next »

[anglophile]

I have noticed that many Junior Research Fellowships of the Oxbridge variety tend to restrict eligibility to those who have graduated from a British university. In these days of EU expansion and globalisation, it seems strange that a university wanting to present itself as one of the best in the world, and (presumably) attract the best candidates should adopt such an inward looking policy. Would anyone care to explain the rationale behind this?

[%sig%]

[jc]

This is not a direct answer, But I think these fellowships only go to oxbridge graduates anyway (even when the add doesn't specify UK only applicants). So this question is rather academic.
In general some funding agencies put all sorts of restrictions: for example if a position is funded by the EU it might require employing an EU resident for the job. I guess in such a case the rationale may be that this funding is intended, in part, for 'European integration'.

[jeremy]

it depends on who is funding them.  if it is oxford, the national research council or the eu councils.  only in the latter instance will you find eu students accepted.  for u.s. students there is a clear track though it is highly competitive.

[Paris]

I don't know about British postdocs in general, but as a post-grad in the Oxbridge system, I get the impression that the JRFs are a way for Oxbridge to retain its best and brightest until their research matures sufficiently to take a staff post. It doesn't really matter where you are from, but it does matter where your degree came from. They prefer to hire their own at the first instance.

[sidey]

Oxbridge jrfs go to those who can drink port with the college fellows in a congenial manner.  in vino veritas.