Research and Engagement

Chancellor’s Fellowships

CAHSS are recruiting the next cohort of Chancellor’s Fellows. The closing date for applications is Monday 28th August 2023.

Chancellor’s Fellowships are designed to support talented early career researchers to develop into a leading research-active academic at the University of Edinburgh.

The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is appointing up to 10 Chancellor’s Fellows who will have a demonstrable track record of innovative research, teaching and/or knowledge exchange, and the potential to make an outstanding contribution to furthering the University’s and the College’s strategic goals. 

Six of the Schools within CAHSS are currently recruiting Chancellor’s Fellows: University of Edinburgh Business School, Edinburgh College of Art, Moray House School of Education & Sport; School of Health in Social Science; School of History, Classics & Archaeology; and, School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences. Applications are particularly welcome from researchers working across different disciplines, and who have experience of/demonstrable potential to lead interdisciplinary initiatives. While we invite applications from all disciplines and areas, in order to help realise the University and College research priorities, we particularly welcome applicants who can make a key contribution to furthering interdisciplinary research and innovation in three College priority research themes (with potential for collaboration within the College and across the University’s three Colleges):

  • Digital and Data research and innovation in the College encompasses the digital humanities, arts, and social sciences. Key initiatives include the Edinburgh Futures Institute. Indicative research topics of interest to Schools in the College include (amongst others): philosophical, legal theoretical and technical dimensions of AI, data, and the rule of law; digital economies, regulatory policy, antitrust law, and competition; digital technology and the arts; machine learning in acoustics and audio; design and digital media; corpus linguistics and the linguistics of large language models; languages, interculturality, and literacies; experiential AI; fintech and open finance; new forms of governance and regulation; innovative uses of big data for understanding society; the application of innovative methods in the social sciences; digital and data education; digital health solutions; architectural computing, urban data science, and sustainability.
  • Health and Well-Being research and innovation in the College encompasses the medical/health humanities, arts, and social sciences. Key cross-College initiatives are the Mason Institute and the new Edinburgh Mental Health Network. Indicative research topics of interest to Schools in the College include (amongst others): archaeological science, ancient medicine, and history of medicine; psychological therapies; physical activity, health, and wellbeing; sports science; children and young people’s rights, education, and wellbeing; literature and medicine; digital health solutions; social aspects of mental health; health, well-being, and employment; refugees, health, and humanitarian action.
  • Sustainability and Climate Change research and innovation in the College encompasses environmental humanities, arts, and social sciences. Cross-College interests in this theme are now brought together in the new Edinburgh Earth Initiative. Indicative research topics of interest to Schools in the College include (amongst others): ancient climate and environmental history; ecopoetics in textual and visual media; architectural computing, urban data science, and sustainability; ecocritical approaches to the study of literature, film and culture; transnational/global cultures of climate change; environmental philosophy; decolonization and sustainable development; interdisciplinary narrative futures; climate change finance and investment; climate change economics; climate change and management; environmental regulation and sustainability; sustainable ocean science; ocean science and heritage; sustainability and cultural heritage; the implications of climate change for food security, migration, and displacement; social justice and inclusion; teacher education in sustainability.

Given the particular barriers facing female researchers and those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups, the scheme aims to appoint at least 50% female and 20% BAME applicants. We therefore particularly encourage applications from these groups and from other under-represented groups such as disabled candidates. We also encourage applications from those with non-traditional career paths, including those returning from a period of parental leave, or those who have moved to academia from a career in another sector.

Chancellor’s Fellows are being recruited by six Schools within CAHSS and candidates are permitted to apply to more than one school if they work across more than one discipline. Candidates wishing to do so should make a separate application to each School. You can read more about the Schools in the College here

Full details of the fellowship and how to apply are included in the detailed job description. When applying, it is essential that you attach:

  1. A curriculum vitae, including: career/employment history and details of any career breaks, specifying the duration of any breaks in months; a summary of formal training and qualifications; relevant experience and evidence of recognition such as prizes and memberships of professional bodies and a list of publications/outputs.  Please restrict the total length of the CV and outputs list to a maximum of 5 pages of A4.
  2. Please also attach a short covering letter.
  3. A two-page outline of your proposed research programme, including: a research plan which particularly concentrates on for the first 2-3 years and highlights particularly novelty and uniqueness; details of any planned activities to maximise collaboration, partnership and knowledge exchange; where relevant, identification of any alignment to School, College and/or University research strategies; fit to applicant track record (skills, experience and outputs).

Please apply online on the University of Edinburgh Vacancies websiteThere is a separate advert and application for each School recruiting Chancellor’s Fellows:

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions here before making an enquiry.

Closing date Monday 28th August 2023