10 Jul 08

Dr Anna Marmodoro is one of the 10 new British Academy Post-doctoral Fellows at Oxford University

Oxford University’s Humanities and Social Sciences divisions have scooped a fifth of the prestigious 2008 British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships. Awards totalling £2.3m - £600,000 more than last year - will allow ten outstanding early career researchers to strengthen their experience of research in the university environment for the next three years.

The 10 new Fellows, seven of whom are in the Humanities, have all recently completed their doctorates and are drawn both from within Oxford and from other universities in the UK and abroad. This year almost 700 researchers applied for the Fellowships, which is a record number, while the British Academy made 49 awards.

The research interests of the Oxford Fellows reflect the diversity of Humanities at Oxford: from causal powers in Aristotle’s philosophy of mind to the dissenting uses of history in the Restoration and legal problems arising from European Union action against terrorism.

Applicants were helped by research facilitators in divisions and departments who provide dedicated advice for postdoctoral and other research funding applications, as well as special training events. The Humanities research facilitation team also stage an induction day for new Fellows providing information about living and researching in Oxford. New Oxford Fellows are provided with extra financial support via a career development allowance, and facilitators arrange colleges for those unfamiliar with Oxford.

Head of Humanities, Professor Sally Shuttleworth, said: 'I am delighted that so many of our applications have been successful. Oxford, with its superb library resources, vibrant seminar culture, and supportive college environment, offers a wonderful starting point for young academics. We look forward to welcoming our new postdoctoral fellows into our community, and watching their careers flourish in the future.'

The British Academy, established by Royal Charter in 1902, is the national academy for the humanities and social sciences. It is an independent, self-governing fellowship of more than 800 scholars, elected for distinction and achievement in humanities and social sciences.

Robin Jackson, Chief Executive and Secretary of the British Academy said: 'The Academy's Postdoctoral Fellowships are highly prized among researchers and it is one of our most competitive funding schemes. I congratulate this year's successful applicants on their achievement.

'These awards make a major contribution to the development of early-career researchers, encouraging the retention of the most outstanding academic promise within higher education in the UK. The scheme delivers first-class research work and transferable skills, strengthening cultural enrichment, quality of life and economic impact. The benefits of the scheme were endorsed by the Government's 2007 spending review, which significantly increased the Academy’s funding for these Fellowships.'

The new British Academy Post-Doctorate Fellows are:

Dr Anna Akasoy (Oriental Studies Institute)
Dr Hugh Doherty (History)
Dr Brandon Dotson (OSI)
Dr Fabienne Marchand ( Classics)
Dr Anna Marmodoro (Philosophy)
Dr Darrell Rowbottom (Philosophy)
Dr George Southcombe (History)
Dr V Grotti (Anthropology)
Dr A Hinarejos Parga (Law)
Dr M Kan (Sociology)