Fellowship Funding Sources
Alzheimer's Research UK: Research and Senior Research Fellowships
Funds high-quality research projects related to causes, cures, preventions, diagnoses and treatments for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, including vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementias. Research fellowships: This scheme provides funds of up to £20,000 per year towards the costs of research, animal and travel costs. Senior research fellowship: This supports researchers who have completed a postdoctoral degree and have the potential to become leading principal investigators within the field of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, but have not yet attained a tenure or tenure-track position. Funding is worth up to £420,000 to cover salary, support staff and running costs. Deadlines: 21 January 2020. In the past there has also been a July deadline.
Dunhill Medical Trust Research Training Fellowships
The Dunhill Medical Trust invites applications for its research training fellowships. These enable academics, clinicians and allied health professionals to pursue a research career in ageing, rehabilitation or palliative care. The awards may either be in the form of a PhD studentship or granted to experienced professionals who wish to branch into research. Deadline: 28 February 2020
Epilepsy Research UK: Emerging Leader Fellowship Awards
Applications are invited for grants of up to £250,000, over 1-3 years, to support fellowships. Funds will cover fellows’ salaries, support staff and project running costs. Deadline: last call was 27 September 2019. No date yet for next call
European Academy of Neurology: Research Fellowship
The purpose is to support training and experience for European Neurologists in any area of basic or clinical or applied research in neuroscience. The research work must be carried out at a European academic neurological department outside the country of residence. All applications should demonstrate experience/training of clear value to the home department/individual beyond that available in their own countries/institutions. Research training fellowship: Expected to be of typically 12 months and no less than 6 months duration, to lead either to completion of a higher degree, a grant application or peer-reviewed publication. Research experience fellowship: Expected to be of typically and no more than 6 months duration for individuals who might otherwise not have the opportunity to gain high quality research experience, but who may wish to pursue a research career. Deadlines: 31 August 2020
European Commision: Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Research Individual Fellowship
This opportunity is for experienced researchers from across the world. Applicants need a doctoral degree or at least four years’ full-time research experience by the time of the call deadline. There are two types of Individual Fellowships: European Fellowships (are open to researchers moving within Europe, as well as those coming in from other parts of the world), Global Fellowships (fund positions outside Europe for researchers based in the EU or associated countries). The grant provides an allowance to cover living, travel and family costs. In addition, the EU contributes to the training, networking and research costs of the fellow, as well as to the management and indirect costs of the project. Deadline: 09 September 2020
Guarantors of the Brain Non-Clinical Postdoctoral Fellowships
The new non-clinical post-doctoral fellowships provide salary support for up to three years to non-clinical postdoctoral career researchers who are working in clinical neuroscience setting in the United Kingdom. Successful candidates will demonstrate their interest in bringing basic science approaches to bear on key problems in clinical neuroscience. The Fellowship must be undertaken after completion of a PhD or equivalent higher degree, to commence no more than six years from the PhD. Funding consists of full time salary up to a maximum of £60,000 pa (including national insurance, superannuation and London weighting if relevant). Only salary support is provided, not consumables or travel expenses. Deadline: next deadline anticpated about March 2021
International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO)
Research Fellowships Programme These fellowships intend to foster neuroscience research in less scientifically funded countries by providing support to excellent scientists from diverse geographic and scientific areas that wish to broaden the scope of their neuroscience training by working in first-class laboratories. Three one-year fellowships are available. Applications from candidates who have completed their PhD within the past three years and do not have postdoctoral experience are preferred. Deadline: not being offered in 2020. Return Home Fellowship The objective of the Return Home Program of IBRO is to provide support to those researchers trained overseas who wish to return to their home countries. Grant amount: up to 20,000 Euros. Eligibility Requirements: 1. Postdoctoral fellows who have finished research training in neurosciences (including clinical research) in a center of excellence of a developed country. 2. Those willing to start up their own laboratory and/or work independently. 3. Scientists who are developing a successful basic/clinical research career in a developed country and wish to return to their country of origin or to a less developed country for personal or cultural reasons. Deadline: expected August 2020
Leverhulme Trust
Early Career Fellowships Offering 50% match-funding for the salary costs of three-year academic research position, the scheme enables early career researchers to undertake a significant piece of publishable work. Applicants must have a track record of research, but should not have held an established academic appointment in the UK. Deadline: Applications will open in January 2021. Research Fellowships Offering up to £55,000 over 3 to 24 months for experienced researchers to conduct a programme of research in any discipline. Research Fellowships are open to experienced researchers, particularly those who are or have been prevented by routine duties from completing a programme of original research. Awards are not limited to those holding appointments in higher education. Deadline: Applications will open in September 2020
