Fellowship opportunities

Fellowship name

Eligibility

Duration of Fellowship

Deadline

UKRI - Future Leaders Fellowships

• Early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential.
• Internally managed fellowship – see Imperial Information for Applicants.

Round 11 not been announced. Likely similar timeline to Round 10 which opened in February and closed in June. 

Imperial has an internally managed process complete internal online application form by March.

Imperial is restricted in number of candidates (capped at 8 in 2025)

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Fellowships

Mathematical sciences postdoctoral fellowship

• Mathematical sciences postdoctoral fellowship
• Your fellowship must focus on research where the majority of the research novelty lies within our mathematical sciences remit. For more info on the scope of mathematical science at EPSRC please see Mathematical sciences theme.
• Early Career Fellowship for those who are not already in receipt of significant funding.
• No eligibility rules about how many years of postdoc experience you need.
• See full guidance on their website.

Up to 3yrs full time or if part time, can extend to max 6yrs.

Open opportunity with no closing date. Ongoing – previously panels met to discuss reviewed applications in Sept, then quarterly (approx Dec, March & June)

Please note EPSRC Open, OpenPlus and postdoctoral fellowship opportunities closed to new applications in December 2024. The EPSRC are reviewing fellowship funding in theoretical research. Details of new funding opportunities will be available on the UKRI funding finder during 2025.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Fellowships

Mathematical Sciences Open and Open Plus fellowships

• Mathematical Sciences 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.
• Welcome applications from candidates who want to move back into research after any type of break from active research
• Your programme of work will last 5 years and deliver high quality research within mathematical sciences.
• See full guidance on their website.

• Mathematical Sciences Open plus fellowships follow the same criteria as the mathematical open fellowships with the plus element (20% to 50% of time) spent on creating positive change in the research community. Need to champion a topic aligned to EPSRC improvement aspirations such as:
  • equality, diversity and inclusion
  • responsible research and innovation (RRI)
  • public engagement
  • policy, regulatory, economic or social aspects of your research
• See full guidance on their website.

Up to 5yrs full time or if part time, can extend to max 10yrs.

Open with no closing date.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Fellowships

Daphne Jackson Fellowship

• Daphne Jackson Fellowship - for those looking to return to a research career after a break of two or more years for family, health or caring reasons.
• You can view current opportunities on the Daphne Jackson Trust website. Sponsored fellowships are also advertised on university websites and on jobs.ac.uk.
• See full guidance on their website. 

Flexible, with at least 100 hours retraining per year, and part-time – usually completed over two years at 0.5 full-time equivalent 

Open - no closing date

European Space Agency's (ESA) postdoctoral Research Fellowship programme

• Preference given to applications submitted by candidates within 5 years of receiving their PhD.
• Be a citizen from one of the ESA Member States and European Cooperating States, or from Latvia and Slovenia as Associated Member States and Canada as a Cooperating State.
• ESA job opportunities link, visit the recruiting website. 

To see open Research Fellowships, look for those positions titled Internal Research Fellow among the ESA job opportunities.

L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards

• Must identify as female.
• No more than 10 years' active full-time equivalent postdoctoral experience (discounting career breaks but including teaching experience and/or time spent in industry).
• Eligibility based on key STEM disciplines see eligibility information.

Call usually Opens July. Application deadline August. Awards announced December each year. 

Royal Academy of Engineering

• The Academy welcomes applications from early-career researchers worldwide who have been awarded their PhD no more than 4 years before the submission deadline.
• Applicants who have applied to this scheme before and were unsuccessful are eligible to reapply. These applications will be considered as new applications.

Closed 2026 round likely to follow timetable with launch in March 2026.

Imperial is restricted to 4 applicants

Internal selection process for 2025:

Departments select 2 candidates March-June

Central Shortlisting 12 June-27 June

Final selection early July

RAEng Deadline 17 September 2025

(see Research Office Managed Calls)

Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships 

• No more than 3 years of postdoc experience by the anticipated started date of Oct 2026.
• If completed PhD at Imperial, will need to change research groups.
• The Commissioners have a preference for candidates to move institutions – If staying at Imperial will need to complete form to outline reasons for staying.

