Research Council Fellowships

Research Fellowships are a stepping stone for junior researchers to establish themselves as an independent world-leading researcher. Fellowships are aimed at academics with a PhD and one or two postdoc experiences who have proven to be able to carry out excellent research and are now ready to embark on their own independent research path. In the UK, research fellowships typically provide the ideal environment to prepare a young researcher to apply for permanent academic positions later on.  

The aim of the Research Excellence Fellowship scheme is to attract and retain outstanding researchers in environment and sustainability by supporting them in their application to competitive and prestigious research fellowships.  The Grantham Institute offers a number of attractive benefits to candidates interested in applying to UK Research Council fellowships or Royal Society university research fellowships, and can boost their application with:

• An additional fully funded PhD studentship with consumables.
• Comprehensive support in proposal writing and interviewing. This will be done with departmental experts and a Grantham Institute non-expert panel drawn from across the College.
• A suite of personalised professional development training with an environment focus, many run by external experts, including on how to engage with the media, debating, environmental policy and research translation, green innovation and entrepreneurship.
• A fellowship co-hosted at a department and the Grantham Institute, which is a unique multidisciplinary hub.
• Optional media exposure — fellows can typically expect monthly appearances.
• Optional placement with strategic international research partners, including CNRS (France), TMU (Germany), NTU (Singapore).
• Optional placement in government departments.

Candidates must propose work in the broad areas of environment and sustainability. Their proposal must also fit the specific remits of the respective research council.

Candidates will be nominated and co-hosted by a department. Candidates should identify the department most relevant to their research, contact them and seek their nomination first.

The internal deadlines below are set to allow time to help candidates prepare their applications and receive feedback. If you are interested in putting forward an application via the Grantham Institute, get in touch with Michelle Kiely and Dora Vrkic.

MRC Career development award (Environment and Health)

• TBC 2026

NERC Independent Research Fellowships (All areas in NERC remit)

The NERC Independent Research Fellowship (IRF) 2026 call is now open and will close on 16 June 2026.

The Grantham Institute will be supporting NERC IRF applications for this round.  

For a fellowship application supported by the Grantham Institute, candidates will be nominated and co-hosted by a department.  Therefore, the first step is for candidates to identify the department most relevant to their proposed research, contact them and seek their nomination.  Fellows are expected to spend at least 50% of their time at the Grantham Institute.

Candidates wishing to apply for a Grantham‑supported fellowship should send the following to Michelle Kiely by 9 April 2026:

• CV.
• Two-page research proposal which must include a 200-word statement explaining how the proposed research aligns with the NERC remit.
• Name of the nominated co-host department.

Submitted CVs and research proposals will be reviewed to assess the suitability of the proposed research for the Grantham Institute and to confirm whether we are able to support the application.

BBSRC Fellowships Scheme

The BBSRC Early Independence Fellowships (outline) call is now open and will close on 22nd April 2026.

The Grantham Institute will be supporting applications for this round, and we welcome applications that are connected to toxicity and pesticides, climate change mitigation and resilience.

For a fellowship application supported by the Grantham Institute, candidates will be nominated and co-hosted by a department.  Therefore, the first step is for candidates to identify the department most relevant to their proposed research, contact them and seek their nomination.  Fellows are expected to spend at least 50% of their time at the Grantham Institute.

Candidates wishing to apply for a Grantham‑supported fellowship should send the following to documents as per the call guidance to Michelle Kiely by 9 April 2026:

• Outline vision (750 words)
• Outline approach (1,500 words)
• Applicant capability to deliver (1,650 words)
• Please also include your CV and the name of the nominated co-host department.

Submitted documents will be reviewed to assess the suitability of the proposed research for the Grantham Institute and to confirm whether we are able to support the application.