Research Fellowships at Imperial Physics

Are you considering Imperial’s Department of Physics as your host institution for a research fellowship? We’re delighted you're exploring this opportunity!

To give your application the best chance of success, we encourage you to engage early with the relevant Research Community. Early contact helps us assess alignment with your research goals, guide you through the process, and ensure Imperial is the right fit for your ambitions.

We welcome applicants across a broad spectrum of fellowships. Whether you’re transitioning from a PhD with your first postdoctoral fellowship, or ready to lead an independent research programme, we’re here to support you.

We also welcome enquiries from researchers wishing to transfer an existing fellowship to Imperial. If you are currently hosted at another institution and are considering relocating your fellowship, we encourage you to get in touch with the appropriate Research Community as early as possible. We will work with you to explore how your research aligns with our Department and help ensure a smooth transition.

To maintain the high quality and competitiveness of our applications, the Department runs an internal selection process for most schemes. Internal deadlines for nominating candidates are outlined below; some require earlier endorsement at the Research Community level. In all cases, you'll need an academic staff member to act as your internal sponsor.  Unfortunately, we’re unable to accept late nominations.

If your nomination is approved, you’ll receive dedicated support throughout the application process. Internal deadlines for submission to Research Services will be set ahead of external funder deadlines to ensure adequate time for feedback, review and institutional approvals. These dates will be shared with you in advance.

Successful applicants will be offered appropriate office or laboratory space, access to shared departmental facilities, and dedicated mentorship—typically provided by your internal sponsor or another experienced academic—to support both your research and professional development.

A welcoming and inclusive research culture

We are committed to fostering a welcoming, collaborative, and inclusive environment for all researchers. We actively encourage applications from individuals who are underrepresented in physics, including those who identify as female, Black and other minority ethnic researchers, disabled researchers, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We also welcome candidates returning from a career break or those seeking flexible or part-time fellowships due to personal or caring responsibilities. If you experience any barriers during the application process, please let us know so we can make appropriate adjustments.

Additional Support

The Early Career Researcher Institute provides a wide range of support services for fellowship applicants applying through Imperial—from application development to mock interviews. We strongly encourage you to make use of these resources in addition to the support provided by your Research Community. For more information, visit: Early Career Researcher Institute – Fellowship FAQs.

Research fellowships

Calls

EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowships
Status: Closed. Typically June but last was January)

This up to one-year fellowship provides an opportunity for recent EPSRC-funded PhD graduates to develop their independent research and build a platform for future fellowship or academic career applications. Funding primarily covers salary, with additional support available for research consumables, travel, public engagement, and knowledge exchange activities.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: up to 1 year
  • Eligibility: EPSRC-funded PhD graduates from UK institutions
  • Department quota: Two applicants will be selected to go forward to the Imperial review. Each Research Community may submit up to two candidates for shortlisting
  • Nomination deadline: TBA (last was 6 January 2025)
  • Nomination process:  Imperial Case for Support application form, CV, letter from PhD supervisor and draft Head of Department letter.

EPSRC Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship
Status: Open – no closing date

This fellowship offers up to three years of support for early-career researchers to develop independent research within the mathematical sciences. It is designed for those who have recently completed their PhD. The fellowship focuses on research where the majority of the novelty lies within the mathematical sciences remit.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: Up to 3 years (full-time or part-time)
  • Eligibility: PhD holders or those with equivalent experience; early-career researchers without significant prior funding
  • Department quota: None
  • Nomination deadline: None – always open
  • Nomination process: Complete the Imperial Expression of Interest (EOI) form, including CV and publication list, and email it to phys-ra@imperial.ac.uk copying your sponsor

EPSRC Mathematical Sciences Open and Open Plus Fellowships
Status: Open – no closing date