Open: October 2025

Deadline: 13 January 2026

Interviews: April 2026

Final Decisions: May 2026

Brunel Fellowship

• No more than three years of postdoc experience, by the anticipated started date of Oct 2025.
• Researchers in the core subjects of civil, mechanical, electrical, or aeronautical engineering seeking to address the primary infrastructure needs of modern society.
• See Fellowship Terms and Conditions

Open: October 2025

Deadline: 13 January 2026

Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Built Environment Fellowships

• Research Fellowship in the Built Environment Collaborative Leadership in the Built Environment: Building Capability in the Next Generation 2025
• Applications are welcomed from post-graduates, researchers, practitioners or professionals on a career break.
• Specific themes will be advertised each year. 

Closed – 2025

Stage 1 a two-page outline - 9 Sept 2025.

Shortlisted applicants full project proposal - 21 October 2025.

Final interviews November 2025

Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF)

• 3-8 years of postdoc experience.
• 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.

Opens: 15 July 2025

Closes: 10 September 2025

Decision: 30 June 2026

Schlumberger Foundation

• Faculty for the Future focuses on developing and emerging countries where women are underrepresented in STEM disciplines
• See further information on the SLB Foundation website

Application Deadline: 7 November 2025

Notification of Results: Early April 2026

Fellowship name

Eligibility

Duration of Fellowship

Deadline

UKRI - Future Leaders Fellowships

• Early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential.
• Internally managed fellowship – see Imperial Information for Applicants.

Round 11 not been announced. Likely similar timeline to Round 10 which opened in February and closed in June. Imperial has an internally managed process complete internal online application form by March.

Imperial is restricted in number of candidates (capped at 8 in 2025)

Clinical Future Leaders Fellowships  

NIHR is partnering with the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) to grow clinical research capacity and improve career paths.

• Clinical FLFs for registered health and care professionals as defined by NIHR to establish their own research teams. 
• Must hold a PhD or MD
• Must have completed relevant pre-registration training
• Propose a research programme within the NIHR remit
• Have substantial postdoctoral experience
• Eligible institutions are invited to nominate a maximum of 3 eligible applicants to each NIHR Clinical Future Leaders Fellowship funding opportunity

Cohort 1 will open in 21 October 2025 deadline 3 March 2026

Internal selection process will be managed through Faculty of Medicine with an internal deadline 12noon, Weds 5 November 2025

Further information on the Imperial Managed Fellowships webpage

Alzheimer’s Research UK Doctoral Clinical Fellowship 

• Doctoral Clinical Fellowships provide funding for clinicians with limited research experience and who do not hold a PhD
• Registered healthcare professionals who can demonstrate an upward trajectory, with some evidence of outputs from previous research project(s), such as publications and/or conference presentations, see  Early Career Researcher Framework

Deadline 19^th Nov 2025

Outcome: Spring 2026

Alzheimer's Research UK Senior Research Fellowship

• Senior Research Fellowships are designed clinical or non-clinical researchers with a demonstrated track record of original and productive research (having had typically at least one previous post-doctoral appointment).
• Research must align with Alzheimer’s Research UK’s strategy, 
• For information on the skills and training you will be expected to demonstrate, see  Early Career Researcher Framework.
• Frequently asked questions on their website.

Currently closed dates to be confirmed

British Heart Foundation (BHF) Clinical Future Leader Fellowship (Clinical FLF)

• The Clinical Future Leader Fellowship (Clinical FLF) replaces the Intermediate Clinical Research Fellowship
• Demonstrate clear steps towards establishing research independence.
• Proposal must have a strong cardiovascular research theme.
• Candidates must have a successful PhD (or MD/MDRes) plus NTN and at least 2 years completed specialist training, but usually no more than 2 years after CCT.
• Open to candidates returning to academia after a career break from medicine and science of more than 6 months
• See further details on BHF website

Award up to 7 years

Opens: 30 Oct 2025

Deadline: 14 January 2026

MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship (CSF)

• Clinically qualified PhD/DPhil/MD or Vet Med (providing their project is of relevance to human health).
• There are no eligibility rules based on years of postdoctoral experience.

