Fellowships
A list of fellowships to support you across all stages of your career.
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Funder |
Title |
Description |
Deadline |
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Early Stage Fellowships |
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| AXA | Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2023- renewable energy theme | AXA Fellowships support promising early-career researchers (no more than five years past completion of their PhD), on a topic aligned with AXA’s priorities and societal challenges. As only one nomination is allowed per institution, there is an internal demand management process in place – please see attachments for further detail (ERO David.Dougal@ed.ac.uk). Internal deadline 10 May 2023 at 9 am |
Closed |
| BBSRC | 2024 BBSRC Fellowships scheme |
Open to early career researchers wishing to carry out independent research within a host laboratory. Applicants on an upward trajectory to pursuing working independently and developing research leadership are encouraged to apply. There is no limit on the number of years postdoctoral or work experience. This scheme has replaced the Discovery Fellowship Scheme. |
02 May 2024 |
| BBSRC | BBSRC New Investigator Award | Assists early-career researchers in securing their first major element of research funding. Aligned with response mode dates. | 24 April 2024 |
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NERC |
The scheme is designed to develop scientific leadership among the most promising early-career environmental scientists, by giving all fellows five years' support, which will allow them sufficient time to develop their research programmes and to gain international recognition. |
TBC |
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MRC |
Supports talented post-doctoral researchers to lead their own research plans and establish their own research team to make the transition from post-doctoral researcher to independent investigator. |
17 April 2024 |
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MRC |
New Investigator Research Grant - Molecular and Cellular Medicine |
Supports researchers capable of becoming PIs. Funds up to 3 years of funding. |
15 May 2024 |
| MRC | New Investigator Research Grant - Infections and Immunity | Supports researchers capable of becoming PIs. Funds up to 3 years of funding. |
15 May 2024 |
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MRC |
Supports researchers capable of becoming independent principal investigators in areas of population and systems medicine. Grants are tenable for 3 years. |
15 May 2024 |
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MRC |
Supports researchers capable of becoming independent principal investigators in areas of neuroscience and mental health. Grants are tenable for 3 years. |
15 May 2024 |
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EPSRC |
The scheme supports individuals who hold an academic lectureship position, have not previously led an academic research group or been the recipient of a significant grant (usually defined as those which included PDRA time, capital equipment or were in excess of £100,000 (FEC)). |
Applications will be batched for assessment and sent to the most appropriate responsive mode panel meeting when they reach this stage of the process |
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This is an early career fellowship for those that have not already been in receipt of significant funding or been leading in an area of technical development. These are personal, career development focused awards, limited to topics in:
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opened 7 December 2023 - no closing date |
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| Open fellowship | These are personal, career development focused awards in any area funded by EPSRC. Open fellowships are for all career stages beyond postdoctoral level and include researchers who are close to their first academic appointment, leading in an area of technical development, or are a highly experienced researcher. |
opened 7 December 2023 - no closing date |
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| Open plus fellowship | These are personal, career development focused awards in any area funded by EPSRC. Open plus fellowships can design a package of work that meets your wider aspirations by championing a topic to deliver improvements in research culture. |
opened 7 December 2023 - no closing date |
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Cancer Research UK |
This enables scientists without a salaried independent position to set up their first independent cancer research group. The fellowship covers salaries for the fellow, one postdoctoral researcher and one technician, and associated running expenses and equipment costs over six years. |
Two stage application with twice yearly deadlines. Next 21st March 2024 for full application Sept 2024 |
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Human Frontier Science Program |
Support for innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems with emphasis placed on novel and interdisciplinary approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries. |
Letter of intent - 28 March 2024 |
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| Human Frontier Science Program | Postdoctoral Fellowships | HFSP postdoctoral fellowships encourage early career scientists to broaden their research skills by moving into new areas of study while working in a new country. Two different fellowships are available:
Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) are for applicants with a PhD on a biological topic who want to embark on a novel and frontier project focussing on the life sciences. Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF) are for applicants who hold a doctoral degree from a non-biological discipline (e.g. physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering or computer sciences) and who have not worked in the life sciences before. |
