Proleptic appointments

Proleptic (tenure track) appointment: transitional route from the research track to academic appointment.

A proleptic appointment is a contractual commitment UCL makes with a Senior/Principal Research Fellow with an eligible external Fellowship confirming that they will transfer into an Academic post of equivalent seniority on cessation of their Fellowship (and any other research salary funding subsequently awarded).  

In practice, this is the equivalent of a tenure track position: the member of staff has a research appointment that will transition into a permanent Academic appointment, with  salary costs covered by UCL core funding, once their Fellowship/ other source of salary support ends. 

To qualify for a proleptic appointment, an individual must demonstrate a consistent track record of securing funding over the past years and/or hold an eligible fellowship where a tenure-track appointment is a requirement. Furthermore, a core funded post (academic FTE) must have been identified that the person can take up and there is a strong strategic fit, where the loss of retention of the individual would have a very negative impact on the Faculty. The person should have a sustained track record in line with the UCL Academic Career Framework.

All potential proleptic appointments need to be reviewed and approved by the Institute Director and are subject to further approval at Faculty level. Conferment of a proleptic appointment will be confirmed in writing in a letter from the Dean, addressed to the Fellow.

The Dean for the Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL Deans can confer a proleptic appointment to post-doctoral fellows under the following circumstances:

1. It is a requirement of the funders’ terms and conditions.
2. It is an implied condition of a Senior Fellowship recognised by the Life and Medical Sciences Deans
3. A position has been advertised as being able to confer a proleptic appointment (e.g. MRC Programme Leader Track and UK DRI Fellowships).
4. A Senior Research Fellow or Principal Research Fellow has secured at least two successive post-doctoral fellowships (equivalent to 7-10 year funding) and their retention is considered a strategic priority.
5. An MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship (5 year) where the Partner NHS Trust is able to guarantee a 50% FTE funded Honorary Consultant post from the end of the fellowship and their retention is considered a strategic priority.
6. A candidate who has been recruited to a UCL Lectureship in open competition and either holds, or is subsequently awarded, a research fellowship which will run for a period before they are able to take up the academic post.

There is no official route to apply for a proleptic appointment as these are subject to the fellowship’s eligibility and the availability of a core funded post in the first instance. They are considered on a rolling basis as the need arises. To see if you fit the criteria and plan your career accordingly, we strongly incentivise you to discuss this possibility first with your Head of Research Department and the Institute’s Director.

Fellowship schemes recognised by Life and Medical Sciences Deans include:

(i) UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF),

(ii) Wellcome Trust Career Development Award (CDA),

(iii) Wellcome Trust Henry Dale Fellowship,

(iv) BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship,

(v) ERC Starting Fellowship,

(vi) Royal Society University Research Fellowship

(vii) MRC Senior Fellowship,

(viii) Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship,

and (ix) Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellowship.

Proleptic appointments play an important role in recruiting and retaining talent. Their use should meet UK Vitae Researcher Development Concordat requirements to provide a clear and transparent merit-based recognition, reward and promotion pathway that recognise the full range of researchers’ contributions, and the diversity of personal circumstances. In this context, it is essential Directors and Executive Committees monitor the equality and diversity profile of staff selected to apply for fellowships and those successful in securing fellowships and proleptic appointments.