Online applications are invited for the Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship Program 2024. The last date for the application is January 21, 2024.
About Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship
The Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship Program is a globally competitive fellowship program for early and mid-career researchers whose work is dedicated to improving the learning and development of children and youth worldwide. The relevant disciplines include, but are not limited to, education sciences, psychology, economics, sociology, behavioural science, computer science, pedagogy, linguistics, neurosciences, and science of learning.
Particularly encouraged to apply are scholars who seek to combine multiple levels of analysis and engage in interdisciplinary work. A special focus lies on work to understand and embrace variability in learning; promote the generation, transfer, and practical application of evidence on human learning and development or increase the capacity to scale up effective education policies and practices.
Jacob Fellowship Details
The Jacobs Foundation is especially interested in the following questions:
- How do variations in individuals and contextual factors influence learning, development and learning outcomes?
- How can we design for learner variability at scale to enable all children to reach their potential as learners and in life?
- How can we produce interventions that reduce growing inequalities in children’s learning and overcome disparities in the impacts of digital technologies?
- How can we address the role of data to help learners and teachers make informed decisions about their learning and teaching?
- What school-level learning approaches, environments, and experiences are effective in improving learning outcomes in heterogeneous student groups?
Fellowships are awarded to highly talented and innovative early and mid-career researchers who have received their PhD within the past 10 years. Funding from Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowships is awarded directly to the fellow’s institution and may be used by the fellow over three years to cover a portion of the fellow’s salary and for any purpose in support of the fellow’s research, such as assistants’ salaries, equipment, technical assistance, professional travel, or trainee support.
General Information
- Target Group: Highly talented early career researchers. The ideal candidate has received his/her PhD or equivalent degree within the past 10 years.
- Funding period: 3 years
- Funding Amount: CHF 150’000
- Use of funds to cover the fellow’s salary: Up to 50% of the grant amount
- Funding of overhead/indirect costs: Up to 10% of the total amount of funding (i.e. CHF 15’000) in addition to the basic grant.
- Additional Funding: Fellows may apply for additional funding at the end of the fellowship to conduct further projects with a focus on evidence-to-action and scientific capacity building.
- Non-financial benefits: In addition to providing fellows with independent and competitive funding, the program offers a wide range of non-financial benefits.
Eligibility Criteria
The ideal candidate
- Has obtained his/her PhD or equivalent degree within the past 10 years;
- Is employed at an institution of higher education or research institute;
- Is conducting high-quality research in an area of interest to the Jacobs Foundation;
- Is committed to engaging with the Jacobs Foundation and the Fellowship Network and contributing to the Foundation’s activities.
Selection Criteria
- The following selection criteria are weighted equally:
- Past research accomplishments and publication record
- Creativity and potential for serving as a leader in the scientific community
- Scientific quality of methods and data
- International relevance of the fellow’s planned work
- Potential for promoting human development and learning
- Alignment of planned projects with the goals of the Jacobs Foundation
- Willingness to support the Foundation’s aims and to engage with us
Application Steps
- Initial application: The first round of application focuses strongly on the alignment of your research plans with the Jacobs Foundation’s goals. In addition, we want to know if you would be a strong member of the network.
- Extended proposal: The second round focuses more strongly on details of your planned research for the fellowship period. We want to know more about your ideas for your work as well as how you would engage with the Foundation and the network.
- Interview: During the interview, we want to find out if there is a mutual fit between you and the Foundation and clarify open questions that we have based on your written application. It is more a conversation than a scientific interview.
- Review: All three steps are conducted by a team consisting of internal (Jacobs Foundation) and external reviewers in a multiplicity of disciplines. Applicants who make it to the second or third step will be given feedback on their application.
A few tips on how to write a Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship Application
General
- Answer all questions posed in the online application form.
- We can only accept applications in English.
- Be as concise but also as informative and illustrative as you can within the word limit. References are within the word limit. Budgets, photographs, or charts are not required.
- Do not focus on a single project only. We want to know more about your research plans and ideas for the next 3-5 years.
Alignment
- Make your application for the Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship.
- Please visit the Jacobs Foundation website for more information on the general goals of the Foundation, and especially the Strategy 2030.
- Explain your motivation for the application and for collaboration if awarded with a Fellowship.
- We are looking for highly talented, creative, innovative, and committed applicants with a high interest in engaging with the Jacobs Foundation, and other Fellows as well as the broader network. Your application should demonstrate your ability and willingness to be an active member of a distinguished network.
- Be aware of the selection criteria. Only candidates who score high on all criteria can be considered for a fellowship.
How to Apply?
Interested candidates can directly apply through this link.
Deadline
The last date for the application is January 21, 2024.
Contact Details
For any questions, please email fellowship[at]jacobsfoundation[dot]org.
