The Daphne Jackson Memorial Fellowships Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
• Success Rate: Competitive (specific rate not disclosed)
• Decision Time: ~52 weeks (approximately 1 year from initial application to fellowship start)
• Grant Range: Fellowship salary (based on host institution pay scale) + £1,500 per year for extraordinary expenses
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
• Established: 1992

Contact Details

• Website: www.daphnejackson.org
• Email: djmft@surrey.ac.uk
• Phone: 01483 689166
• Address: Physics Department, University of Surrey

For pre-application support, applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust via email or phone to discuss eligibility and suitability before submitting formal applications.

Overview

The Daphne Jackson Memorial Fellowships Trust was established in 1992 as an independent UK charity based at the University of Surrey. The Trust provides fellowships to scientists, technologists, engineers, mathematicians, and (since expansion in partnership with UKRI) arts and humanities researchers to return to their careers after a career break of over two years taken for family, caring, or health reasons. Over the past 30+ years, the Trust has supported over 500 fellows to return to research careers. In 2023, the Trust received the Royal Society's Research Culture Award for its outstanding contribution to the culture of science and research, recognizing its remarkable efforts in championing equality, diversity, and inclusion within the research community. The Trust's fellowship model has been recognized as an exemplar for returnships, with impressive outcomes: 9/10 Daphne Jackson Fellows stay in research or teaching long-term, and for every £1 invested in a fellow, they secure nearly £2 in further funding.

Funding Priorities

Fellowship Programs

The Trust does not directly fund fellowships but acts as a facilitator and administrator between sponsors and fellows. Fellowships are funded by external organizations including:

Research Fellowships

• Salaried, part-time positions (typically 0.5 FTE)
• Usually 2-3 years duration
• Salary: Based on host institution's pay scale
• Extraordinary expenses: £1,500 per year (for conferences, training courses, learned society memberships, and professional development)
• Host organization must cover: Bench fees, consumables, equipment, computing hardware/software, and other research costs
• Application: Rolling basis with interviews held three times per year

Research Technical Professional Fellowships

• Similar structure to Research Fellowships
• May not require a PhD (professional/technical qualifications such as C.Tech., C.Eng., or B.Tech. may be required)
• Same salary and expenses structure

Funding Sources

Fellowships are sponsored by:

• All seven UKRI research councils (AHRC, BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC, STFC) - 5-year commitment confirmed
• Universities and research institutions
• Learned societies and professional institutions (e.g., Royal Society, Royal Astronomical Society, Economic History Society)
• Research charities (e.g., British Heart Foundation, Medical Research Scotland, Alzheimer's Society)
• Industry partners

Over 125 organizations have funded at least one fellowship, and 91 organizations across the UK have hosted Daphne Jackson Fellows.

Priority Areas

The Trust supports returners across all research disciplines:

• Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
• Arts and humanities (expanded remit following UKRI commitment)
• All areas of academic and industrial research

What Makes a Strong Application:

• Novel and challenging research project achievable within 2-3 years
• Clear retraining programme that will update skills and knowledge to put returners on par with colleagues who haven't taken a break
• Strong alignment between applicant's previous research experience and proposed project
• Evidence of research impacts and outcomes from pre-break career
• Post-doctoral experience (strengthens application)

What They Don't Fund

• Clinical researchers restarting research careers
• Individuals who have done any paid research during their career break
• Those with career breaks shorter than two years
• Non-UK residents or those without right to work in the UK for minimum 12 months
• Projects where the applicant's partner would be the project supervisor

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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive: Dr Katie Perry leads the Trust's small team of 13 part-time staff members.

Chair of Board of Trustees: Dr Teresa Anderson MBE, Director of the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, University of Manchester (appointed March 2015).

Governance: The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Key Leadership Quotes

Teresa Anderson MBE (Chair) stated: "I'm passionate about equality and diversity in science and engineering. Much of my work to date has focused on encouraging young people to choose this area for their future careers."

Dr Katie Perry (Chief Executive) on the Royal Society Research Culture Award: “[This award is] a testament to the unwavering dedication of our small 13 strong, part-time, team and the resilience of the researchers we support.”

