The Samuel Beckett Research Centre (SBRC) at the University of Reading is pleased to announce that up to 3 SBRC Visiting Research Fellowships are now available to scholars and researchers looking to conduct research and shape a new project drawing on Samuel Beckett’s life, works and/or legacies, and the University of Reading’s Beckett collections.
Fellows are expected to develop their research into an application for an externally funded grant, fellowship, or partnership using UoR collections, supported by SBRC members of staff. You will be appointed an appropriate mentor(s) to work with as part of your Fellowship. The Co-Directors of the SBRC are also open to working with Fellows on collaborative research grant bids involving the Centre.
Applicants should be close to completing, or have completed, their doctorate. Fellows will receive an allowance of up to £2,000 (subject to UK tax and national insurance) and a dedicated workspace, if required. Fellows will have access to curatorial and grant-writing support. The appointments can be taken up flexibly between April and July 2026, with mutually agreed start and end dates, to support those with caring and other responsibilities, but all expenses must be submitted by Friday 10th July 2026.
Closing date: Friday 10th April 2026, 5pm UK time. Results will be communicated shortly after.
Initial enquires should be sent to the Co-Directors of the SBRC: Professor Conor Carville (c.carville@reading.ac.uk), Dr John McKeane (j.mckeane@reading.ac.uk) and Dr Matt McFrederick (m.mcfrederick@reading.ac.uk).
Essential Criteria
· Priority will be given to candidates and applications that show the greatest academic promise and whose current and/or proposed research demonstrates a good fit with UoR holdings
· If a PhD student, applicants must be close to submitting their thesis at the time of application to this call (please include expected submission date) and be able to take the Fellowship up this academic year
· Applicants must be eligible to apply for either UK postdoctoral schemes such as the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme and the Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship (or equivalent) when they complete their Visiting Fellowship, and/or EC Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships; candidates in existing academic posts must be eligible to apply to external grant awarding bodies (national or international) in collaboration with the SBRC.
Please check your eligibility on the relevant websites before making an application.
Application Process
The completed application (please submit in word or as a pdf) to the Co-Directors of the SBRC: Professor Conor Carville (c.carville@reading.ac.uk), Dr John McKeane (j.mckeane@reading.ac.uk) and Dr Matt McFrederick (m.mcfrederick@reading.ac.uk).
· Project details to include: title of project, proposed start and end date of fellowship, objectives, methodology, an outline of potential sources to be consulted, and a description of how this project will build upon your existing research (500 words max)
· Funder/funding scheme you are intending to apply for (250 words max)
· An up-to-date curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages), including publications list
Successful applicants will receive:
· An allowance up to a maximum of £2,000 to cover travel, accommodation and living expenses during the Fellowship (subject to UK tax and National Insurance)
· Support from SBRC academic staff, expert curators, and UoR Research Development Manager
· Workspace and reading room provision
Expectations:
· You will write up a blog post or contribute to a podcast episode at the end of the project and contribute to the wider SBRC research culture
· Visiting Fellows must spend time in the Beckett Collections at the University of Reading developing their project
· All awarded funding must be spent before 10 July 2026
· Fellows will work with SBRC academics and the Research Development Manager to develop concrete plans for research funding applications or other grant/collaborative bids, to be submitted at an agreed time.
The Samuel Beckett Society 