3 times a year with current deadlines:

Opens 22 October 2025

Closes 14 January 2026

Future round open for applications

Opens 15 January 2026

Closes 8 April 2026

Further round opens in June for Sept deadline

MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship (CRTF)

• Achieved PhD over 5 yrs ago but have not been research active since due to clinical commitments.
• The CRTF supports clinicians, including (but not limited to) medics, surgeons, dentists, clinical psychologists, public health specialty trainees, allied health professionals, nurses, midwives and veterinarians, to undertake a PhD or other higher research degree.

3 times a year with current deadlines:

Opens 22 October 2025

Closes 14 January 2026

Future round open for applications

Opens 15 January 2026

Closes 8 April 2026

Further round opens in June for Sept deadline

NIHR Postdoctoral Award

• You can apply to this award from any postdoctoral career stage, from recent PhD completion through to several years’ postdoctoral experience.
• You must have completed relevant pre-registration training if you are a clinical applicant
• Must propose research within NIHR remit
• Clinical applicants can dedicate up to 40% of time to professional practice and development, with this time covered by the award.
• There is an option to apply for a partnership award with charity partners
• Further information visit NIHR Postdoctoral Award webpage

Between 2 and 5 years 100% Full Time Equivalent (FTE)

Flexibility to choose part time 50%-100% FTE

2 rounds a year

Opens: March/April

Closes July

And

Opens: October

Closes: January

[note the NIHR Postdoc Award replaces the Advanced Fellowship (AF), the Integrated Clinical Academic Fellowship (ICA)]

NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award

• Be a current member of the NIHR Academy
• Have completed any relevant pre-registration training (clinical academic applications only).
• Hold a relevant PhD or MD, or have submitted their thesis for examination at the time of application – applicants must have been awarded their PhD or MD by the time they start.
• Ensure that any previous NIHR awards undertaken finished no longer than 12 months ago.
• Have not submitted a DSE application in the previous round

3 Closing dates per year:

March, July and November.

DSE Award Cohort 8 - deadline 4 November 2025 1pm 

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Clinician Scientist 

• Career level - Postdoc, Clinician, Health professional.
• Demonstrate meet skills and experience in the “developing independence” career stage of CRUK Fellowship Competency Framework
• See further guidance from CRUK

See Timelines

Accepted twice per year, November and May Review Committees

May Review Committees

May 2026 - Outline applications by 2 Oct 2025

Kidney Research Clinical Training Fellowships

• For medical graduates to specialise in renal research, expanding the levels of expertise in kidney research and treatment
• Research must align with KRUK  Research Strategyand 3 strategic priorities:
  • Transforming Treatments
  • Multiple Health Conditions
  • Health Inequalities  

Expressions of interest tend to open June with deadline for applications August each year.

Fellowship name

Eligibility

Duration

Deadline

UKRI - Future Leaders Fellowships

• Early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential.
• Internally managed fellowship – see Imperial Information for Applicants  

Round 11 not been announced. Likely similar timeline to Round 10 which opened in February and closed in June. Imperial has an internally managed process complete internal online application form by March.

Imperial is restricted in number of candidates (capped at 8 in 2025)

Alzheimer’s Research UK Research Fellowship 

• PhD-qualified non-clinical researchers.
• No time-bound eligibility criteria, instead use Early Career Researcher Framework to assess researchers’ eligibility
• See FAQs on the Website.

Next round to be confirmed. Likely to follow similar rounds:

Open: Jan 2026

Close: March 2026

Alzheimer’s Society Postdoctoral Fellowship

• Applicants must be postdoctoral researchers not already in open-ended, university-funded posts, or final year PhD students who will have been awarded their PhD at commencement of the grant.   

Annual Cycle. 2025 dates expected to be similar to 2024:

Opens: Early in year

Deadline: March 2024

Deadline 2: July 2024 (for full proposals)

Outcome: December 2024

Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Research Leader Fellowship

• For talented researchers who wish to build on a number of successful years of research.
• Open to people from diverse disciplines and career paths including those returning from a career break or time in other roles and those wishing to transition into dementia research from other fields. 

