Nomination for an AXA Research Fund Doctoral Grant

Session 2011-12

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

TheAXA Research Fund awards a number of PhD grants annually. Funding of PhDs is provided for up to 3 years, subject to satisfactory academic progress (an annual report has to be submitted each year to AXA).

Grants provide a gross annual "salary" of 25 000 € (= approx £21,000). The Fund also reimburses any additional expenses in relation to the research project (symposiums etc), on production of expenses receipts,limited to 1 000 € per annum.

Nominations for awards at Leeds should be made by Schools via the Postgraduate Scholarships Office. The maximum number of nominations that a School (registration unit) can send forward for consideration is 2. The nomination formshould be returned by e-mail to Shirley Yeadon in the Postgraduate Scholarships Office () by 2pm on11 March 2011 together with a copy of the applicant’s CV, transcripts for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and copies of 2 academic references.

The University of Leeds is permitted to nominate up to 2applicants for an award to the AXA Research Fund by the deadline of 21 March 2011. In the event of more than 2nominations being received, a University selection procedure will be put in place. The University of Leeds will inform the AXA Research Fund of the nominated applicants and AXA will then email the applicants to give detailed instructions on how to complete the required on-line AXA application form, which has to be submitted to AXA by 12.59 pm on 15 April 2011.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

  • The AXA Research Fund provides funding to applicants wishing to undertake PhD research study in one of the member states of the European Union. In such cases, the Fund does not place restrictions on the nationality of the applicant;
  • The AXA Research Fund also supportsapplicants who are citizens of one of the EU member states, or of a country associated to the EU within the meaning of FP71or Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, India) or Latin America (Brazil or Mexico). In such cases, the Fund places no restrictions on the country in which the PhD research is located;

  • Applicants already studying for a PhD are not eligible to apply.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
  • The applicant's academic excellence;

  • The innovative nature and originality of the project;
  • The international reach/international scope of the host institution;
  • The feasibility of the project (management, organisation)

ELIGIBLE RESEARCH AREAS:

Projects must fall within the scope of one of the themes identified by the AXA Scientific Board. The themes for 2010 are identified below – further details are given on the AXA Research Fund website:

  • Life Risks
  • Ageing and long term care
  • Addictions and risky behaviours
  • Emerging biomedical risks
  • SocioEconomic Risks
  • Geopolitical risks
  • Macro-economic risks
  • Large corporate risks
  • Environmental Risks
  • Natural catastrophes
  • Risks linked to climate change
The AXA Research Fund, for ethical reasons, does not fund research in the following areas:
  • Research violating national regulations
  • Research having direct military use
  • Research having potentially dangerous environmental impact
  • Biomedical research led without the informed consent of the donor
  • Research on embryo stem cells
  • Processing of private personal data without the informed consent of the concerned (including genetic information)
  • Research activities aimed at human cloning
Any research project that does not fall within the defined scope will be declared ineligible, regardless of its merits. Although these projects must fit into any of these themes, the AXA Research Fund will accept applications coming from any discipline, including but not limited to: Earth Sciences; Physics; Applied Mathematics; Social Sciences; Economics; Political Sciences; Philosophy; Chemistry; Sociology etc. Projects should contribute to a better knowledge or understanding of one of the three families of risks listed above.

Nomination for an AXA Research Fund Doctoral Grant

Session 2011-2012

This nomination form should be returned by e-mail to Shirley Yeadon in the Postgraduate Scholarships Office () by 2pm on11 March 2011 together with a copy of the applicant’s CV, transcripts for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and copies of 2 academic references.

Before a nomination for an AXA Research Fund Doctoral Grant can be considered, applicantsmust first submit a research degree study application form (applicants may apply online at

PROPOSED APPLICANT’S DETAILS

University Banner ID Number (9 digits)

Please tick if an offer of an academic place for PhD study has already been made

Title (Miss/Ms/Mrs/Mr) Surname (Family Name) First Name(s)

Country of Birth Nationality Gender (M/F) Date of Birth

Day Month Year

Permanent Home Address Correspondence Address (with dates)

Tel No:
E-Mail: / Tel No:
E-Mail:

Academic Qualifications (including any for which the applicant is currently aiming):

Name & Country of University/Institution / Dates / Qualification Obtained (eg BA/BSc) and Main Subject Area / Degree Classification (eg 1st Class Honours) / Grade (GPA) or Percentage Mark
eg 3.5/4.0 / Position in Class (eg 2/30)
Start / Finish
Name:
Country: / / / /
Name:
Country: / / / /
Name:
Country: / / / /

English Language Qualifications:

Is English the applicant’s first/native language: Yes No

If English is NOT the applicant’s first Language, please indicate the applicant’s qualifications:

IELTS Score
and Test Date / TOEFL Score
and Test Date / Other Qualification (give details)
Score:
Test Date: / Score:
Test Date:

Proposed Applicant’s Surname (Family Name) Proposed Applicant’s First Name(s)

Professional or Other Qualifications:

Dates of Course / Title of Course / Qualifications obtained or to be taken (give dates and grades)

Employment History (including any industrial experience or other relevant practical experience):

Name and Address of Employer / Job Title / Dates
From / To

Publication Details/Events Organised/Prizes or Awards:

Please provide details of any published peer reviewed papers, journal papers or conference papers at national or international level, together with details of any performances, compositions, exhibitions organised and details of any prizes or awards received.

Total No of Publications: / Details of up to 5 Publications most relevant to application:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
No of Performances/Compositions/Exhibitions: / Details of up to 3 Events most relevant to application:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Total Number of Prizes/Awards: / Details of up to 2 Prizes/Awards most relevant to application:
(i)
(ii)

Residency Details:

Please state the country in which the applicant is normally resident:

On what date did the applicant take up residence there? How long has the applicant resided there?

Please give below details and the exact dates of any non-holiday periods spent away from the applicant’s country of normal residence.

Date From / Date To / Location / Purpose of Residence (eg education, employment etc)

Proposed Applicant’s Surname (Family Name) Proposed Applicant’s First Name(s)

Proposed Research Project (in language accessible to a lay reader).Maximum of 500 words

Word Count: (maximum of 500 words)

Why do you think that this is a particularly suitable applicant for an AXA award? Awards are based on academic excellence (assessed on the basis of previous studies); the innovative approach and originality of the PhD project as well as its feasibility (access to resources etc) and the impact of its potential outcomes; the international scope of the host research institution; and the quality of the conditions offered to the PhD applicant by the host institutionMaximum of 300 words

Word Count: (maximum of 300 words)
Signed: / Print Name:

To be signed by Head of School or Deputy

Position: / Date:

Please return the completed form by email to:

Shirley Yeadon in the Postgraduate Scholarships Office () by 2pm on11 March 2011

Applicant’s CV Attached

JYF/sy/17-Jan11

 rdscommo/scholars/standard/appform/sess2011/Axa