleased to announce up to eight short-term virtual visiting research fellowships for 2022.

The Virtual Visiting Research Fellowships are short-term (three-month) fellowships for academics based at institutions on the African continent, who through these positions will be given an opportunity to undertake a well-defined piece of research with a view to establishing research partnerships with academics at the University of Leeds. Each fellowship comes with an award of £1,000, to be used by the applicant for research expenses and/or buy-out from teaching duties at their institution.

The scheme is thematically linked to the idea of African Knowledges for Global Challenges, which formed the basis of a Sadler Seminar Series at Leeds in 2020/21. This theme explores questions related to the Sustainable Development Goals and so-called “global challenges” from critical decolonial and Africa-centred perspectives. Hence, we welcome proposals that foreground “Africa” as a starting point for interrogating existing and developing new knowledges relating to major societal challenges.

The ‘well-defined piece of research’ that the Fellow will work on during the fellowship will have a tangible output, in the form of a publication (jointly authored with, or otherwise with active input from, a Leeds academic) AND/OR a grant application (jointly prepared with a Leeds academic and supported by LAHRI). We especially welcome applications from researchers whose work involves close collaboration with organisations or groups in the creative or cultural sectors, and from researchers who are interested in accessing materials held in Special Collections at the University of Leeds.

During their tenure, the Fellows will be associated with the University of Leeds, administratively hosted by LAHRI, while intellectually embedded in the research community of LUCAS. They will have access to online library resources and participate in research activities of LUCAS and other units relevant to their research interests. Each Fellow will also deliver an open presentation, for example as a virtual student-facing lecture or a research seminar, based on the topic of their research.

Eligibility criteria

Candidates who have completed their PhD by the application deadline at any university are eligible, as long as they are currently based at an academic institution on the African continent. Proposals from arts, humanities, humanistic social sciences and adjacent disciplines are welcome as long as they broadly and critically engage with the theme of “African Knowledges for Global Challenges”. Applicants will have to confirm that a University of Leeds academic member of staff has agreed to support their application. The mentor is required to add a supporting statement to the application form. (Please note that two of the Fellowships are ring-fenced for researchers whose mentors are based in the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science.)

For the duration of your Fellowship you will be a visitor at the University of Leeds. You remain liable to and the responsibility of your home institution for all work you conduct during your Visiting Fellowship period. All work carried out must comply with the regulations of your home institution.

Deadlines

The deadline for applications is 5pm (GMT) on Monday 31 January 2022  

The start date for the three-month Fellowship period is flexible, but we expect that all Fellowships will be completed by the end of December 2022.

Please download the Scheme Details and Expression of Interest form for further information.