UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies

This page provides definitions for the various fellowship roles available to scholars. Application procedures are at the bottom of this page.

Research Fellows

Research Fellows normally reside in the Department in long-term collaborative projects with academic staff and provide funds to cover full economic costs. Applicants must contribute to the intellectual life of the Department and must have a sponsor from among the core academic staff. These appointments tend to be fixed-term, lasting one or more years, and renewal is subject to Departmental approval.

Honorary Research Associates (HRAs)

Honorary Research Associates (HRA) contribute to the intellectual life of the department in less formal ways. Normally HRAs are academic researchers seeking simple research courtesies of an academic institution in London. Applicants must contribute to the intellectual life of the Department and must have a sponsor from among the core academic staff. HRAs are expected to be self-sufficient and to require no departmental resource. These appointments tend to be fixed-term, lasting one or more years, and renewal is subject to Departmental approval.

Appointments of Honorary Senior Research Associate are made on the same basis to those holding appointments equivalent to UCL's Professor rank.

A list of HRAs is provided below.

Academic Visitors

Academic Visitors are appointments for academics from overseas who wish to spend a period at UCL, normally of not less than four weeks and not more than one calendar year, pursuing their own research either individually or in association with members of staff of UCL in related fields of interest (link). Fees normally are charged. Applicants must contribute to the intellectual life of the Department and must have a sponsor from among the core academic staff.

Visiting Research (PhD) Students

A scheme exists for Visiting Research (PhD) Students (link). Fees normally are charged.

Application procedures

All honorary appointments are made at the discretion of the Department.

Departmental guidelines while considering honorary appointments include:

• there should be strong overlap with the interests, aims, and objectives of the Department, including, e.g., exchanging and importing expertise, forging international links, and acting as a "mentor" department to groups wishing to develop expertise in our fields
• there should be no financial cost to the Department or these should be identified and funded by the visitor
• a member of core academic staff must be identified to act as host (please ensure staff member has agreed to this prior to applying for honorary status)
• the overall availability of Department and College resources must be taken into account
• the proposed length of visit should be appropriate to the aims of the visit and the benefit of the Department

Research Fellow Applications: Please ask your sponsor to communicate your request for Research Fellow status to the Head of Department.

HRA Applications: Please download the application form (link) and return it with a current CV to Alasdair Tatam at rfa@ucl.ac.uk.

Visitor Applications: Please see this page for further information.