This Fellowship provides the opportunity to build an independent research career. Those appointed are expected to be strong candidates for permanent posts in universities at the end of their fellowships.

It covers all areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering, but excluding clinical medicine. Researchers addressing a direct biomedical research question should apply for a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship.

Suitable individuals of any nationality can apply for a University Research Fellowship to be held in an eligible UK host research organisation.

Am I eligible to apply?

You can apply for this scheme if you:

have a PhD (note we will not consider applicants who have just submitted their PhD)
are in the early stages of your research career and have between 3 to 8 years of research experience since your PhD by the closing date of the round (note career breaks are taken into account)
do not hold a permanent post in a university or not for profit research organisation
do not hold or previously have held a fellowship that provides an opportunity to establish an independent research group and therefore independent researcher status, i.e. that allows the applicant to submit research grants as a PI or be registered as the primary supervisor of a PhD student. For example, STFC Rutherford Fellowship, NERC Independent Research Fellowship, EPSRC Early Career Fellowship or BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship. (Note holders of postdoctoral fellowships such as MCSA can apply. Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellows who meet with the research experience eligibility requirements outlined above can also apply).

NB the deadline is 3pm and FlexiGrant system will be used so all supporting statements must be uploaded prior to submission.