Early Career Research Fellowships

Independent research fellowships are of enormous value to the Department of Materials in enabling us to recruit and retain outstanding researchers, especially at an early stage of their careers, and in facilitating the introduction and development of complementary research to that already carried out within the Department. Prestigious research fellowships are also of significant benefit to the Department in terms of renewal, prestige, and academic impact and are, therefore, positively and enthusiastically supported

We actively welcome early career fellowship applicants to the following schemes:

• Royal Society University Research Fellowship
• Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship
• Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship
• Imperial College Research Fellowship

We also support mobility fellowship applicants to schemes such as the:

•  Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship
•  Royal Society Newton International Fellowship

Information for fellowship applicants

In writing an application or considering the Department of Materials at Imperial College London as the host institution, you should ensure your research activity compliments the Department’s research portfolio

*On 2 October 2024, the EPSRC announced that it was pausing most of its fellowship schemes with a closing date for new applications of 12 December 2024. Please contact Brittany Rae ASAP if you are intending to apply. More information can be found on the EPSRC website.

Department Assessment Process (DAP)

Some fellowship applications must first go through an internal process called the Departmental Assessment Process (DAP). This allows us to make an initial assessment of the suitability of your application with regard to the Department's ability to support the fellowship you wish to apply to and to ensure that it fits our research strategy.  Potential applicants must contact Brittany Rae, Research Finance Manager, Department of Materials in the first instance.  >> More about DAP

Current Open Calls:

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships - Round 11

Imperial’s internal selection process is now open for Round 11 of the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships.

The Department is willing to accept enquiries for both internal and external candidates related to the following strategic research topics only:

• Biomaterials
• Functional Materials, including: materials for quantum technologies; optoelectronics; materials for energy.
• Sustainable Materials, including: sustainable materials processing; biomass-derived materials; recyclablematerials.
• Theory and Simulation of Materials
• Advanced characterisation of materials with focus on ion beam techniques, e.g. Atom ProbeTechnology, Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

While we will not be carrying out an internal sifting round before the College’s deadline, we would expect all candidates to have a sponsoring academic who can both confirm the proposal fits within the strategic research topics, and to assist with the Host Support section of the Case for Support, as this cannot be changed after theinitial submission. We would expect the sponsor to be named in the Host Support section.

Candidates must follow the instructions on the website by completing the online Qualtrics form and uploading their 2-page CV and completed request for support form by midday Monday 2^nd of March 2026. The links to this form and other information are here: Information for applicants | Research | Imperial College London.