Letter of intent - 28 March 2024 |
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Royal Society |
This scheme is for outstanding scientists who are in the early stages of their research career and have the potential to become leaders in their field. |
10 April 2024 |
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Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship |
This scheme offers a recognised first step into an independent research career for outstanding scientists and engineers at an early stage of their research career who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances, such as parenting or caring responsibilities or health issues. Please see call document and note recent changes to this scheme. |
3 September 2024
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| *NEW* Royal Society Career Development Fellowship pilot | Opening on 07 November, a new four-year, postdoctoral research fellowship to kickstart the independent research careers of researchers from groups underrepresented in UK STEM academia. In this pilot year, researchers from Black heritage backgrounds, who are completing or have recently completed a PhD are invited to apply. In the future, the scheme may be broadened to researchers from other underrepresented groups. | Currently closed | |
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Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship |
The scheme, which is funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), provides the opportunity for highly qualified early career researchers to conduct cooperative research with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions. |
6 March 2024 |
| Newton International fellowships |
These enable early-career researchers from around the world to work at UK research institutions and conduct natural sciences research. |
13 March 2024 | |
| Research grants |
This scheme provides ‘seed corn’ funding for up to 12 months for independent researchers. The amount offered through the rounds opening in January and August 2024 is the standard £20,000 to enable researchers to purchase consumables and essential pieces of equipment. |
27 March 2024 | |
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Royal Academy of Engineering |
Supports outstanding early-career researchers to support them to become future research leaders in engineering. |
Currently closed | |
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Academy Medical Sciences |
These enable biomedical scientists to develop their independent research careers with up to £125,000 over two years and a personalised package of career support . Applicants may come from any biomedical research area, including non-clinical, as well as from molecular, cellular and structural biology, and anatomical, physiological, psychological, epidemiological and public health research areas. The call is under Demand Management and more information will be published later this week on the ERO Share point. There will also very likely be an information session later in March. We understand that all this will be on the internal call page managed by ERO. |
Expected to open in Spring 2024 |
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Wellcome |
For early-career researchers who are ready to develop their research identity. Through innovative projects, they will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. |
21 May 2024 |
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EMBO |
Supports junior group leaders in the field of life sciences to set up their first independent laboratories. Funding is worth up to €25,000. |
Pre-application - 1 April 2024 |
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| EMBO | New Venture Fellowships | These support early career scientists, in any field of life science research, who would use this opportunity to enter a new field of research. The intention is to support high quality candidates to explore feasible projects or generate preliminary data to help transform their research trajectory. | No deadline |
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UKRI |
The scheme will support early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential. This award has internal demand management. |
18 June 2024 |
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European Research Council |
Support individual researchers that are starting or consolidating their own independent research team or programme and who can demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition, and feasibility of their scientific proposal. |
Currently closed |
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Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, GB |
Research fellowships for early career scientist in science or engineering |
This supports early-career scientists or engineers (3 years or less postdoctoral experience) in conducting a research project of their own instigation, to contribute to the knowledge-base required for a healthy and innovative national culture. Approximately eight fellowships are available. |
Currently closed |
| Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, GB | Brunel Fellowships in Engineering | The Brunel Fellowship is aimed specifically at researchers in the core subjects of civil, mechanical, electrical or aeronautical engineering seeking to address the primary infrastructure needs of modern society. Supports early career researchers (3 years or less postdoctoral experience) . | Currently closed |
| British Heart Foundation | Immediate Postdoctoral Basic Science Research Fellowships | For newly qualified postdoctoral researchers to start developing their independent cardiovascular research careers in an established institution in the UK. | No deadline |
| BHF | Daphne Jackson Trust fellowships | These provide an opportunity for scientists to return to cardiovascular research after a career break of two years or more. Applicants should have a PhD and preferably some post-doc experience. | Currently closed |