Annual Cycle. 2026 dates expected to be similar to 2025:

Opens: Early in January

Deadline: March 2026

Deadline 2: July 2026 (for full proposals)

Outcome: December 2026

British Heart Foundation (BHF) Early Career Fellowship 

• This new Early Career Research Fellowship replaces the BHF Immediate Postdoctoral Basic Science Research Fellowship and Advanced Training Award schemes.
• Open to those in the final year of their PhD studies or have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience from the date of their PhD award
• Proposal must have strong cardiovascular research theme.
• Open to Scientists returning from industry and
• Scientists returning to academia after a career break of more than 6 months
• Further information available via BHF website

Opens 30 October 2025

Deadline: 1^st April 2026

Arthritis UK Career Development Fellowship 2027

(formerly known as Versus Arthritis)

• A PhD (or equivalent), with the skills and experience to match those of the transition to an independent career stage.
• Career Development Fellowship aims to attract and retain talented researchers committed to a career in any discipline relevant to arthritis and related musculoskeletal diseases.
• See full guidance on website and details of all funding opportunities  

Launching early 2026

Deadline May 2026

Arthritis UK Bridging Fellowship 2026

(formerly known as Versus Arthritis)

• The bridging fellowship will provide up to 2 years funding for current Arthritis UK fellowship holders who are in the final year of their fellowship
• See details of all funding opportunities 

Opens 22 October 2025

Deadline 14 January 2026

MRC Career Development Award (CDA)

• There are no eligibility rules based on years of post-doctoral experience.
• Research needs to focus on any area of MRC’s remit to improve human health.
• Need to show evidence of career progression & plans to develop as a leader in area of research 

2 Rounds each year, with deadlines in April and September

Next round opens: 27 January 2026 with a deadline of 21 April 2026.

Following round: Opens June 2026 - Deadline September 2026.

MRC New Investigator Research Grant (NIRG)

• Need to demonstrate skills and experience at the time of application match those of the ‘transition to independence’ career stage, as set out in the applicant skills and experience table.
• There are no eligibility rules based on years of postdoctoral experience, applicants can hold a lecturer appointment, a junior fellowship, or be in another research staff position.

Ongoing - MRC Guidance for Applicants 

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Career Development 

• Applications are considered from any area of CRUK funding remit, including population, prevention and early detection/diagnosis research, but with the exception of any interventional clinical study/trial and drug discovery.

• Be able to demonstrate that you meet the range of skills and experience as outlined in the ‘establishing independence’ career stage in CRUK Fellowships Competency Framework
• See Outline application guidance 

See Timelines

Accepted twice per year, November and May Review Committees

May 2026 – Outline applications by 2 Oct 2025

Kidney Research UK Intermediate Fellowships (non-clinical)

• 2-3 years of postdoc experience to specialise in renal research aligned with KRUK  Research Strategy and 3 strategic priorities:
  • Transforming Treatments
  • Multiple Health Conditions
  • Health Inequalities  

Expressions of interest tend to open June with deadline for applications August each year.

Kidney Research UK Senior Fellowships (non-clinical)

• Extensive post-doctoral experience and already have demonstrated a sustained ability to conduct independent research
• Research must align with KRUK  Research Strategy and 3 strategic priorities:
  • Transforming Treatments
  • Multiple Health Conditions
  • Health Inequalities  

Expressions of interest tend to open June with deadline for applications August each year.

L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards

• Must identify as female postdoctoral level.
• No more than 10 years' active full-time equivalent postdoctoral experience (discounting career breaks but including teaching experience and/or time spent in industry).
• Eligibility based on key STEM disciplines see eligibility information

Call usually Opens July, Application deadline August. Awards announced December each year. 