These fellowships support researchers at all career stages beyond postdoctoral level. The Open Fellowship allows for up to five years of research funding, while the Open Plus Fellowship includes additional responsibilities aimed at enhancing the research environment and culture. Applicants are expected to demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to advancing the mathematical sciences.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: Up to 5 years (full-time or part-time)
  • Eligibility: Researchers beyond postdoctoral level with a PhD and additional research experience
  • Department quota: None
  • Nomination deadline: None – always open
  • Nomination process: Complete the Imperial Expression of Interest (EOI) form, including CV and publication list, and email it to phys-ra@imperial.ac.uk copying your sponsor

 ERC Starting Grants 2026
Status: Open – internal deadline 24th July 2025

ERC Starting Grants support early-career researchers to establish independent research programmes at the frontiers of knowledge. The scheme offers up to €1.5 million over five years, with an additional €1 million available for major start-up costs, equipment, or relocation from a third country.

Imperial Physics applicants must commit at least 50% of their time to the grant and are expected to take on a small teaching load.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: Up to 5 years (full-time)
  • Eligibility: Researchers who defended their PhD between 2 and 7 years before 1 January 2026 (extensions available for career breaks)
  • Department quota: None
  • Nomination deadline: 24 July 2025
  • Nomination process: Complete the Imperial Expression of Interest (EOI) form, including your CV and publication list, and email it to phys-ra@imperial.ac.uk, copying your proposed sponsor

Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship (Managed by Imperial)
Status: Closed – next round expected to open in Summer 2025

This two-year postdoctoral fellowship, supported by Schmidt Futures, enables researchers to apply artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to scientific challenges across the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Fellows join a cross-disciplinary cohort and receive structured training in AI methods, alongside mentorship and research support within their Imperial host Community.

Two career stages are supported:

  • Research Associate level – for applicants more recently out of their PhD
  • Research Fellow level – for those with several years of postdoctoral (or equivalent) experience, including supervision responsibilities. Experience may come from either academia or industry.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: 2 years
  • Eligibility requirements: None
  • Department quota: None
  • Nomination deadline: Not applicable – applicants apply directly via Imperial’s Talentlink system, but you must have secured an internal sponsor at Imperial before doing so.
  • Nomination process: None

Imperial College Research Fellowships (ICRF)
Status: Open – internal deadline 11 August 2025

The ICRF is a prestigious four-year fellowship supporting outstanding early-career researchers in establishing independent careers at Imperial with up to £30,000 for research/travel (up to £45,000 in justified cases) For the 2025 round, the Department of Physics is only supporting applications under the ‘AI in Science’ theme, co-funded by Schmidt Sciences.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: 4 years
  • Start Date: Between 1st August and 1 December 2026
  • Eligibility: ≤4 years post-PhD (viva date) by 18 August 2025 excluding career breaks
  • Department quota: None
  • Nomination process: None
  • Departmental approval deadline: 11 August 2025
  • Imperial deadline: 18 August 2025
  • Application method: Submit final draft “Research Proposal and Budget” form to phys-ra@imperial.ac.uk, copying sponsor, once returned apply online via Imperial Jobs – search for NAT01920

MSCA European Postdoctoral Fellowships
Status: Open – internal deadline 27 August 2025

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Postdoctoral Fellowships are prestigious, EU-funded awards supporting talented researchers in developing independent careers through advanced training and international mobility. Fellowships last 12 to 24 months and are open to researchers of any nationality, provided they meet the mobility rule. Please note that we are not hosting Global Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: 12–24 months
  • Eligibility: Doctoral degree + no more than 8 years’ full-time research experience; must not have resided or worked in the UK for more than 12 of the 36 months before the call deadline
  • Department quota: None
  • Nomination process: None
  • Departmental deadline: 27 August 2025
  • Call deadline: expected 10 September 2025
  • Application method: By 27 August at the latest email phys-ra@imperial.ac.uk with your supervisor copied to confirm your intention to apply and set up your application on the EU portal and complete Part A

NERC Independent Research Fellowships
Status: Closed (last deadline 3 April 2025)

The NERC Independent Research Fellowship (IRF) scheme supports talented early-career researchers in environmental science to establish themselves as independent researchers. Fellows are expected to demonstrate leadership potential and deliver high-impact research within NERC’s scientific remit.

