Each year the Esther Parkin Trust will contribute up to £20k towards the travel and living costs of the successful visiting Professor. 

David Parkin Visiting Professorships are awarded on an annual basis in order to help support an outstanding academic with a permanent position at a non-UK university to spend a period of time up to 12 months as a Visiting Professor at the University of Bath.

Who can apply

The nominee should have at least the research profile expected for a Professorial appointment at the University of Bath. In order to ensure a high standard, the Award Committee will reserve the right not to make an appointment in any given year.

How much funding and how many awards are available

Each year the Esther Parkin Trust will contribute up to £20k towards the travel and living costs of the successful nominee(s). The amount should reflect the length of the visit. Living costs will normally be based on a per diem rate (of around £25) and provision of accommodation in the Esther Parkin residences where available.

It may be possible to make more than one award in the same year, if the total cost falls within the overall budget of £20k.

The application deadline

Applications are currently closed. Please check this page for updates in December 2026.

How to apply

When applications open, the proposer should complete the application form, not the nominee.

The application should include a statement of the proposed research activity, how it fits with the University research strategy, a curriculum vitae (max 2 pages) for the nominee and include a budget, setting out the costs that will be incurred.

Each departmental nomination should be supported by two referee statements from people external to the University of Bath, identified by the proposer not the nominee.

After you have completed the application, please forward to your Head of Department well in advance of the closing date of the call. The Head of Department will then pass their nominations to the Dean who will decide which ones to put forward for consideration by the David Parkin Visiting Professorship Committee. They will then email the relevant forms to pro-vc-research@bath.ac.uk.

What the conditions of this award are

This is not a contract of employment and it is a condition of award that the parent institution of the successful applicant will cover salary costs, associated visas and insurance expenses.

The University shall provide office accommodation and access to services (library, email, computing, workshop, and laboratory) as appropriate. In putting forward nominations, departments would be agreeing to provide the necessary office accommodation and other support.

The Visiting Professor shall be required to present a David Parkin Lecture as part of their time at the University. This will be a lecture open to the general public, to be organised by the host department in liaison with the Advancement Office.

The proposers of the successful Visiting Professors are asked to write a report, using this form, to the Committee for the first available meeting after the visit.

How publications should be acknowledged

Any publications resulting from the research carried out during the visits should acknowledge the support of the University of Bath and the David Parkin scheme.

Decisions of the David Parkin Visiting Professorship Committee

The Committee will meet in to make their decisions and inform the Deans and the Directors of Administration (through the Faculty/School Coordinator) who will inform applicants in their Faculty/School. The appointment of the agreed candidate(s) will then be confirmed by the relevant Faculty/School Board of Studies before the candidate is issued a letter of appointment.

What to do if you have any questions

If you have any queries about completing the form, please contact pro-vc-research@bath.ac.uk.

If your questions relate to the academic merits of the application, please discuss with your Head of Department in the first instance.