The BERA Early Career Researcher Career Development Fund is a flexible package of benefits designed to support early career researchers in the first three years following completion of their doctorate, with a particular focus on those who are insecurely and precariously employed.

We are pleased to announce the two recipients of this years funding:

Abbie Cairns

With the support of this Fellowship, Abbie will undertake a series of professional development activities that are strategically aligned with her evolving identity and long-term career goals as an artist–teacher–researcher. Her practice is rooted in creative pedagogy, critical reflection, and socially engaged research that generates impact within and beyond formal education spaces.

Planned activities include:

• Attendance at key BERA events that support ECR development and wider dissemination of research:
• Participation in two writing retreats (one residential, one virtual) to develop a collaborative book proposal on identity shifts in the post-PhD period, co-authored with other BERA ECR members.
• Experimentation with practice-based dissemination formats such as blogs, short films, and visual artefacts to reach ECR and practitioner communities.

Thi Bossian

Thi will use his award to build methodological skills, develop new outputs for practitioners, and progress postdoctoral research plans.

Planned activities include:

• Attendance at two NCRM courses to strengthen methodological expertise in preparation for future postdoctoral work.
• A five-day residential writing retreat at Gladstone’s Library to develop and submit a book proposal to Emerald Publishing and to draft initial chapters.
• Commissioning a professional designer to co-produce an online toolkit for schools that translates Thi’s research into practical, visually engaging resources to support inclusive school climates for migrant pupils.

BERA looks forward to seeing the impact of their work and the ways in which these activities support their ongoing development.

We would also like to thank everyone who applied; the quality and range of applications made the selection process highly competitive.