Welcome to Somerville!
Somerville College was founded in 1879 to offer a university education to women and people of diverse religious beliefs when most universities refused them entry. Today, that radical spirit remains paramount in our thinking and actions. We are an intellectual community that stands out for our shared values and warm, welcoming atmosphere.
As a Junior Research Fellow, you will have a chance to contribute to that culture as a member of our Senior Common Room (SCR), shaping the future of our community while benefitting from its traditions.
This leaflet contains specific information for you as a JRF covering academic life, career development, and welfare.
Alongside your SCR Handbook, it should give you all the essential information you need to find your bearings and decide how you will make your mark at Somerville.
Somerville Hall founded as the joint first women’s college at Oxford. It has only twelve students, and lectures are held above a bakers shop in Little Clarendon St.
The first college photo of Somerville’s students and fellows, taken in 1881
As women are barred from University reading rooms, Somerville builds one of the largest college libraries in Oxford.
Under the leadership of Principal Dame Emily Penrose, women finally win the right to matriculate and graduate at Oxford, the dream of half a century of Somervillians.
1905 1914 1920
The grounds are requisitioned as a hospital for wounded soldiers. The students and fellows move to Oriel college for the duration of the war.
Male students begin to arrive at Somerville. By 1996, the college is fully mixed, with that year’s intake including TV medic Dr Xand Van Tulleken (1996, Medicine)
Somerville Fellow and pioneering crystallographer Dorothy Hodgkin becomes the first and only British woman to win a Nobel Prize for science.
Academic Life at Somerville
Teaching opportunities: JRFs can approach the Senior Fellows in their Departments or Faculties for teaching opportunities. Please note, certain visas have restrictions on teaching; HR will be able to provide clarification.
Room Bookings for Teaching and Meetings: As a member of the Senior Common Room, you can book rooms through the Somerville College website – Quick Links page. Booking rooms to teach Somerville students is generally free of charge (teaching non-Somerville students at Somerville might incur costs in some cases). Meeting rooms such as Park 5 can be booked free of charge for college use. If you are uncertain about the availability, charge, and facilities, please contact the Conference and Catering team for confirmation.
Room Bookings for Conference and Outreach Events: You can book spaces to host formal events such as conferences and
seminars through the Catering and Conference team. Outreach events can be booked through the Access Office. Lunch, dinner and refreshments can be arranged for your events. Email the Conference and Catering team to find out about availability, cost and menus for this service.
The Library: Somerville has one of the biggest college libraries in Oxford. Borrowing and online resources are available through your Bodleian Card.
Printing and photocopying service: Please contact the IT team for assistance or refer to the Somerville College website –Quick Links page.
Somerville Merchandise: You can show your love for Somerville with branded clothing and merchandise available from the Somerville College Store. If you are interested in ordering bespoke items such as glasses, cufflinks, paperweights, the JRF Representatives team can collect your orders and send them to the Development office
Academic Dress: JRFs who did not graduate from Oxford may be confused about which gown/robe to wear at formal events. Somerville does not require SCR members to wear a gown or robe at Guest Night dinners. However, if you wish to wear one (such as when attending Formal in another college), you can wear MA Gowns. There are several MA Gowns available to borrow from the Private Dining Room (PDR); please dryclean after borrowing. If you can’t find your size, please ask the porter lodge for help, because there are more sizes available.
Career Development and Support for JRFs
Student scholarship and internship: Each May, students will apply for scholarships to work with JRFs as summer interns. In previous years, the understanding has been that a JRF may take on up to three summer interns. If you are interested in supervising students, please contact Claire Cockcroft, Director of the Somerville Skills Hub.
Website bio, public engagement, and outreach support: The Comms team are the first point of contact for editing your page on the website and promoting your work to a wider audience, and the Access Office is your first port of call in seeking support for outreach projects.
Somerville Audio & Video Team Support: JRFs can approach the AV Team for support in media recording and publicity.
PDR Informal Dinner: We host an informal dinner for JRFs in the PDR every Wednesday. You are warmly encouraged to sign up - it’s a great place for research conversations and peer support.
Mentoring: Each JRF should have a mentor. If you do not have one, please contact your JRF Representative or the Senior Tutor for further advice.
Funding resources: There is no specific funding support for JRFs.
Wellbeing and Welfare
Your welfare is important to us. Please take advantage of the following facilities to maximise your wellbeing during your time at Somerville.
Welfare: Our JRF Representatives and Welfare team are always here to listen if you need them. For stipendiary JRFs, you can also approach Salome and Sarah in HR for welfare support; non-stipendiary JRFs should approach their department’s HR function for welfare support.
Food: Food and drink from Dining Hall and the Private Dining Room (PDR) are part of your entitlement as a JRF. Members can visit the Terrace Bar for food and drinks while the kitchen is closed, but will be charged for food and drink they purchase. Guest dining guidelines can be found in the SCR guidebook. The SCR Battels will be sent to JRFs every month. Please pay your Battels at the Treasury Office in House. If you have any
questions about the balance in your Food Top-up account, please contact the Conference and Catering Office for further advice.
Health and Sport: Somerville gym membership is free for JRFs. Induction sessions are held at the start of Michaelmas and Hilary terms – please sign up at the Porters’ Lodge. Other College facilities include a tennis court at our sports ground. For further information, please contact the Porters’ Lodge.
Peer support: JRFs can approach JRF representatives as their direct support. All information will be handled with care under privacy concerns. JRFs can also approach the Senior Tutor, their college mentors and the President of the SCR for peer support.
Music: Every Sunday, occasionally on Saturdays, the Chapel hosts a ‘Choral Contemplation’, a reimagining of choral evensong for those of all faiths and none featuring words and music from the Choir and an invited speaker on a spiritual or moral topic. Other colleges also host Sunday services of the more traditional variety. There are several practice rooms in College, all containing a range of instruments. Please register with the music room team and the chapel office for music practice or musical events.
Accommodation: A limited quantity of accommodation is available for JRFs. This accommodation is currently booked on a first-come-first-served basis. Please contact enquiries@some. ox.ac.uk for more information.