| BHF | Career Re-entry Research Fellowships | These enable postdoctoral researchers to re-establish their careers in cardiovascular science in an established UK research institution following a break. Four years of funding, with possibility of one year extension. | No deadline |
| Medical Research Scotland | Daphne Jackson Fellowships | These enable researchers in the field of medical research to return to their careers following a break of at least two years. | Call will open August 2024 |
| IPCC | IPCC Scholarship Awards | Provides scholarships for PhD students and postdocs from developing countries for research that advances the understanding of the scientific basis of risks of climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. | Currently closed |
| DBT/Wellcome | India Alliance intermediate fellowships | These fellowships enable scientists to undertake research and establish themselves as independent researchers in an academic institution in India. | Currently closed |
| Diabetes UK | RD Lawrence Fellowship | Up to £525k over 4/5 years to enable postdoctoral researchers to establish their independence in diabetes research. | Preliminary applications open in March each year |
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AACR-EXELIXIS |
Renal Cell Carcinoma Research Fellowship | A two-year grant of $130,000 to support the salary and benefits of the fellow while working on a mentored renal cell carcinoma research project and to establish a successful career path in this field. The research may be basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences research and must have direct applicability and relevance to renal cell carcinoma. | 11 April 2024 |
| AACR | A two-year, US$130k grant to support postdoctoral or clinical research fellows to conduct cancer disparities research. The proposed research may be in basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences research. | 16 April 2024 | |
| Edinburgh Innovations | Innovation Fellowship Scheme 2024 | Recruitment call is now open for this year’s Innovation Fellowship Scheme. Full details on the role, the application process and timetable can be found here – https://eil.ac/innovationfellows Q&A Sessions – 22 February and 01 March 2024. | 15 March 2024 |
| Mid-Stage Career and Senior Fellowships | |||
| AXA | Research Chair | The 5-year premium grant of the AXA Research Fund aimed to support top-tier senior scientists. Host institutions may only submit one application. The Chair must be recruited externally. |
Currently closed |
| Leverhulme | International Academic Fellowships |
These are for established researchers to develop new knowledge, skills and ideas in one or more research centres outside the UK. Budget £50,000 |
Currently closed |
| Leverhulme | Research Fellowships |
These fellowships enable experienced researchers to complete a piece of research in any discipline. Worth up to £65,000 over a period of three to 24 months. |
Currently closed |
| Leverhulme | Emeritus Fellowships | For senior researchers who have retired or partially retired from an academic post to complete a research project and prepare the results for publication. | Currently closed |
| Royal Academy of Engineering | Industrial Fellowships | These enable mid-career academics and industrialists to undertake a collaborative research project in either an industrial or academic environment, where one party would host the other. Fellowships are worth up to £100,000 each and are tenable between six months to two years full-time or part-time. | Currently closed |
| Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships | Available for professors, readers or lecturers from any engineering discipline wishing to build strong industrial collaborations. Awards of up to £45,000 per annum for five years, the industrial partner should contribute at least £250,000. | Currently closed | |
| Chair in Emerging Technologies | The Academy’s Chair in Emerging Technologies scheme aims to identify global research visionaries and provide them with long term support to lead on developing emerging technology areas with high potential to deliver economic and social benefit to the UK. | Currently closed | |
| Royal Academy of Engineering / Leverhulme Trust | Research Fellowships | These enable engineering academics to concentrate on full-time research in any engineering discipline by relieving them of their administrative and teaching responsibilities. | Currently closed |
| Royal Society | Research Professorships | These provide long-term support to world-class researchers of outstanding achievement and promise. They enable the best leading researchers to focus on ambitious and original research of the highest quality, in a UK academic institution. | Call opens 10 April 2024 |
| APEX Awards |
These enable established, independent researchers with a strong track record in their respective area to pursue genuine interdisciplinary and curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society. Awards are worth up to £100,000 each over two years. |
Currently closed | |
| Royal Society / Leverhulme Trust | Senior Research Fellowships | These enable researchers to focus on full-time research for up to one year. Include salary costs and research expenses of up to £2,500. | Currently closed |
| Cancer Research UK | Career Establishment Award |
These enable new group leaders with a salaried independent position to establish their own independent research group. Funding is provided for up to six years and covers salaries and running expenses for up to two posts, associated running expenses, equipment costs up to £25,000 and relocation costs up to £1,000. |
Preliminary submission 21 March 2024 |
| Wellcome | Career development award | This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. |
11 April 2024