NIHR Postdoctoral Award 

• You can apply to this award from any postdoctoral career stage, from recent PhD completion through to several years’ postdoctoral experience.
• Must propose research within NIHR remit
• There is an option to apply for a partnership award with charity partners
• Further information visit NIHR Postdoctoral Award webpage

Between 2 and 5 years 100% Full Time Equivalent (FTE)

2 rounds each year:

Opens: March/April

Closes – July

And

Opens: October

Closes: January

[note the NIHR Postdoc Award replaces the NIHR Advanced Fellowship (AF),]

NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award

• Be a current member of the NIHR Academy
• Hold a relevant PhD or MD, or have submitted their thesis for examination at the time of application – applicants must have been awarded their PhD or MD by the time they start.
• Ensure that any previous NIHR awards undertaken finished no longer than 12 months ago.
• Have not submitted a DSE application in the previous round.

3 closing dates per year:

March, July and November.

DSE Award Cohort 8 - deadline 4 November 2025 1pm 

Wellcome Early-Career Awards

• This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. Through innovative projects, they will deliver shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 
• Generally, no more than three years postdoctoral research experience
• Fit within Wellcome's Discovery Research 

Usually three times a year - Upcoming deadline: 17 February 2026

Wellcome Career Development Awards

• Mid career completed one or two substantial periods of research after your initial training.
• Made important contributions to your area of research.
• You can already be a fellow.
• You may have been appointed to your first permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract within the last three years. If this applies to you, you can’t ask for your own salary with this award.

Usually three times a year - Upcoming deadline: 20 November 2025

Prostate Cancer UK Travelling Prize Fellowships

• Max 5 years postdoc experience
• Must spend 6x months at another research institution to establish collaborations as well as learning new skills and techniques that will support career development as a prostate cancer researcher.
• Research to align with Prostate Cancer’s research strategy.

2026 dates to be announced, likely to follow similar deadline as 2025 with a May deadline. 

Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group Little Princess Trust New Ideas Grant

• The Trust generally funds basic science (with a clear plan for translation/patient benefit), translational and clinical research. For more information, read The Little Princess Trust's Research Strategy.
• See Guidance for applicants

Deadline 8 October 2025

Fellowship name

Eligibility

Duration

Deadline

UKRI - Future Leaders Fellowships

• Early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential.
• Internally managed fellowship – see Imperial Information for Applicants  

Round 11 not been announced. Likely similar timeline to Round 10 which opened in February and closed in June. Imperial has an internally managed process complete internal online application form by March.

Imperial is restricted in number of candidates (capped at 8 in 2025)

BBSRC Fellowship 

• There is no limit on the number of years of postdoc experience. 
• Must have completed a successful PhD viva by 30 November of year of Fellowship submission
• You can apply if undertake biotechnology or biological research in:
  • Plants
  • Microbes
  • Animals and humans
  • Tools and technology underpinning biological research 

2026 likely to follow similar timeline to 2025

Opens: February annually

Closes: - May annually

With projects starting the following July. 

European Space Agency's (ESA) postdoctoral Research Fellowship programme

• Preference given to applications submitted by candidates within 5 years of receiving their PhD.
• Be a citizen from one of the ESA Member States and European Cooperating States, or from Latvia and Slovenia as Associated Member States and Canada as a Cooperating State.
• ESA job opportunities link, visit the recruiting website. 

To see open Research Fellowships, look for those positions titled Internal Research Fellow among the ESA job opportunities.

Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)

2 different Fellowships:

Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) and

Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF)

Long- Term Fellowship

Applicants with a PhD on a biological topic who want to embark on a novel and frontier project focussing on the life sciences. Must have at least one lead author, full-length research paper (in an international peer-reviewed journal or published on a pre-print server) (see full guidance)

Cross-Disciplinary Fellowship

For applicants with a doctoral degree from a non-biological discipline (eg, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering or computer science) and not worked in life sciences.  See full guidance 

Opened: 24 May 2025

Closed: 25^th September 2025

L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards

• Must identify as female postdoctoral level.
• No more than 10 years' active full-time equivalent postdoctoral experience (discounting career breaks but including teaching experience and/or time spent in industry).
• Eligibility based on key STEM disciplines see eligibility information

Call usually Opens July, Application deadline August. Awards announced December each year. 