Carol Bewick (Trustee): "When you first find out about the work of the Daphne Jackson Trust, you think 'why has no-one thought of this before'? ... I am a huge fan of what the organization does and couldn't be prouder to join as a trustee."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Initial Contact and Eligibility Check

• Contact the Trust at djmft@surrey.ac.uk or 01483 689166 to discuss your situation
• Submit initial eligibility and personal statement forms
• Trust assesses eligibility and suitability

Step 2: Informal Telephone Interview

• If eligible, a fellowship advisor arranges an informal telephone interview
• Discuss: CV, career break, desire to retrain, and field of interest
• Purpose: Ensure applicants understand all options and strategic career planning

Step 3: Proposal Development

• If suitable, write a draft proposal describing research project and retraining programme
• Guidance provided by fellowship advisor
• First draft should be submitted within three months of eligibility confirmation
• Proposal developed iteratively between applicant, supervisor, and fellowship advisor

Step 4: Funding

• For Regular Research Fellowships: Application and research proposal reviewed by potential funders
• Funding must be secured before proceeding to interview stage
• This stage can take considerable time (some fellows report waiting nearly two years while funding secured)

Step 5: Technical Review

• Completed proposal sent to two independent technical referees in the field
• Applicants can amend proposal based on reviewers' comments

Step 6: Panel Assessment

• Interviews held three times per year
• Completed application assessed by Awards Assessment Panel
• Six panel members (chosen for subject expertise) review each fellowship
• Panel may request a second interview before final decision

Step 7: Final Decision

• Trustees make final decision
• Awards Assessment Panel's decision is final - no appeals process

Decision Timeline

Total Timeline: Approximately 1 year from initial submission to fellowship start (can be longer if funding takes time to secure)

Key Timeframes:

• Initial draft proposal: Within 3 months of eligibility confirmation
• Interviews: Held three times per year
• Iterative proposal development: Variable, depends on quality and revisions needed

Notification: Applicants are notified of decisions following panel assessment and trustee approval.

Success Rates

Specific application success rates (percentage of applicants who receive fellowships) are not publicly disclosed. However, the process is described as competitive, with competition among applicants and (for Regular Fellowships) competition with other projects the funder is considering.

Long-term Success Outcomes:

• 9/10 (90%) Daphne Jackson Fellows stay in research or teaching long-term
• 2/3 (67%) work at the same institution as their fellowship
• 10 former fellows are now Professors - five times higher rate than national average
• Over 500 fellows supported over 30+ years
• Fellows collectively saved over 1,250 years of research expertise from being lost to the sector
• For every £1 invested in a fellow, they secure nearly £2 in further funding

Reapplication Policy

The Awards Assessment Panel's decision is final and there is no appeals process. Specific information about whether unsuccessful applicants can reapply in future rounds is not publicly disclosed. Applicants with questions about reapplication should contact the Trust directly at djmft@surrey.ac.uk or 01483 689166.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

On Research Projects: “Your research project needs to be novel and challenging but achievable within the timescales of the fellowship (usually 2 or 3 years), and should allow you to acquire professional skills and knowledge that will put you back on a par with colleagues who have not taken a break from research.”

On Strengthening Applications: “Your application will be stronger if you also have post-doctoral experience and research impacts and outcomes.”

On the Process: The Trust emphasizes rigorous application process to “ensure each fellow has considered all their options.” Applicants are encouraged to continue seeking other opportunities during the application process due to its competitive nature.

What Makes the Trust's Fellowships Different

The dedicated fellowship advisor who guides applicants through the process "will stay with you throughout your fellowship and beyond - this is what makes their fellowships different, and it's why they're so successful."

