Programme: TECHLEAD – Empowering Future Innovators: Advancing Early Career Researchers through Digital Technologies Leadership (for Vietnam and Indonesia cohorts only)
Funder: This Early Career Fellowships Programme is supported by the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), managed by the UK Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology and delivered by the British Council (Grant ID: 1860). The ISPF puts research and innovation at the heart of international relationships, supporting UK researchers and innovators to work with peers around the world on the major themes: planet, health, technologies and talent. For further information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-science-partnerships-fund-ispf.
Programme lead: Professor Huan X. Nguyen
Mentors and supervisors
The selected early career fellows (ECFs) will be supported by a team of mentors and supervisors chosen from a diverse pool of academic members, ranging from senior lecturers to associate professors and full professors, with varying STEM research backgrounds from various departments Computer Science (CS), Design, Engineering & Maths (DEM) and Nature Science (NS). Programme lead Professor Huan Nguyen will work with senior members, Prof. Xiaohong Gao, Prof. Sally Priest, and Prof. Balbir Barn in coordinating the mentoring and supervising process.
About the programme
We are recruiting six to eight Early Career Fellows to work at the London Digital Twin Research Centre and other departments at Middlesex University London for a period of one year as part of the British Council ISPF Early Career Fellowships Programme. Grants under the British Council ISPF fellowships programme allows fellows to collaborate internationally, and gain access to new research environments, facilities, knowledge, and expertise, to enhance the quality of their research environments and enable them to translate research and innovation into economic and societal benefit. The Early Career Fellowship Programme focuses on the Tomorrow’s Talent ISPF theme and has the following objectives: 1) Provide the selected early career researchers with a foundation to launch their careers in research and innovation; 2) To widen participation by increasing the number of opportunities for researchers including those whose backgrounds are underrepresented in their research field, and who have not yet held a permanent research-related post or academic post with a research specific element; 3) The scheme has a focus on inclusivity: to provide up and coming researchers with a foundation to launch their careers, creating lasting benefits to the fellow and both the UK and the international partner country research communities through sustainable collaboration; and 4) Establish collaboration between hosting and sending institutions on one of the ISPF themes.
The selection criteria for early career fellows are designed mainly to focus on the merit of their academic and research achievements, leadership potential, and alignment with the BC ISPF fellowship’s aims. However, Middlesex University are committed to promoting Women in STEM and EDI initiatives. We encourage female candidates or persons with underrepresented gender identities or with disabilities to apply for these fellowships.
Research areas (but not limited to)
a) Digital twinning for: crisis and resilience, decarbonisation in transport, Net-Zero, environment, healthcare (particularly stroke care), built environments, smart manufacturing, 5G/6G, telecommunications, energy grid, and green hydrogen.
b) Next-gen telecommunication networks: Beyond 5G and 6G, and IoT smart solutions.
c) AI and computer vision: AI in telemedicine, AI-powered nature disaster prevention, AI-enabled colour-enhanced systems for early cancer/disease detection management, AI for stroke care, and AI for infectious diseases
d) Quantum computing and cybersecurity: for digital twinning, for 5G and 6G
e) Digital technologies for governance, modelling the damage reducing effects of flood warnings, climate change, water hazards, resilience and wellbeing of communities and key livelihood systems, geomorphological response to flooding
f) Digital technologies and AI to support environmental biotechnology, microorganisms in sustainability, bioengineering, e-waste and household waste treatment and management, circular economy, wastewater surveillance, urban pollutants
g) Robotics and automation
h) Digital twin and AI to support optimisation of cognitive load humans
Bursary and benefits: The selected ECFs will enjoy an excellent benefit package:
1) Minimum net income of £2,850 monthly
2) Research related expenses up to £10,000 per 12 months (consumables, small equipment, travel and subsistence within the UK, publication costs, or other expenses related directly to the research project)
3) Return airfare, visa, health insurance and NHS surcharge
4) Childcare support (up to £4800 per year)
Timeline:
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- Advertisement and recruitment process: February to April 2025
- Interview and decision: April-June 2025
- Visa application: June-August 2025
- Fellowship start: September and October 2025
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Eligible early career fellowship candidates: Fellows must
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- Be a permanent resident of Vietnam and Indonesia
- Be an Early Career Researcher (see below) and have a letter of acceptance from the hosting lab (e.g., London Digital Twin Research Centre) or a department at Middlesex University.
