Applications open for chemical engineering Fellowship in UK Parliament
Press Release issued 15/05/2024
Chemical engineering final year students and postgraduates are invited to apply for the Ashok Kumar Fellowship, a three-month placement at the UK Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST). Applications opened on 15th May 2024, and close on 30 June 2024.
The annual Fellowship, launched in memory of former chemical engineer and Teesside MP Ashok Kumar, bridges chemical engineering and Parliament, and aims to improve political understanding of the value of science and engineering, and vice versa.
The successful candidate will focus on producing a parliamentary briefing POSTnote for MPs and Peers on an emerging science, engineering or social science topic that is relevant and timely for the UK Parliament. After the placement, the successful candidate will also share their learnings and knowledge on policy with IChemE members and the Materials Processing Institute.
The Fellowship is open to engineers who are in the final year, or have completed within the past year, an undergraduate Master’s degree in a discipline related to chemical engineering, process engineering, materials science, applied chemistry, or who have equivalent industry experience. This could include conducting a research project on a related topic. Applications will also be accepted from PhD and EngD students conducting research in a related field with permission from their supervisors to suspend their studies for three months. The timing of the placement will be agreed by the successful candidate and POST, and is expected to be between January 2025 and May 2025.
Duncan Lugton, IChemE Head of Policy and Impact, said: “This Fellowship offers a promising early career chemical or process engineer the rare chance to gain first-hand experience of working in Parliament, and mobilise that knowledge back into the profession. At a time when IChemE is amplifying our voice across government to demonstrate the unique contribution chemical engineers can make to solving the world’s grand challenges, this is an exceptional opportunity to make a positive contribution to shaping UK policy.”
Jon Bolton, Executive Chairman of the Materials Processing Institute, commented: “Just as Ashok Kumar was a pioneering engineer in politics, so through this Fellowship we are fostering a greater understanding between scientific experts and political decision makers. All of the major societal challenges of this century, from climate change, to artificial intelligence, require a deft combination of science, engineering and public policy. Ashok Kumar Fellows have the opportunity to make their contribution to this important aspect of public service.”
Dr Simon Brawley, Physical Sciences and Digital Lead at POST, added: “The talented Fellows that join us at POST make a key contribution to our work programme. The Ashok Kumar Fellowship forms an important connection between Parliament and the chemical and process engineering communities as Fellows bring their research, writing and analysis skills to bear, producing a range of impartial, accurate and accessible POST briefings. We have enjoyed working with Dylan Sherman, the 2023/2024 Ashok Kumar Fellow, very much indeed, and I’m looking forward to extending a welcome to the successful 2024/2025 applicant.”
For more information on the eligibility criteria, the application pack, and to read the POSTnotes of previous Fellows, visit -
https://www.mpiuk.com/ashok-kumar-fellowship.htm
Links
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
16 May 2024