Strategic Considerations

Eligibility Requirements:

• Minimum 2-year career break for family, caring, or health reasons
• Good first degree in research subject
• PhD or 3+ years research experience (academic or industrial) prior to career break
• UK residency and right to work in UK for minimum 12 months
• No paid research during career break

Hosting Institution:

• Identify a host institution willing to cover research costs (bench fees, consumables, equipment)
• Ensure supervisor is available (cannot be your partner)
• 91 UK organizations have previously hosted fellows

Funding Source:

• Understand which funders support your research area
• UKRI research councils cover broad range of disciplines
• Learned societies and charities often have specific subject areas

Language and Terminology

The Trust emphasizes:

• “Returners” and “restarting careers” - focus on career continuation rather than starting over
• “Retraining programme” - not just research, but skills updating
• “Career break for family, caring or health reasons” - specific eligibility language
• “Novel and challenging but achievable” - balance in research ambition
• “On a par with colleagues” - goal of leveling the playing field

Standing Out

• Demonstrate clear research impacts and outcomes from pre-break career
• Show how the fellowship will update specific skills and knowledge gaps
• Develop strong relationship with proposed supervisor during proposal development
• Engage iteratively with fellowship advisor - use their expertise
• Align with a funder's strategic priorities (research area, institution location, career stage)
• Show commitment to long-term research career

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a typical grant program: The Trust administers fellowships but doesn't fund them directly. You must identify both a host institution willing to cover research costs AND a sponsor willing to fund salary and expenses.

• Timeline requires patience: The ~1 year timeline (potentially up to 2 years) from application to start requires sustained commitment. Factor this into career planning and maintain communication with the Trust throughout.

• Fellowship advisor is your ally: The dedicated advisor relationship from application through fellowship and beyond is unique. Engage actively with your advisor - their guidance significantly improves success rates.

• Eligibility is strict but fair: The 2-year career break minimum and “no paid research during break” requirements are firm. If uncertain about eligibility, contact the Trust early rather than investing time in an ineligible application.

• Research project balance is critical: Projects must be “novel and challenging but achievable” in 2-3 years while providing retraining. Avoid overly ambitious or too-simple proposals. Focus on skills acquisition alongside research outputs.

• Think strategically about funding sources: With 7 UKRI research councils, numerous learned societies, and research charities as potential sponsors, research which funders align with your discipline and career stage before developing your proposal.

• Long-term success rates are exceptional: With 90% of fellows staying in research/teaching long-term and 5x higher professorship rates than national average, the fellowship demonstrably works. Emphasize your commitment to long-term research career in your application.

References

1. The Daphne Jackson Memorial Fellowships Trust - Charity Commission. Charity Number: 1125867. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1125867&subId=0

1. Daphne Jackson Trust - Official Website. “About Us” and “Overview of a Daphne Jackson Fellowship.” https://daphnejackson.org/

1. Daphne Jackson Trust. “Our Fellowship Application Process.” https://daphnejackson.org/about-fellowships/application-process/

1. Daphne Jackson Trust. “Eligibility - Requirements For All Candidates.” https://daphnejackson.org/apply/eligibility/

1. Daphne Jackson Trust. “Fellowship Frequently Asked Questions.” https://daphnejackson.org/about-fellowships/faqs/

1. Daphne Jackson Trust. “Who We Work With.” https://daphnejackson.org/about-us/who-we-work-with/

1. University of Surrey. “The Daphne Jackson Trust Honoured with Prestigious Royal Society Research Culture Award.” https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/daphne-jackson-trust-honoured-prestigious-royal-society-research-culture-award

1. Daphne Jackson Trust. “Daphne Jackson Trust confirms 5 year commitment from UKRI and expands remit to open up Fellowships for arts and humanities researchers.” https://daphnejackson.org/news/daphne-jackson-trust-confirms-5-year-commitment-from-ukri-and-expands-remit-to-open-up-fellowships-for-arts-and-humanities-researchers/

1. Daphne Jackson Trust. "Teresa Anderson MBE, to chair Daphne Jackson Trust's Board of Trustees." https://daphnejackson.org/news/teresa-anderson-mbe-to-chair-daphne-jackson-trusts-board-of-trustees/

1. UKRI. “Daphne Jackson fellowship.” https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/daphne-jackson-fellowship/

1. Medical Research Scotland. “Daphne Jackson Fellowships.” https://medicalresearchscotland.org.uk/daphne-jackson-fellowships/

1. British Heart Foundation. “BHF - Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowships.” https://www.bhf.org.uk/for-professionals/information-for-researchers/what-we-fund/bhf-daphne-jackson-trust-fellowships

1. Daphne Jackson Trust - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphne_Jackson_Trust