Postdoctoral Prize Fellowship

We received a record number of applications for the Postdoctoral Fellowship competition in 2022 - 18 - and all were of a very high standard, which in itself is evidence of the thriving research environment at the early career level of French Studies in the UK and Ireland, and an excellent indicator of how bright and exciting the future looks. The jury was greatly impressed by the considerable amount of work and care that clearly went into articulating each project, gathering together all the supporting material, and liaising with relevant individuals in the institutions involved.

From the first round of assessment, a shortlist of the strongest 5 emerged. These were:

• Benjamin Dalton, for a project on Catherine Malabou, the relation of her theorizing of plasticity to contemporary literature and film, and an emerging related project on the hospital.
• Ashley Harris, for a project on activist art of the banlieue.
• Raphaёl Jaudon, for a project on the politics and film aesthetics of cannibalistic feminism.
• Liam Lewis, on Medieval Natures, Translating Ecological Crisis and Sustainability
• Fraser McQueen, for a project on masculinity and far-right literature, with an emphasis on anti-semitism and islamophobia.

It was in our view a considerable accomplishment to make it through to the shortlist, and all were highly commended. We are delighted to award the SFS Postdoctoral Fellowship for 2022-23 to Benjamin Dalton, who worked on his project at the University of Birmingham.

It should be noted that Ben was awarded the Fellowship as a reserve candidate, after it was initially offered to Liam Lewis, who was unfortunately unable to accept the award, but who should also be warmly congratulated.

We are pleased to announce that two early career researchers have received awards in the 2020 round of the scheme. Polly Galis will take up her fellowship at the University of Bristol, where she will develop a project on sex workers' narratives; Giulia Boitani will be based at the University of Cambridge where she will turn her thesis into a book (Family Matters: Founding Women in Medieval French Prose Romances).

Congratulations, Polly and Giulia!

Applications will only be accepted from those who are not full-time permanent employees of a Higher Education Institute, and who have not already received a fully-funded early career fellowship (e.g. British Academy, Leverhulme or Institutional JRF) of a period exceeding one year.

Applicants must be within five years of the award of a doctorate in the field of French studies (for this year's scheme, this means being awarded via a viva voce examination between 30 December 2018 and 30 December 2023). The Society will make allowances for special circumstances, e.g. documented periods of maternity or sickness leave.

Applicants must be supported by the UK host institution in which they wish to hold the Fellowship.

Applicants must be a member of the Society.

Applicants must be either a UK/EEA national, or have completed a doctorate at a UK university.

The overriding criteria for selection are (i) the potential of the proposed research to result in a major contribution that will enhance the standing of French Studies; (ii) the academic standing and achievements of the applicant, taking into account their current career stage, supported by reference and examiners’ report; (iii) institutional support.

The research may involve bringing to publication all or parts of the doctoral thesis and/or post-doctoral work.

Applications are judged by a panel consisting of the President and Vice-President of the Society and three other judges, two of whom are usually based outside the UK.