Government Social Research
A number of placement opportunities within Defra have been announced under the new ESRC Placement Fellows Scheme. The scheme, jointly funded by the ESRC and a host 'partner organisation' (e.g. Government Department, Devolved Administration) allows for social science researchers to spend time in that department to undertake policy-relevant research and to upgrade the research skills of 'partner organisation' employees.
Key aims include the promotion of knowledge transfer between academic departments and 'partner organisations' and the staff employed in them, and the provision of research-informed evidence to develop and review policy. Within Defra, placement projects include: Advising on good practice in public engagement as part of Defra policymaking process; Taking forward Defra's evidence-based policymaking agenda; Development of methodologies, tools and evidence to support a more integrated management framework for natural environment policy; and, the Application of futures research to sustainable consumption and production policy development.
Applications formally open on 10 January 2006. Please contact Lesley Lilley, Senior Policy Manager at ESRC by email at lesley.lilley@esrc.ac.uk 01793 413033 for an application form, which should be returned to ESRC Registry, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1UJ by 13 February 2006.
For full details of the scheme, including how to apply, please visit the Society Today website and follow the links to Funding Opportunities > Current Funding Opportunities > ESRC Placement Fellows Scheme.