Visiting Global Fellowship Program

UCD Discovery Visiting Global Fellows contribute to the research activities of the university and seed strong research collaborations with local research groups, with a view to continued engagement beyond the period of the fellowship.

UCD Discovery supports three Fellowship Types:

• Discovery Distinguished Fellows are established world leaders in their field with an international reputation for interdisciplinary leadership, research and impact. Their visit is championed by a UCD researcher who works with the institute to curate a series of high-quality engagement events with the university community.
• Discovery Early Career Fellows are early career fellows (2-12 years post PhD) with the potential to produce world class research whose research cuts across disciplinary boundaries. They will work with local UCD researchers on topics of mutual interest and fully take part in the research life of the university.
• Self-funded Fellows are self-funded visitors to the university whose research straddles a number of disciplines and who would benefit from affiliation with the Institute for Discovery. These fellows will benefit from ‘in-kind’ supports from the Institute, such as networking supports, engagement activities, institutional affiliation etc.

In addition to the fellowship award, all successful candidates will have access to Discovery’s programmatic and administrative support.

Collaboration with UCD Faculty

Discovery Visiting Global Fellows are expected to contribute to the scholarly community at UCD. This includes interacting with staff and students, and participating in the scholarly activities of Schools, Centres and Institutes. Fellows are encouraged to communicate in advance with any research groups or individuals with whom they would like to collaborate.

The Institute can help applicants to identify potential collaborators prior to their visits, as well as arranging networking activities during the fellows’ visit. 

Research Outputs

Applications will be evaluated based on the proposed research activies and expected outputs from the the visit. Research Outputs may include:

• Senior Global Fellows are expected to give a public keynote lecture or similar during their visit.
• Joint research publication.
• Joint funding application.
• Development of strategic inter-institutional connections.
• Host and/or Speaker at university based Workshop, Conference or Symposium.
• Host / attend meetings with Academic, Industrial and Government stakeholders.

The University provides all Visiting Global Fellows with a bursary ofup to€3000 to include;

• Hotel or self-catered accommodation, in a university one bedroom flat or equivalent
• Return airfare in economy class, booked by the University 
• Transfers to and from UCD
• Access to the University's computing and library facilities.

The University cannot offer a buy-out for teaching at the home institution. Candidates will usually be on a sabbatical or research leave, or indicate a time when they are free during the year.

Visiting Global Fellows may be nominated by Academic Schools at UCD, and invited to the University by UCD Discovery.

Applications for the incoming academic year are now open for collaboration proposals under the research theme of AI and Healthcare.

The application deadline is 5pm, 1 December 2023.

For more details on how to apply please contact Discovery Manager Tara Byrne at tara.byrne@ucd.ie.