Applicants seeking to apply through Imperial Physics are encouraged to coordinate with the Grantham Institute for co-support.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: 5 years
  • Eligibility: Researchers working in NERC science areas
  • Department quota: None
  • Nomination process: Identity a sponsor in Physics then contact Grantham copied to phys-ra@imperial.ac.uk

RAEng UK Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
Status: Closed (last nomination deadline was 27 March 2025)

The UK Intelligence Community (IC) Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are offered by the Government Office for Science, administered by the Royal Academy of Engineering. These fellowships support early-career researchers in science and engineering to conduct unclassified basic research relevant to the UK’s intelligence, security, and defence sectors.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: 2 years
  • Eligibility: Early-career researchers with up to 5 years of postdoctoral experience
  • Citizenship requirement: Applicants must be citizens of the UK, EEA, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Switzerland
  • Department quota: None
  • Nomination process: Complete the Imperial Expression of Interest (EOI) form, including CV and publication list, and email it to phys-ra@imperial.ac.uk copying your sponsor

Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships
Status: Open – nomination deadline 12 May 2025

The RAEng Research Fellowships support outstanding early-career researchers to establish independent research careers in engineering and applied sciences. The scheme offers a prestigious five-year award and is open to applicants from around the world who have completed their PhD within the last four years.

Imperial runs a selection process for this call. See their webpage

Key Facts:

  • Duration: 5 years
  • Eligibility: PhD awarded (or unconditionally approved) ≤4 years before 17 September 2025
  • Department quota: Up to 2 nominations to the Imperial selection process
  • Departmental nomination deadline: 12 May 2025 (if selected the Imperial nomination deadline is 9 June 2025)
  • Call deadline: 17 September 2025
  • Nomination process: Review the Department’s academic staff and contact a potential supervisor aligned with your research. They will advise on alignment and provide the internal application form.
  • send the following to phys-ra@imperial.ac.uk, copying your sponsor: by 12 May -Completed Imperial RAEng application form, draft Head of Department letter, (optional) Up to 3 letters of support from collaborators

Royal Astronomical Society Fellowships
Status: Open - nomination deadline 1 September 2025

The RAS Research Fellowship enables outstanding candidates to pursue independent research in astronomy, solar system science, geophysics, or closely related fields.
The Norman Lockyer Fellowship specifically supports researchers focusing on astronomy, including solar system and planetary science.

Fellowships are awarded on a three-year cycle (for fellowships beginning the following year):

  • RAS Research Fellowships: 2021, 2024, 2027
  • Norman Lockyer Fellowships: 2022, 2025, 2028

Key Facts:

  • Duration: Up to 3 years, starting 1 October in the year of the award (or within 6 months thereafter)
  • Eligibility: Applicants must hold a PhD awarded after 1 October three years before the start of the fellowship, or have passed their viva by the deadline and be awarded their PhD before the start date (exceptions may apply in cases of maternity leave, career breaks, illness, etc.)
  • Department quota: five
  • Nomination deadline: 1 September 2025
  • Nomination process: Complete the Imperial Expression of Interest (EOI) form, including your CV and publication list, and email it to phys-ra@imperial.ac.uk, copying your proposed sponsor

Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships
Status: Open - nomination deadline 23 October 2025

The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 awards Research Fellowships to support early career scientists and engineers of exceptional promise. These prestigious fellowships are open to candidates in any branch of the physical or biological sciences, mathematics, applied science, or engineering.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: 3 years
  • Eligibility: Recent PhD holders or those completing their PhD in the year of application; normally with no more than 3 years of postdoctoral experience
  • Department quota: Five
  • Nomination deadline: 23 October 2025
  • Nomination process: Complete the Imperial Expression of Interest (EOI) form, including your CV and publication list, and email it to phys-ra@imperial.ac.uk, copying your sponsor

Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships
Status: Open – nomination deadline 21 August 2025

The Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship supports excellent early-career scientists who require flexible working arrangements due to personal circumstances such as parental or caring responsibilities or health conditions. The fellowship provides up to 8 years of funding to help establish an independent research career. The Fellowship is open to researchers across all areas of the Royal Society’s scientific remit.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: Up to 8 years
  • Eligibility: Early-career researchers with up to six years of research experience post-PhD (excluding career breaks) needing flexible support due to personal circumstances
  • Department quota: None
  • Nomination deadline: 21 August 2025
  • Nomination process: Complete the Imperial Expression of Interest (EOI) form, including your CV and publication list, and email it to phys-ra@imperial.ac.uk, copying your sponsor

Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF)
Status: Open - nomination deadline: 13 June 2025
(Note applications are coordinated through Research Communities which may have earlier deadlines)

The Royal Society University Research Fellowship supports outstanding early-career researchers in the natural sciences who have the potential to become leaders in their field. The scheme offers up to 8 years of funding, enabling awardees to build an independent research career in a UK institution.

Nominations are coordinated through the relevant Research Community, each of which may support up to six nominations. Applicants must engage with their Community well in advance of the Departmental deadline, as their internal deadlines may vary.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: Up to 8 years
  • Eligibility: Early-career researchers with three to eight years of research experience (excluding career breaks).
  • Research Community quota: Up to six nominations each
  • Department quota: 15
  • Nomination deadline: 13 June 2025
  • Nomination process:

STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (ERF)
Status: Open – Departmental nomination deadline: 13 June 2025
(Note: applications are coordinated through Research Communities, which may have earlier deadlines)

The Ernest Rutherford Fellowship, funded by STFC, enables early-career researchers to establish independent research careers in the STFC core science areas: astronomy, solar and planetary science, particle physics, particle astrophysics, cosmology, nuclear physics, and accelerator science. The scheme provides funding for up to 5 years to support ambitious scientific research at UK institutions.

Applications are coordinated through the relevant Research Community, which may support up to six nominations. Applicants must engage with their Community well in advance of the Departmental deadline, as their internal deadlines may vary.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: Up to 5 years
  • Eligibility: Early-career researchers in STFC core science areas with a PhD and clear leadership potential
  • Department quota: TBC by STFC
  • Research Community quota: Up to six nominations each
  • Nomination deadline: 13 June 2025
  • Nomination process:

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF)
Status: Closed (last deadline 3 March 2025)

The UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) scheme supports talented early-career researchers and innovators across all disciplines to transition to or establish independence. Fellowships provide long-term, flexible funding for ambitious and challenging research and innovation projects.

Imperial operates a managed selection process for this highly competitive scheme.

Key Facts:

  • Duration: Up to 7 years (initial 4 years with possible extension)
  • Eligibility: Early-career researchers and innovators from any discipline or sector
  • Nomination process: Coordinated through Imperial’s selection process
Further Info

If you are at Imperial, you can register for the online funding news service Idox ResearchConnect.

If you are looking for information on how to write a narrative CV, please check out these resources:


If you have any general questions about the fellowship process, please contact our Research Operations Team (Louise Hayward). Note that you have to contact the Research Groups to find a sponsor. 

 

Things to remember

Before applying, please keep in mind...

  • Timeliness of Fellowship at this point in your career
  • Independent Researcher
  • Current standing within the national / international community
  • Referees & their comments
  • Quality, originality and potential impact of proposed research
  • Broader context surrounding the research 
  • Abilty to plan and manage resources 
  • Ability to communicate to a generalist audience 
  • Potential to fulfil the wider responsibilities of an academic career (teaching, public engagement etc) and evidence of leadership ability
  • Appropriateness of the Group with whom you want to work with
  • Alignment with the strategic priorities of the research council/sponsor
Fellowships Elsewhere
Group Information

Some of the Research Groups have Fellowship opportunities pages with their Group information: