- Historian Sarah Frank is one of seventy-seven talented early-career researchers who has been awarded the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) flagship Future Leaders Fellowships.
- Sarah’s fellowship will transform how we study and recover from war. It will establish the voices of African veterans, and their families, particularly women, as equally important and deserving of study.
- Two other members of staff at The University of Sheffield have also been awarded the prestigious fellowship.
UKRI have announced the winners of the £120 million fellowship, who will lead vital research, collaborate with innovators and develop their careers as the research and innovation leaders of the future.
“This is a phenomenal opportunity to showcase the importance of arts and humanities research in shaping change on a human scale. My fellowship will transform how we study and recover from war. Through four case studies (Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville, Zambia and South Africa), my project establishes the voices of African veterans, and their families, particularly women, as equally important and deserving of study. Learning which social, political and economic conditions alienate or radicalise military families will position us to shape reintegration programmes for veterans today with culturally specific practices” - Sarah Frank, Lecturer in the History of the Francophone World, University of Sheffield
UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) flagship Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) fund allows universities and businesses to develop talented early career researchers and innovators and attract new people to their organisations, including from overseas.
Future Leader Fellowships
The FLF scheme provides long-term (up to seven years) fellowship support to early career researchers.
This enables them to tackle ambitious programmes or multidisciplinary questions, and new or emerging research and innovation areas and partnerships.
To support excellent research and innovation wherever it arises and to facilitate movement of people and projects between sectors, FLF fellows are based in the most appropriate environment for their projects, including:
- universities
- businesses
- charities
- other independent research organisations
The fellowship allows the individual to devote their time to tackle challenging research and innovation problems and to develop their careers as they become the next wave of world-class research and innovation leaders.
The fellowship also allows recipients access to the FLF Development Network, which provides:
- specialised leadership training
- access to networks
- workshops
- mentors
- one-to-one coaching
- opportunities for additional seed-funding for collaborative projects
UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, said:
“UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships offer long-term support to outstanding researchers, helping them turn bold ideas into innovations that improve lives and livelihoods in the UK and beyond. These fellowships continue to drive excellence and accelerate the journey from discovery to public benefit. I wish them every success.”
Further information
Sarah Frank is joined by Vee San Cheong, Lecturer in Biomechanics at the University of Sheffield, and Jonathan Eyre, with The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre..
Read the UKRI announcement for information on the other successful projects.