About the Role

The Open University is the UK’s largest university and is a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. 

The Fellowship Scheme

The ESPRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship is a prestigious scheme aimed at the best recent PhD students whose PhD studies were funded in part or entirely by the EPSRC. It allows students to launch their research career by providing salary funding for 12 months beyond the point of PhD submission.

The Role

The Doctoral Prize fellowship is an opportunity for the candidate to start their career as an independent researcher, hence applications from outside the Open University are encouraged. 

Doctoral Prize fellows are invited to submit their own research proposal within the remit of the EPSRC, and more specifically in one the following areas: Physics, General Engineering, Mathematical Sciences and IT, Systems Sciences and Software Engineering. 

A Proposal Form should be completed (see below). The proposal will need to include an element of new research, though this can build on the candidate's PhD research. Apart from a description of the proposed research, the proposal will also include a statement of planned outputs and impact activities.

The University will provide the Research Associate with an excellent research and training environment, including a development programme for early career researchers.

The Research Associate will have a mentor who they need to identify prior to making an application to the Fellowship scheme.

About the Unit

The Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is comprised:

• School of Computing & Communications
• School of Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Sciences
• School of Engineering & Innovation
• School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences
• School of Mathematics & Statistics
• School of Physical Sciences

The Faculty of STEM consists of 2500 staff including 1,800 Associate Lecturers. The Faculty delivers over 185 modules across undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum, supporting nearly 19,000 students (full time equivalents) which is 29% of the OU total. 

The Faculty generates more research income (circa £17M) than any other Faculty in the University, supported by a comprehensive laboratory infrastructure. 

We are proud of our distinctive values and capabilities underpinning our aspiration. The full Job Description can be found HERE. 

Key Responsibilities

General Responsibilities: 

Functioning independently, but with the support of their mentor, the Doctoral Prize Researcher (DPR) will:

• carry out the research and other activities set out in their research proposal.

Specific Role Responsibilities: 

• engage with professional development opportunities when needed or desired.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• must have recently received support for their doctoral studies from EPSRC in the form of fees and/or stipend (i.e., at time of the deadline for applications for this position, support from EPSRC should have been received no longer than one year ago). They must quote the grant reference number in their application to confirm eligibility.
• must have submitted their PhD thesis when submitting their application. Note that any offers are conditional on successful completion of the PhD or an examiners’ recommendation of at least a pass with minor corrections.
• propose a project within the remit of the EPSRC, specifically in at least one of the following areas: Physics, General Engineering, Mathematical Sciences and IT, Systems Sciences and Software Engineering.
• identify a suitable Open University project mentor who should not be applicant’s PhD supervisor. Applicants can contact stem-research-student-support@open.ac.uk for advice on identifying a mentor or, if they already have an Open University staff contact, approach them directly.  
• submit a research proposal of high quality that includes an element of new research, though this can build on the applicant’s PhD research. Apart from a description of the proposed research, the proposal should include a statement of planned outputs and impact activities.

Desirable

• experience of planning and engaging with research impact activities.
• evidence of ambition and potential to become a leader in their field of study. 

Essential Requirements

To apply for this role please submit the following:

• An up to date CV that includes details of academic qualifications and research experience.
• Completed Research Proposal Form and Mentor Support Form - upload both documents as 1 document. The Research Proposal Form can be found HERE and the Mentor Support Form can be found HERE. 

You will need to have your documents ready ahead of submitting the electronic application.

Next Steps

Interview date: Likely to be week commencing 21st July 2025.

Work location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that attendance on our Milton Keynes campus will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. 

Flexible working 

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what may work for you and the role.

Early closing date notification 

We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.