NERC Independent Research Fellowships

• Must evidence reasonable scientific and technical skills in line with the ambitions of the Independent Research Fellowship
• No time post PhD restrictions

Annual Call – Although NERC Fellowships under review:

Previous Rounds: Opens: January 2025 Closed April 2025, 

Ramsay Trust Memorial Fellowship

• Postdoctoral chemists who have already had some postdoctoral experience of research.
• Applicants from under-represented groups are particularly welcome
• See further information here

Opens: August annually

Closes: November annually 

Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)  Research Fellowship and the Norman Lockyer Fellowships

• Up to 5 years of postdoctoral experience.
• RAS Fellowships - outstanding candidates to pursue research in the UK in the disciplines advanced by the RAS i.e. astronomy, solar system science, geophysics and closely related branches of these sciences.
• Norman Lockyer Fellowships - enable an outstanding researcher to devote the majority of their time to research on an astronomical topic, including solar system and planetary science.

RAS Fellowships will be sought in the years 2027 and for the Norman Lockyer Fellowship in  2025 and 2028

Norman Lockyer Fellowship Deadline 15 Nov 2025

Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Built Environment Fellowships

• Applications are welcomed from post-graduates, researchers, practitioners or professionals on a career break.
• Specific themes will be advertised each year. 

Open: October 2024

Deadline: 6 January 2025

Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF)

• 3-8 years of postdoc experience.
• 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.

Opened: 15 July 2025

Closes: 10 September 2025

Decision: 30 June 2026

Schlumberger Foundation

• Faculty for the Future focuses on developing and emerging countries where women are underrepresented in STEM disciplines
• See further information on the SLB Foundation website

Application Deadline: 7 November 2025

Notification of Results: Early April 2026

Wellcome Early-Career Awards

• You must have a PhD and generally no more than three years postdoctoral research experience.
• Open to any discipline as long as research fits within Discovery Research, check remit
• See webpage for further information and a webinar for early career researchers 

Runs three times per year, upcoming deadline: 17 February 2026

Wellcome Career Development Awards

• Mid-Career researchers completed one or two substantial periods of research after your initial training.
• Made important contributions to your area of research.
• You can already be a fellow.
• You may have been appointed to your first permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract within the last three years. If this applies to you, you can’t ask for your own salary with this award.

Runs three times per year, upcoming deadline 2o November 2025

Fellowship name

Eligibility

Duration

Deadline

UKRI - Future Leaders Fellowships

• Early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential.
• Internally managed fellowship – see Imperial Information for Applicants  

Round 11 not been announced. Likely similar timeline to Round 10 which opened in February and closed in June. Imperial has an internally managed process complete internal online application form by March.

Imperial is restricted in number of candidates (capped at 8 in 2025)

Imperial College Research Fellowships

• Up to 4 years postdoc experience 
• See ICRF applicants webpage
• Sponsor or co-sponsor limited to supporting a single fellowship and only 1 ICRF at any one time
• Further information see ECRI ICRF Briefing ICRF Recording 3 June2025

Annual process, likely timeline:

Briefings: June 2025

Closing date: August 2025

Faculty shortlisting: October 2025

Interviews: November 2025

Results: December 2025

Leverhulme Early Career Research

• No more than four years from PhD viva
• Must not have a permanent academic position.
• See webpage and applicant guidance

Opens 1 January 2026

Closes 19 Feb 2026

Decision May 2026

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships,

There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:

• European Postdoctoral Fellowships - Open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career.
• Global Postdoctoral Fellowships - They fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe.
• Both require PhD and max 8 years post doc experience
• See 6 Steps to prepare for your MSCA Postdoc Fellowship  

European: 1-2 years

Global: 2-3 years

Next call likely to open April 2026

Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Ernest Rutherford 

See All STFC Fellowships

• PhD and some postdoctoral research experience (no years since PhD);
• Check department requirements.