Medical Research Council (MRC)
New Investigator Grant The New Investigator Research Grant (NIRG) is aimed at researchers who are capable of becoming independent Principal Investigators and who are now ready to take the next step towards that goal. Applicants are expected to combine time spent on the NIRG with a portfolio of other activities, such as time spent on other research grants or clinical duties, teaching, administration duties etc. A NIRG is normally of three years duration and is not renewable. Exceptionally, applications for a longer period of time may be accepted if the case supporting the transition to independence and scientific rationale is sufficiently justified. Deadlines: 27 May 2020 and 27 Jan 2021
Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship (SNCF) The SNCF supports researchers with a track record of effectively leading their own independent research to make the transition to research leadership and become an internationally recognised leader in their field. An SNCF provides funding for a challenging research programme, and an ambitious programme of research training which offers accelerated personal and career development. Applications are considered twice a year. Next deadline: 06 May 2020 and 16 Sept 2020
Career Development Award (CDA): Transition to independence The CDA 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. A CDA provides funding for a challenging research programme, and an ambitious programme of research training which offers accelerated personal and career development. Applications are considered twice a year. Next deadline: 06 May 2020 and 16 Sept 2020
Medical Research Scotland Daphne Jackson Fellowships
MRS sponsored Daphne Jackson Fellowships provide two or three year part time fellowships for scientists wishing to return to medical research after a career break of two years or more. The Fellowships must be undertaken at a Scottish university and involve a challenging research project that addresses a question of relevance to human health or disease. Up to three MRS sponsored Daphne Jackson Fellowships are available per year and provide a Fellowship salary paid on the University pay scale; £5,000 consumables per annum; and £1,500 extraordinary expenses (for courses, attendance at conferences, training and equipment. Deadline: there are specific calls but also rolling applications
National Institute of Health Research
NIHR Advanced Fellowships: The NIHR Advanced Fellowship funds post-doctoral individuals from a range of health and social care professions who haven’t yet been awarded a chair. Whether you are someone who has recently been or about to be awarded a PhD, or someone with several years of post-doctoral experience, you could be eligible to apply for an Advanced Fellowship. The Fellowship funds: full salary support, including protected time to concentrate on research, research costs, a bespoke training and development programme to meet individual needs. Applicants who are active clinicians or social workers can request for up to 40% of their time to be dedicated to clinical service/development/practice, which will be covered by the Fellowship. Deadline: 29 July 2020
NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award The NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award is a one year post-doctoral level award. Its aim is to support NIHR Academy Members to gain specific skills and experience to support the next phase of their research career. The Award can be taken on a part-time basis of between 50% and 100% whole time equivalent (WTE) and has a maximum duration of one year regardless of WTE. Deadlines: 3 times a year
NHS Research Scotland Career Researcher Fellowships
The award provides funding for protected time (2 sessions) to contribute to, conduct and lead clinical research. The aim is to strengthen the research culture in the NHS and to increasing capacity in areas that are either aligned to research excellence either locally or nationally or areas where the potential exists to develop research excellence. CSO allocates £12.7m per annum to Boards through its NRS Researcher Support budget to meet the time of staff conducting research. If you are currently doing research but you don’t have support for these sessions you should be applying directly to your R&D office for funding under the Researcher Support strand. Deadline: expected November 2020
The Royal Society
Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship This scheme offers a recognised first step into an independent research career for outstanding scientists at an early stage of their research career who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances. You must be able to demonstrate that you currently have, or will have by the start of the fellowship, a need for flexible support due to personal circumstances for the duration of the fellowship. This can include parental responsibilities, caring responsibilities, clinically diagnosed health issues or other personal circumstances that create a need for a flexible working pattern. Deadline: 10 November 2020
Industry Fellowships The Royal Society, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce, invites applications for its industry fellowships. These enable academic scientists to work on collaborative projects with industry, and for scientists in industry who want to work on a collaborative project with an academic organisation. The aim is to enhance knowledge transfer in science and technology between those in industry and those in academia in the UK. The scheme covers all subjects within the life and physical sciences, including engineering but excluding clinical medicine. Deadline: 28 April 2020 and 06 October 2020
Sir Henry Dale Fellowship This scheme is for outstanding post-doctoral scientists wishing to build their own UK-based, independent research career addressing an important biomedical question. Fellowships are tenable for five years in the first instance, with the potential to apply for competitive renewal for an additional three years. Applications are considered 3 times a year. Next deadline: 12 May 2020 (preliminary) 16 Juy 2020 (full). Previous years have also had prelimiary deadlines in Aug and Nov.