- Not currently in receipt of financial support or funding towards any other programme in the UK from any other sources.
- Meet the English language requirement of the UK HEI (Higher Education Institutions) if applicable.
- Have a background or a proven interest in the proposed research area. Indicate their preference for research areas and institutions in the case of applying to multiple institutions.
- Be willing to demonstrate future contribution to capacity-building and socio-economic advancement through the benefits achieved after completing the fellowship programme.
- Agree to maintain contact with the British Council for purposes of monitoring and evaluation during and after their fellowship.
- Demonstrate a plan and a passion to engage other early career researchers from their home country.
- Employees of the British Council, the UK government or Scottish, Welsh, or Northern Irish governments are not eligible to apply for this programme.
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Definition of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in this programme
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- Have completed or are close to completion of their PhD, potentially waiting for their final viva voce examination, which must be passed prior to taking up the award.
- ECRs will not have held a permanent academic post or a permanent post with a research-related element, or one which allowed them to supervise PhD students or submit research grants as a principal investigator.
- Time spent in teaching-only roles or academic related roles does not affect ECR status, provided no research element was part of the role.
- If a researcher does not hold a PhD but has research experience equivalent to a PhD holder and works in a field where a PhD is not a prerequisite for established research activity, they can still be considered eligible.
- Participants from for-profit organisations cannot be funded.
- As we move toward greater inclusivity for ECRs from a wide range of backgrounds, we are no longer counting years spent in a specific career stage. Career breaks and alternative trajectories to an early academic career are all considered outside the definition of career stage
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Contact: Please email Professor Huan Nguyen at H.Nguyen@mdx.ac.uk if you have any question.
Application form: here
Other support from Middlesex
Middlesex University is proud of its diverse and global community, with over 150 languages spoken on its London campus. The university offers comprehensive support to its international fellows, beginning with personalised assistance through its regional offices. For a smooth transition, Middlesex will assist fellows in securing suitable accommodation. On-campus housing will be prioritised where available, providing a safe and comfortable living environment. For those seeking off-campus options, the university will offer guidance on reputable local letting agencies and assist with contract arrangements. Fellows with specific needs, such as those with families, will receive support in finding family-friendly housing close to essential services like schools and healthcare. For fellows with school-age children, the supervisory team will help identify accommodation within appropriate school catchment areas, and financial assistance will be available for after-school care programmes.
Fellows will have access to the university’s Support Services and Health Centre, which will facilitate registration with a local General Practitioner (GP) and offer guidance on accessing the National Health Service (NHS). To promote overall well-being, Middlesex provides preventative health initiatives, fitness and wellness programmes, and access to campus sports facilities. The university is deeply committed to mental health support, offering free, confidential counselling services delivered by trained professionals. Fellows can also participate in workshops focusing on stress management, work-life balance, and mindfulness. Additionally, peer support groups and a buddy system are available to help international researchers connect and build community.
Each fellow will be integrated into a research group and an active, funded project to familiarise themselves with academic activities and research communication. This integration will facilitate connections with research students, faculty members, and professors while developing essential soft skills. Regular meetings with current postdoctoral fellows will provide insights into teamwork, collaboration, and pathways to commercialisation and societal impact. Middlesex University maintains strong partnerships with leading global technology firms, offering fellows valuable opportunities to engage with industry and expand their professional networks.
Fellows will also have the opportunity to network with 160 professors of Vietnamese heritage working across 70 different UK universities. These professors are members of the Vietnamese Intellectual Society in the UK/Ireland, where the programme lead, Prof. Nguyen, currently serves as Chair.