Professor R H Osborne Visiting Research Fellowships
The Professor R. H. Osborne Visiting Research Fellowships bring exceptional scholars from universities or similar academic/research institutions in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania or Slovakia to the School of Geography, University of Nottingham to pursue their research.
The fellowships are funded by a generous bequest from Professor Osborne. This requires that applicants be a national of one of the countries specified and below the age of 45.
The fellowship scheme
The research undertaken will relate to the research themes within the School of Geography at the University of Nottingham. The Fellow will carry out research over one year leading to the publication of a minimum of two academic papers. Fellows will be encouraged to apply for additional funding to extend their period of research at Nottingham.
Each fellowship offers:
- one year of independent funding to conduct research while based at the University of Nottingham
- fellowship salary on the level 4 Research and Teaching scale (£34,866 to £46,485 per annum) for early career researchers, or the level 5 Research and Teaching scale (£41,421 to £56,921 per annum) for more experienced applicants
- participation in mentoring and career development schemes
- office accommodation in the School of Geography, computer facilities and printing, access to libraries and up to £1,000 of research expenses
Eligibility
Candidates should be exceptional scholars from a University or similar academic/research institution in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania or Slovakia. Applicants should be nationals of one of these specified countries and must also have submitted or gained a PhD in one of these countries. They must be below the age of 45. We positively encourage applications from members of groups who are currently underrepresented in the school.
Recruitment timeline
- Scheme launch: 1 December 2024
- Discussions and EOI with applicants and geography staff: 1 December 2024 to March 2025
- Deadline for submission of applications: 31 March 2025
- Shortlisting and interviews: April/May 2025
- Start date of fellowship: 1 October 2025
- End date of fellowship: 30 September 2026
How to apply
Applicants must discuss their proposed application with a member of academic staff in the School of Geography. View a list of our academic staff. Applications must be made using the Osborne Visiting Fellowship application form.
Application form (Word)
Applicants will be required to demonstrate how their work will complement and enhance research excellence in the School of Geography at Nottingham. Further information can be obtained from Professor Matthew Johnson (Research Director) or Professor Matthew Jones (Head of School).
Before submitting an application form please ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. Send completed application forms together with your CV to geogenquiries@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk by 31 March 2025.
Professor Richard Horsley Osborne (1925-2018)
Professor Richard (Dick) Horsley Osborne (1925-2018) was born in Derbyshire and gained a first class degree in Geography at Nottingham in 1950. He received a scholarship from the London School of Economics and completed his PhD there in 1952. He lectured at the University of Edinburgh 1952-59 and then returned to Nottingham as Lecturer, and from 1967, as Professor. He was Head of the Department of Geography at Nottingham and was also Dean of the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences.
Dick Osborne specialised in the economic and social geography of Eastern Europe and the UK. He carried out extensive fieldwork in Eastern Europe during the 1960s and in 1967 his book East-Central Europe: A Geographical Introduction to Seven Socialist States was published by Chatto and Windus. He also wrote books on population change in England and Wales (1966); and higher education in the East Midlands (1980).
Professor Osborne left a legacy to the School of Geography ‘to establish visiting fellowships available to scholars below the age of 45 years to be nominated by the School of Geography from Universities or academic/research institutions in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Romania and Hungary.’ The first Osborne Fellowship was awarded in 2022.
Fellowship recipients
| Year | Name | Project |
|---|
| 2024/25 |
Gyorgy Mikle |
|
| 2023/24 |
Laszlo Demeter |
Driving forces, perceptions of conservationists and management conflicts of secondary forest encroachment on abandoned arable lands |
| 2022/23 |
Noémi Ujházy |
The Politics of International Soil Science in the Early 20th Century |