University Research Fellowship 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. Research must be within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, which includes but is not limited to biological research, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics. For a full list, please see the breakdown of subject groups and areas supported by the Royal Society. Researchers addressing a direct biomedical research question should apply for a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship. Deadline: 03 September 2020
Wolfson Fellowship This supports senior-career researchers recruited or retained to a UK university or research institution in fields identified as a strategic priority for the host department or organisation. Deadline: currently closed. Future dates to be advised
The Stroke Association
Lectureship Programme Awards: These awards aim to address succession and sustainability in the careers of stroke researchers. We welcome applications from medical professionals, basic and translational scientists, applied health professionals and nurses, psychologists, pharmacists, and other applied researchers including but not limited to: implementation scientists, health economists, digital health and computer scientists. Deadline: expected October 2020
Postdoctoral Fellowships: Our Postdoctoral Fellowships are intended to provide outstanding postdoctoral candidates with the necessary skills and training for the development of an independent career in academic stroke research. The Stroke Association supports Fellows who plan to conduct stroke research into clinical and applied health, including social care research. Deadline: expected November 2020
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI): Future Leaders Fellowship
This cross-UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) scheme will support early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential, both UK and international applicants. The support offered will be long-term and flexible and will provide a comprehensive package of support, including the fellow's salary and justified research, staff and training costs. The expression of Interest must be submitted by the host institute so there will be an internal selection process with a deadline earlier than the application deadline. Next funder deadline: 02 June 2020 (outline), 30 June 2020 (full). In previous years there has also been a call deadline in Sept
Wellcome Trust
Research Career Re-entry Fellowships This scheme offers postdoctoral research scientists the opportunity to re-establish their scientific careers after a continuous break from research of at least two years. You must have a PhD and postdoctoral research experience. You should have started to make important contributions to your area of research before your career break, eg publications, patents, software development or an impact on policy. Deadline: 22 April 2020 (preliminary), 23 June 2020 (full). In previous years there has been another preliminery deadline in October.
Senior Research Fellowships Senior Research Fellowships support independent researchers who want to tackle the most important questions in science and who are leaders in their field. You can apply for a Senior Research Fellowship if you're already leading your own independent research programme. Fellowships are for 5 years, but can be for up to 7 years, and provide salary and research expenses. Deadlines: 27 Feb 2020 and 16 July 2020. In previous years there has also been a deadline in November.
Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships Offering recently qualified postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to start independent research careers, working in some of the best research environments in the world. Fellowships are 4 years in duration and come with up to £300,000, including salary, fellowship supplement and research expenses. Deadline: 22 April 2020 (preliminary), 23 June 2020 (full) and 29 september 2020 (preliminary), 15 Dec 2020 (full)
Wings for Life Individual Grants
This grant is intended only to cover the salary of the applicant: Post-docs, PhDs, and/or technicians. The goals of the individual research grant program are to encourage new investigator’s work on regeneration and recovery processes and to encourage researchers to develop new ideas and/or to transfer their efforts of other areas into spinal cord research. Deadline: 01 September 2020 (preliminary), 02 November (full)