In a significant boost for cutting-edge research, two Newcastle University academics, Dr. Craig Jones and Dr. Claudia Soares, have secured funding exceeding £2.5 million as part of the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) flagship Future Leader Fellowships program.
UKRI’s Future Leader Fellowships initiative is designed to empower universities and businesses to nurture early career researchers and innovators, fostering talent and attracting skilled individuals, including those from overseas.
Dr. Craig Jones – Senior Lecturer in Political Geography
Funding: Over £983,000
Project: “The afterlives of war-related injury: Mapping civilian trauma pathways in conflict settings”
Dr. Jones’s four-year Fellowship, extendable for an additional three years, will delve into understanding the aftereffects of war-related injuries among civilian populations in conflict settings, specifically Gaza and Iraq. The project will trace the journey of seriously injured civilians from the point of injury through rehabilitation to eventual reintegration into society. The research will utilize innovative methods, including quantitative data, ethnographic, creative, and participatory approaches, shedding new light on civilian harm and exploring ways to improve trauma pathways in areas with compromised healthcare systems.
Dr. Jones expressed his gratitude, saying, “It is a privilege to be a Future Leaders Fellow and to work with such fantastic project partners from Gaza, Iraq, and the UK.”
Dr. Claudia Soares – NUAcT Fellow in the School of History, Classics, and Archaeology
Funding: £1.7 million
Project: Aiming to create a better understanding of children’s care through historical research, creative, and participatory approaches.
Dr. Soares’s project will bring together care agencies and care-experienced groups to explore the emotional, care, and political dynamics shaping children’s social care. The study aims to unravel the long-term cultural, political, and social factors influencing current knowledge, policies, and practices in children’s care. Dr. Soares sees this fellowship as an opportunity to lead in the field of modern British history and generate new perspectives on the impact of distinct care practices over time.
Professor Nigel Harkness, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Humanities and Social Sciences, commented, “These prestigious Future Leaders Fellowships will enable some of our most talented researchers and innovators the opportunity to carry out ground-breaking research in diverse fields.”
The total funding for this round of Future Leaders Fellowships is £101 million, reinforcing the commitment to supporting research leaders addressing global challenges and driving innovations in the UK. UKRI has also confirmed two additional rounds of over £100 million each, with deadlines expected in the summers of 2024 and 2025.
