Our history
We were established in 1992 in memory of Professor Daphne Jackson – the UK’s first female Professor of Physics and a tireless advocate for women’s rights.
Who was Professor Daphne Jackson?
Professor Daphne Jackson was appointed Professor of Physics at the University of Surrey in 1971 – the first female Professor of Physics in the UK. Throughout her career, she met many talented women who had taken a career break. When they wished to come back to work, they were forced into non-skilled jobs outside of their expertise, due to a lack of retraining opportunities that would enable them to remain competitive with peers who had not had a break. Recognising this huge loss of talent, in 1985 Daphne devised a fellowship scheme to help these women. This scheme had a novel combination of research and retraining that laid the foundations for generations of future returners hoping to restart their careers in research.
Qualified women who are unemployed or under-employed following a career break for family commitments represent an appalling waste of talent and of investment in their initial education. Many such women are eager to return to their original careers or to a new field of activity for which their initial education is relevant, provided that retraining can be given and that they can, at least initially, work on a part-time basis.”
Over the last thirty years
we have evolved to help more than 500 people return to careers in research and technical professions while staying true to Daphne’s original vision.
We actively embrace inclusivity and welcome individuals from all backgrounds, career trajectories and across all research and technical disciplines.
1958
Daphne Jackson graduated from Imperial College of Science and Technology
1962
Daphne was awarded a PhD in Physics from Battersea College of Technology (now the University of Surrey)
1971
Daphne was appointed Professor of Physics at the University of Surrey
1985
The Daphne Jackson Fellowship pilot scheme began under Daphne’s leadership
1987
Daphne was awarded an OBE
1992
The Daphne Jackson Trust was established following Daphne’s death in 1991
2002
10th Anniversary Symposium
2003
Fellowships extended beyond women only
2009
First former fellows’ survey undertaken to begin to understand the impact of Daphne Jackson Fellowships
2011
Dr Katie Perry appointed as Chief Executive of the Trust.
200th fellowship awarded
2012
The Trust began holding a regular conference
2013
The Trust increased its engagement and influence on policy.
Development of funded fellowships
2015
300th fellowship awarded
2017
Conference held, alongside fellows’ training sessions
2019
Development and expansion of the Trust’s staff and governance processes
2020
Expansion of remit into Arts & Humanities research, making fellowships available to all researchers in all disciplines
2021
New Research Technical Professional Fellowships piloted for professionals returning to careers with more technical and skills specialisms
2023
We held a brand-new event: Fellows’ Day! This is now a regular feature in our events calendar.
We were awarded the Royal Society Research Culture Award
2024
Our biggest conference yet: Your Research, Your Way.
500th fellowship awarded
Whoever you are or whatever your background, we want to hear from you!
Initially, Daphne Jackson Fellowships were focused on women returning to STEM subjects. As we have grown, we’ve been pleased to offer fellowships to all people across all research areas.
More recently, we’ve expanded again – by helping research technical professionals with more tailored fellowships and career support. In the future, we have big ambitions to go further!
If you’re wondering whether a Daphne Jackson Fellowship is the right fit for you, please get in touch. We want to hear from you – whoever you are or whatever your background. We are always ready to talk about any matters you’d like to raise with us. Go for it!
Fellows stay in research or teaching at least 5 years after their fellowship
Our fellows are
times more like to be promoted to Professor than the national average
We have saved
of research experience and talent from being lost from the research and technical profession.