The Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies at the University of Warwick encourages outstanding postdoctoral scholars to apply to The Leverhulme Trust’s Early Career Fellowships scheme, for Fellowships starting in the 2022/23 academic year. The three-year Fellowship contributes 100% of the Fellow’s salary in the first year, and thereafter 50% of the salary, with the balance being paid by the University. Appointments at the University of Warwick are dependent on the award of the Fellowship.

About the Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies

English and Comparative Literary Studies was founded in 1965. Its research and teaching are interdisciplinary and we work closely with departments in both the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Social Sciences, in particular Philosophy, History, Film and Television Studies, and the School of Creative Arts, Performance and Visual Cultures. We were ranked 1st in the UK in the 2014 Research Exercise Framework, having received the highest research ratings in previous Research Assessment Exercises (2001; 2008); and 22nd in the world in the 2021 QS World Rankings. The current Head of Department is Professor Emma Mason. Our research is interdisciplinary, comparative, and dynamic. We have particular strengths in American studies, eighteenth and nineteenth-century studies, environmentalism and ecocriticism, gender studies, the literary and cultural history of the medieval and early modern period, performance studies, poetry and poetics, and World Literature. Our major research centres include Critical Environments, Poetry at Warwick, and the Warwick Research Collective (WReC). We were also involved in establishing the Centre for the Study of the Renaissance in 1993, which brings together staff from five departments engaged in the study of Renaissance Europe, and which enjoys formal academic links with several institutions including the Warburg Institute, the Sorbonne, and with the University of Venice. We have close links with the Centre for Research into Philosophy, Literature, and the Arts, the Early Modern and Eighteenth-Century Centre, and the Yesu Persaud Centre for Caribbean Studies.

How to Apply

The Department will carry out an internal selection stage to identify the candidates that it wishes to put forward. We strongly advise potential candidates to make initial contact with the Director of Research, Professor Pablo Mukherjee (u.mukherjee@warwick.ac.uk) as soon as possible.

To be considered for the internal selection round, prospective applicants will need to submit a finalised Expression of Interest containing the following information to Professor Mukherjee by 12 noon on Thursday 9th December 2021:

• A short description of their project (maximum 2 A4 pages)
• A copy of their CV (maximum 2 A4 pages)
• The name of an academic in their proposed host Department whose research is relevant to their project and who would be willing to endorse their application. Although the Leverhulme Trust do not insist upon a formal mentoring arrangement, this is a requirement for the University of Warwick. Candidates should contact this member of staff at the earliest opportunity, and in advance of submitting the Expression of Interest.
• The names of three referees. Please note that referees will not be asked to provide a statement at this stage.

Eligibility

Candidates should consult the guidance on the Leverhulme Trust's website prior to submitting an Expression of Interest. In particular, they should note that applicants must:

• hold a doctoral degree or equivalent research experience by the time they take up the Fellowship. If currently registered for a doctorate, they must have submitted their thesis by 4pm on 24th February 2022;
• have not yet have held a permanent academic appointment whose duties include research;
• not have existing funding in place for a duration equivalent to or greater than the duration of the Early Career Fellowship;
• be within four years of the award of their doctorate. Those who submitted their thesis for viva voce examination before 24th February 2018 are not eligible to apply, unless they have since had a career break. However, due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the Trust will accept applications from candidates who submitted their doctoral thesis for examination up to five years prior to the closing date if they can make a case for their work having been impacted by the pandemic.
• either hold a degree from a UK higher education institution at the time of taking up the Fellowship or at the time of the application deadline hold a non-permanent academic position in the UK (e.g. fixed-term lectureship, fellowship) which commenced no less than 4 months prior to 24th February 2022.

The University will support successful candidates in the development of full applications, the deadline for which is 24th February 2022.

Please note that in our experience, early contact with the department is key to developing a competitive application.