Annual call. 2026 expected to be similar to 2025 dates:

Opened: June 2026

Closes: 1^st October 2026

Turing AI Pioneer Interdisciplinary Fellowships:

• Aimed at established researchers without a background in core AI research but a vision for how the use of advanced AI techniques could enable potentially transformative new avenues in their research and that of their broader community.
• See Turing AI Pioneer Interdisciplinary Fellowships FAQs

Opened 22 July 2025

Closes 14^th October 2025

Fellowship name

Eligibility

Duration

Deadline

Daphne Jackson Fellowship - For scientists re-entering after a career break.

• These fellowships are for those looking to return to a research career after a break of two or more years for family, health or caring reasons.
• You can view current opportunities on the Daphne Jackson Trust website. Sponsored fellowships are also advertised on university websites and on ac.uk.
• See full guidance on their website.

Rolling (except sponsored calls) 

The Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 

• Aims to support the retention in STEM of researchers from underrepresented backgrounds
• You must identify as being from a Black heritage, including mixed Black background
• You are a UK national or you have completed a part of your education in the UK through your Undergraduate, Master’s or PhD degree studies or you hold/have held a postdoctoral researcher position in the UK
• You have a PhD, or will have one by the time the funding starts, but have less than 24 months post-doctoral experience
• See CDF 2026 Fellowship scheme notes 

Opened: Sept 2025

Closes: 19 November 2025

Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin – scientists who need to work flexibly

• No more than 6 years of postdoc experience 

Opens: 2 September 2025

Closes: 28^th October 2025

Decisions: 31^st July 2026

L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards

• Must identify as female.
• No more than ten years' active full-time equivalent postdoctoral experience (discounting career breaks but including teaching experience and/or time spent in industry).
• Eligibility based on key STEM disciplines see eligibility information

Call usually Opens July, Application deadline August. Awards announced December each year. 

London Mathematical Society – Grace Chrisholm Young Fellowship 

• Have a PhD and be returning from a career break, looking to move back into mathematical research
• Open to men and women

Usual deadline twice per year, next call will open Autumn 2025

Schlumberger Foundation

• Faculty for the Future focuses on developing and emerging countries where women are underrepresented in STEM disciplines
• See further information on the SLB Foundation website

Application Deadline: 7 November 2025

Notification of Results: Early April 2026

• Usually returning from a break of 2 years or more 
• You can apply for funding of up to £2,500 to cover the cost of activities that will help you prepare a proposal for STFC fellowship funding, such as:
  • literature reviews
  • familiarisation with equipment and techniques
  • attendance at meetings and seminars.

 Rolling

Fellowship name

Eligibility

Duration

Deadline

European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) – Postdoctoral Fellowships

• Up to 2 years of postdoctoral experience.
• Applicants must have at least 1 first author publication (research paper) accepted in or published in an international peer reviewed journal at the time of application. A first author preprint (research paper) with public in-depth peer reviews is also sufficient for eligibility provided the reviews were verifiably obtained from an independent peer review service
• Must move between countries.
• For detailed eligibility criteria, read the EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships guidelines.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships

There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:

• European Postdoctoral Fellowships - Open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career.
• Global Postdoctoral Fellowships -  They fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe.
• Both require PhD and max 8 years post doc experience
• See 6 Steps to prepare for your MSCA Postdoc Fellowship  

European: 1-2 years

Global: 2-3 years

Next call likely to open April 2026

Schlumberger Foundation

• Faculty for the Future focuses on developing and emerging countries where women are underrepresented in STEM disciplines
• See further information on the SLB Foundation website

Application Deadline: 7 November 2025

Notification of Results: Early April 2026

Fellowship name

Eligibility

Duration

Deadline

Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)

2 different Fellowships:

Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) and

Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF)

Long- Term Fellowship

Applicants with a PhD on a biological topic who want to embark on a novel and frontier project focussing on the life sciences.

Must have at least one lead author, full-length research paper (in an international peer-reviewed journal or published on a pre-print server) (see full guidance)

Cross-Disciplinary Fellowship

For applicants with a doctoral degree from a non-biological discipline (eg, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering or computer science) and not worked in life sciences.  See full guidance

3 years

Opened: 24 May 2025

Closed: 25^th September 2025