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Aresearch fellow is an academicresearch position at auniversity or a similar research institution, usually foracademic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator.
Researchfellow positions vary in different countries and academic institutions.
In India, the position of research fellowship is provided to scholars from various streams like science, arts, literature, management, and others: the government, academics, research institutes, and private companies fund research fellowships. Research fellows research under the supervision of experienced faculty, professors, heads of department, and the Dean on two different posts known asJunior Research Fellowship (JRF) and senior research fellow (SRF). Research organisations likeICAR,CSIR,UGC,ICMR recruit research fellows throughNational Eligibility Test. After the completion of pre-defined tenure, JRF can be considered for a senior research fellowship based on the research fellow's performance and/or an interview conducted by the committee of the research institute.
In theRussian Federation, the position and title research fellow is unknown; however, there is a broadly similar position of (Russian:Научный сотрудник,lit. 'scientific worker'). This position normally requires a degree ofCandidate of Sciences approximately corresponding to the PhD. More senior positions normally require, in addition to the degree mentioned above, a track record of publications or certified inventions, as well as practical contributions to major research and development projects.[1]
| Translation (variant) | Original | Russian abbreviation | Scientific degree or job seniority required | Number of publications required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| junior researcher | младший научный сотрудник | м. н. с. | Candidate of Sciences or 3 years | 1 in 5 years |
| researcher | научный сотрудник | н. с. | Candidate of Sciences or 5 years | 3 in 5 years |
| senior researcher | старший научный сотрудник | с. н. с. | Candidate of Sciences or 10 years | 5 in 5 years |
| leading researcher | ведущий научный сотрудник | в. н. с. | Doctor of Sciences or Candidate of Sciences (in exceptionary cases) | 7 in 5 years |
| principal researcher | главный научный сотрудник | г. н. с. | Doctor of Sciences | 10 in 5 years |
Research fellows in South Africa are considered an asset to research organisations and universities. There are highly ranked universities such asUniversity of the Witwatersrand,University of Stellenbosch Business School, andRhodes University which offer fellowships to South African nationals in certain fields of research.[3]
In the United Kingdom, a research fellow is a broad category, used to indicate a scholar on a research-oriented professional development track. In many universities, a research fellow is a career grade of aResearch Career Pathway, following on from a postdoctoral position such as research associate, and may be open-ended, subject to normal probation regulations. For some universities, research career grades roughly correspond to the grades of the academic pathway in the following way: research fellow (a lower or same grade as alecturer),[4] principal research fellow—reader, whereas senior research fellow is somewhere between alecturer andsenior lecturer orassociate professor.[5] Some universities, such as Cambridge, restrict Professorial grades only to academics who have excelled in both teaching and research.[6] Outside of faculty appointments, the title of "Research Fellow" or "Senior Research Fellows" can be also used as honorary or temporary awarded "fellowships" to distinguished academics by research institutes or colleges, usually from different institutions.[7]
AtUniversity College, Oxford, Professorial Fellows are the holders of Statutory Chairs, the most senior professorships atOxford: they are members of the College's Governing Body.[8]
Senior Research Fellowships (SRFs) are awarded to researchers with "academic standing comparable to that of a distinguished research professorship at a major university."[9] They recognize scholars with distinguished research records and publications.[10] This position originated in the 15th century as a way of allowing scholars time and funding to pursue independent research without having teaching duties.[11]
As with the professorial fellows, senior research fellows are research-only posts; with the rise of the career grade, there will normally be a formal requirement of a moderate amount of teaching and/or supervision (often at postgraduate level). AtAll Souls College, Oxford, senior research fellows are 7-year-long positions that are equivalent to a tenured position in the United States.[12] This position is equivalent to a full professorship.[13]
| Funding body | Fellowship |
|---|---|
| Wellcome Trust | |
| Leverhulme Trust |
|
| Royal Society | |
| Royal Academy of Engineering | |
| British Academy |
| International | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
