Reference: FoI-58
29 July 2008
Dear Dr Tai,
I am writing in response to the request you made to BBSRC under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.
Statement of Information Requested
Would you please provide the number of postdoctoral researchers on fixed-
term contracts supported by BBSRC funding, for each of the last 5 years.
Duty to Confirm or Deny
I confirm that BBSRC does not hold the information you have requested. However,
BBSRC does hold some related information that may answer part of your query.
Background
The Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is the UK’s
principal funder of basic and strategic biological research. BBSRC supports research
and training in universities and research centres throughout the UK and promotes
knowledge transfer from research to applications in business, industry and policy and
public engagement in the biosciences. Further information about BBSRC’s mission
can be found on the website: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/index.html
BBSRC provides funding to scientists in UK universities and research institutions in
the form of research grants, studentships and fellowships. Further information about
BBSRC funding can be found on the website:
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/index.html
BBSRC also supports research at BBSRC-sponsored institutes, which receive core
funding to support research underpinning their scientific missions and can apply for
additional BBSRC research funding in competition with UK universities and other
research institutions. BBSRC-sponsored institutes are not solely supported by
BBSRC but also receive funding from other funders, including Government
Departments, industrial contract income and international sources. Further
information about the BBSRC-sponsored institutes can be found on the website:
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/organisation/institutes/sponsored_institutes.html
Polaris House North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1UH
Telephone 01793 413200
Fax 01793 413201
Information Requested
Would you please provide the number of postdoctoral researchers on fixed-
term contracts supported by BBSRC funding, for each of the last 5 years.
BBSRC holds data on the number of postdoctoral researchers funded on BBSRC
research grants but does not hold information on the types of contracts under which
these researchers are employed. Information on the types of contracts under which
postdoctoral researchers are employed will be held by the employing institution. You
may therefore wish to direct your request to the relevant universities and research
institutions.
BBSRC currently employs 151 individuals in the BBSRC-sponsored institutes on
fixed-term contracts at grade 5-SPD and grade 6-PD (i.e. the senior postdoctoral
researcher and postdoctoral researcher levels). Some of these researchers are
supported by BBSRC research funding but some may be supported by funding from
other sources (e.g. industry, Government Departments, charities, international
bodies, or other bodies). BBSRC does not hold information on the sources of
funding supporting these researchers – this is held locally by the institutes. You may
therefore wish to direct your request to the relevant BBSRC-sponsored institutes.
BBSRC Staffing Statistics
BBSRC formally publishes information about the number of employees at BBSRC
Office and BBSRC-sponsored institutes in its Annual Report and Accounts. The
BBSRC Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 is publicly available via the BBSRC
website (http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/publications/accounts/bbsrc_annual_07_08.pdf) and
includes information about employees on indefinite and period appointments at the
BBSRC-sponsored institutes. BBSRC also publishes annual staffing statistics:
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/organisation/policies/position/foi/publication_scheme.html
As stated in BBSRC’s Employment Code (Appendix A1.5i), BBSRC is committed to
offering indefinite contracts wherever practical and the offer of fixed-term or
temporary appointments is restricted to certain limited and defined circumstances:
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/organisation/policies/employment/code/joining/a1_5/a1_5i.ht
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Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers
BBSRC contributed to the development of a new Concordat to Support the Career
Development of Researchers, which sets out national expectations with regard to
support and career development for postdoctoral researchers. The Concordat can
be downloaded from: http://www.researchconcordat.ac.uk/
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me quoting the reference
number above.
Yours sincerely
Dr K Turton
Freedom of Information Officer
BBSRC
Complaints Process
If you are dissatisfied with how we have handled your request, you may register a
formal complaint with the BBSRC Complaints Officer
([email address]), who will conduct an internal review.
If you are not happy with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to
apply directly to the Information Commissioner, Information Commissioner’s Office,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, Tel: 01625 545700,
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
