The Education, Training and Careers Committee (ETCC) (https://stfc.ukri.org/about-us/how-we-are-governed/advisory-boards/education-training-and-careers-committee/) met on 19 November 2021. The main items on the agenda were: An update on an ETCC report to STFC council; Studentship algorithm; Fellowship Review terms of reference; CDT Call; Short courses and Summer Schools; Ernest Rutherford Fellowships; Fellowship questionnaire.
The Committee welcomed Professor Carsten Welsch as the new chair, and new members Professor Victoria Martin and Dr Stephen Wilkins.
ETCC report to STFC council
ETCC gave an update to STFC council at their September meeting.
Studentship algorithm
The studentship algorithm (https://www.ukri.org/publications/student-allocation-algorithm/) is used to allocate STFC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) students. The information that feeds into the studentship algorithm is gathered every two years, based on data held by STFC which is then verified by departments. The algorithm was amended in 2018 as it had been perceived to be causing some biases in different research areas in the allocation, due to the way grant panels were awarding FEC time.
Fellowship Review terms of reference
ETCC discussed the Fellowship Review terms of reference. The Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (ERF) is the main STFC fellowship scheme and has reduced from thirteen to ten awards per annum over several years. The scheme is very competitive and there is no shortage of high-quality applicants despite the introduction of the UKRI Future Leadership Fellowship (FLF) scheme which is targeted at a similar career stage. STFC did have a postdoctoral fellowship scheme which finished around ten years ago due to funding constraints and there is currently only the Stephen Hawking Fellowship aimed at theoretical physics at the postdoctoral level. ETCC agreed to establish a sub-group to discuss the terms of reference and methodology further.
CDT Call
ETCC discussed the recent call (https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/set-up-a-centre-for-doctoral-training-in-data-intensive-science/) for up to five STFC Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Data Intensive Science(https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/set-up-a-centre-for-doctoral-training-in-data-intensive-science/). The call was opened in September 2021 and a webinar (https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/STFC-240921-FundingOpp-CDTDataIntensiveScience-WebinarSlides9Sep21.pdf.pdf) was held with the community as part of the launch. Interest from the community was high and seventeen applications were received by the 11 November 2021 closing date. There are an additional fifteen universities involved, as some applications were made in partnership. The applications were assessed by a panel and interviews were held in January 2022. It is expected that up to five CDTs will be awarded with four students per year funded by STFC with matched funding for an additional two students per year.
Short courses and Summer Schools
Bids had been received for the following short courses and summer schools (https://www.ukri.org/councils/stfc/career-and-skills-development/training/short-courses-and-summer-schools/funding-for-short-courses-and-summer-schools/) to be held in 2022: BUSSTEPP, Celestial Mechanics Theory and Applications, Data Analysis, High Energy Physics, Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics, Introductory Solar and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, NExT Workshop; Nuclear Physics. Further publicity ahead of the next call will be issued shortly.
STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowships
ETCC discussed the STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowships (ERF) (https://www.ukri.org/councils/stfc/career-and-skills-development/fellowships/ernest-rutherford-fellowships/). The closing date for applications was 16 September 2021 and 174 applications were received in total, similar to numbers received in previous years. Sifting meetings took place in January 2022. This year, STFC have introduced a separate Accelerator sub-panel as there were enough applications in this field to make it necessary.
ETCC also discussed the possibility of organising a STFC fellows’ joint event to celebrate the achievements of Ernest Rutherford and Future Leader Fellows working in STFC areas.
Fellowship questionnaire
ETCC agreed to changes to the Fellowship Questionnaire. The changes include additional questions on outcomes.