Academics interested in researching rural innovation and enterprise or addressing the grand challenges in rural areas are being encouraged to apply for a Fellowship at Newcastle University.

Applications are now open until 6 April 2022 for the Newcastle University Academic Track Fellowships scheme (NUAcT) under the theme of ‘Cities and Place’. The scheme aims to find and develop research leaders of the future.

‘Cities and Place’ is a major focus at Newcastle University. This includes the work of the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) which was set up in 2020 to unlock the potential of rural economies, building on the strong foundations of the Centre for Rural Economy over the last 30 years.

Among the highlighted opportunity areas within the Fellowship call are:

• Rural innovation and enterprise, included in ‘Environment, Sustainability and Health’

• Behavioural change for addressing the grand challenges in rural areas, featured in ‘Complex Interventions, Behaviour Change and Care’.

Excellent track-record in rural research

NICRE director Jeremy Phillipson, Professor of Rural Development at CRE, said: “This NUAcT call for ‘Cities and Place’ highlights the significance Newcastle University places on rural innovation and enterprise.

“For three decades the CRE has been at the forefront of interdisciplinary research in this area and, with the establishment of NICRE alongside the National Innovation Centre for Ageing, we have the platform to delve deeper into this field and expand our expertise.

“With the Government’s focus on Levelling Up, now is the ideal time to further explore the vast contributions rural areas can make to the wider UK economy and society as a whole and the role of innovation in making this happen, and help to address the grand challenges in rural areas.

“We’d encourage academics interested in this area to apply for this Fellowship and join a world-leading university with an excellent track-record in rural research.”

For an informal discussion about the opportunities for rural enterprise and innovation, contact Jeremy Phillipson at jeremy.phillipson@ncl.ac.uk and Guy Garrod at guy.garrod@ncl.ac.uk

As further demonstration of the importance of this topic area, rural creativity, enterprise and innovation features under the ‘Culture and Creative Arts’ theme which will open for Fellowship applications in the autumn.

NUAcT offers five years’ salary, which is fully flexible (full time or part time), up to £50K research expenses and a PhD studentship. For more information see here.