The Routes Network is delighted to announce that in partnership with Imagining Futures we are launching a scholar in residence programme for March/April 2024. 

Routes and Imagining Futures launch scholar in residence programme at University of Exeter

The Imagining Futures-Routes Scholar in Residence Programme is open for applications until 30th September 2023.

The programme is run jointly by Imagining Futures (IF – AHRC/UKRI funded) and the University of Exeter’s Routes research network, and will take place in March/April 2024. The value of the scholarship is up to £5,500 and is intended to assist scholars with travel and living costs during their visit. Only one scholarship will be awarded this year.

Visiting scholars will spend up to 4 weeks based at the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus pursuing a research project relating to the theme of law and mobility throughout time. They will have access to research collections and be part of a program of activities and discussions, including an invitation to present at an international workshop on the theme.The ideal candidate will engage with dimensions of one or more of the following questions, whether concerning the present day or a longer historical perspective:

• How can taking a mobilities perspective as the starting point lead us to think differently about legal jurisdiction and supra-national protocols? In other words, if we take movement, rather than sedentarism, as the norm within human societies.

• How may alternative or customary/traditional legal protocols operate within contexts of displacement such as refugee camps (or other present or historical contexts), where legal jurisdiction is ambiguous, absent or contested? 

• How do displaced individuals relate to and experience legal systems within host states (or their own states if internally displaced), especially in relation to issues beyond those of human rights frameworks that directly concern the legal status of the refugee?

In line with Imagining Futures’ research priorities, we particularly encourage applications from those working creatively with archives – understood in the broadest possible sense, including non-textual forms of archiving – and engaging with the past in the context of negotiating visions of the future.

During the period of the scholarship, Routes and IF colleagues will provide opportunities for discussions about the candidate’s chosen research project and facilitate connections with relevant colleagues and institutions. In particular, they will be working with the four Routes/IF Coordinators: Nick Gill, Ben Hudson, Elena Isayev, Helena Wray. Candidates will be invited and encouraged to take part in IF and Routes activities and will present their work or work in progress at a workshop to be held in March/April 2024.

What does the scholarship cover?

We provide financial (up to the amount of the scholarship), administrative and in-kind support for: 

• All reasonable travel expenses, including visa costs
• Travel insurance for the duration of the visit
• Housing
• Daily allowance for living costs
• Reasonable research costs (e.g. travel in the UK to workshops, collections and archives)
• Access to University of Exeter Library and Facilities 

Please note, the scholarship does not cover:

• Any salary expenses
• English language training
• Fees for long-term or full-time university courses

Eligibility

• Applicants should be a post-doctoral (or equivalent) or early-career researcher. We will also consider those holding MA-level qualifications if they have additional experience or publications, equivalent to postgraduate level work.
• Applicants will be conducting or will have detailed plans to conduct research relevant to the themes outlined above.
• Applicants will have a good working knowledge of academic English and the ability to communicate their ideas clearly.
• We especially welcome applications from people who have lived experience of, or who are currently experiencing, displacement, or working within such contexts.

How to apply:

Please send the following documents by email to routes@exeter.ac.uk by 17:00 UK time 30th September 2023. Please use 11-point font size or above – and leave margins of at least 2 cm. Any images, graphs or appendices can be added in addition to the main application material.

1. Letter of motivation (1 page). This should outline why you wish to take part in the scholar-in-residence programme, and any relevant context concerning your situation we need to take into consideration.
2. CV (2 pages). Please include information on education, relevant professional or other experience, technical competencies necessary to carry out your proposed programme of research, any project leadership or participations, publications, funding grants.
3. Research proposal for the work you intend to conduct while you are in Exeter (up to 1000 words, excluding bibliography). You should also include a section indicating why you are the ideal person to be carrying out this work. This will help us make a decision and will be essential for writing any visa letters should they be required.
4. Timeline of proposed activities (1 page). This should outline what activities you intend to take part in during your time on the programme, including visits to institutions and collections.
5. Budget (see template provided).
6. 2 academic reference letters, which should be sent by referee directly to the email above by 30^th of September, clearly stating in the subject heading your name and the words ‘IF-Routes Scholar in Residence’.

Interviews will be held online (via Zoom or other platform, depending on applicant’s internet capabilities) in mid-late October 2023 and candidates will be informed of the outcome of their application by November 2023.

A pdf of the above information, with budget template, can be accessed via the link below:

Routes-IF visiting scholar

Date: 4 August 2022

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