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| MRC | Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship | A personal award for those transitioning to a research leadership. Funds up to 5 years. We encourage those that are eligible to apply. If you would like to discuss further, please email: SBS.ResearchDirector@ed.ac.uk | Future round open for applications February to April 2024 and July to September 2024 |
| Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions | Post Doctoral Fellowships | For experienced researchers, wishing to diversify their individual competence in terms of skill acquisition through advanced training, international and intersectoral mobility. | 09 April 2024 |
| European Research Council | Consolidator Grant | These grants support principal investigators in establishing a research team. Grants are worth up to €2 million, with the possibility of an additional €1m for start-up costs. | Currently closed |
| European Research Council | Advanced Grant | These grants support established research leaders in conducting innovative research projects. The total budget is worth €492 million to fund approximately 209 grants and each grant is worth up to €3.5m over five years | August 2024 |
| European Research Council | Synergy Grant | Apply for up to €10m to collaborate in a group of two to four PIs to tackle ambitious research problems in any field of research. | Currently closed |
| British Association for Cancer Research | Mid-Career Fellowships | These enable members to travel to a laboratory in order to advance an ongoing programme or facilitate a collaboration that may lead to a new programmes of work. | Currently closed |
| Royal Society of Edinburgh | Personal Research Fellowships | Up to £45k for the appointment of a temporary replacement to enable the awardee to take research leave for up to 12 months, either in their own institution or elsewhere, plus £5k for research costs. Applicants must be members of academic staff and must be in contract for at least three months beyond the duration of the award. | 28 March 2024 |
| International Fellowships | |||
| Singapore National Research Fellowships | Early Career Fellowships | This enables early-career researchers to carry out independent research in Singapore in any discipline related to science or technology. Fellowships are worth up to SGD 3 million each over five years. | TBC |
| Intermediate fellowships | These enable scientists to undertake . research and establish themselves as independent researchers in an academic institution in India. Fellowships are tenable for five years and provide personal support, research expenses, and additional travel allowances | TBC | |
| DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance senior fellowships | Senior Fellowships | These support researchers who have demonstrated their ability to lead an independent research project and group in expanding their research programme in India. The fellowship is tenable for five years and provides the fellow’s personal support and research expenses. | TBC |
| DARWIN | Darwin Plus Fellowships for UK overseas fellowships |
Fellows must be nationals of overseas territories who have previously worked on a Darwin or Darwin plus project in an OT or who are currently working in the OTs on environment and climate change issues. The project leader, who is the lead within the applicant organisation who will work with or supervise the fellow, should have a minimum of five years of relevant experience. Support projects that deliver long-term strategic outcomes for the natural environment in the UK’s overseas territories. Fellowships are tenable between six months and three years. The average project award last year was under £100,000 a year. |
Currently closed. |
| Leverhulme | Visiting Professorships |
These enable UK institutions to host distinguished researchers from overseas, primarily to enhance the skills of academic staff or students at the host institution. Budget between £10,000 and £150,000 for between three months and one year. |
2nd Round - 2 May 2024 3rd Round - 3 October 2024 |
| Academy Medical Sciences | Newton International Fellowships-India. |
These enable early-career researchers from India to undertake a clinical or patient-orientated research project for an extended period with leading researchers in the UK. Budget up to £32,000 per year for up to two years to cover subsistence costs of up to £24,000 and research support costs for consumables, equipment or eligible travel of up to £8,000. |
Currently closed |
| Industry and other Fellowships | |||
| Royal Academy Engineering |
Supports exceptional academics in UK universities to undertake use-inspired research that meets the needs of industrial partners. |
Currently closed | |
| Federation of European Biochemical Societies | Short term fellowships | These support long-term visits to laboratories in other FEBS countries for the purpose of scientific collaboration or advanced training. Fellowships are granted for periods of no longer than two or, in exceptional cases, three months. | Always open (apply min. 3 months before proposed start date) |
| Royal Society | Entrepreneur in Residence |
The scheme aims to increase the knowledge and awareness in UK universities of cutting edge industrial science, research and innovation. Budget up to £20,000 |
Currently closed |
| Short Industry Fellowship | This scheme enables scientists employed in industry or academia and/or their postdoctoral researcher to have shorter, more dynamic engagements between academia and industry, working on a mutually beneficial and collaborative project. Secondments can be full or part time, for between three and twelve months. | Currently closed | |
| Industry Fellowship | This long-standing scheme enables the mobility of talented scientists and engineers from industry and academia in order to move between the sectors. These secondments support the researcher's development, fosters exchange of knowledge, stimulates longer-term collaborations, and establishes personal, scientific and corporate links between sectors. | 10 April 2024 | |