Managed External Calls

The Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard scheme

The Academy of Medical Sciences has launched their annual Springboard competition, and we are now in a position to share the timetable for this year’s internal selection process. Details of the scheme can be found here:

https://acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/grant-schemes/springboard. The college is permitted to submit up to 4 applications to this scheme, so an internal process has been put in place, with the timeline below

AMS College Application Form 2026 - Eligibility Q's.docx  – interested applicants should complete this as soon as possible to determine their eligibility to the scheme, when submitting, please clearly mark the email as for the attention of Kimberly Trim in the subject

AMS College Application Form 2026 - Internal Selection.docx – once candidates have had their eligibility confirmed, they can then proceed to complete the application form although candidates are welcome to start this form as soon as they like

As a reminder, there is no hard deadline for eligibility questionnaires, however, we would encourage applicants to submit these by 18 March 2026 to ensure they can confirm their eligibility and still have time to complete the internal selection form.

Internal selection forms must be submitted by 31 March 2026.

Both forms should be sent to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk marked as for the attention of Kimberley Trim.

Schmidt Science Fellowships

The competition for Schmidt Science Fellowships starting in in July or October 2027 is now open. Successful applicants will receive a personal stipend of US$110,000 per year for up to two years of postdoctoral study in a different area from their PhD, at any approved location worldwide. More information is available on their website: https://schmidtsciencefellows.org/, and on the Schmidt Science Fellows Flyer

The timeline and process to select the College’s 7 candidates for the Schmidt Science Fellows: https://schmidtsciencefellows.org/, has been established:

To be eligible for nomination to the Schmidt Science Fellows application process, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Studying for a PhD in natural sciences (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences and Physics), Engineering, Mathematics, Computing – or any of the sub-disciplines, at a nominating partner institution. Individuals on clinical track MD-PhD or Veterinary-PhD programs are not eligible.
• Expect to complete all of the requirements for the conferral of their PhD in one of these fields between 1 May 2026 and 30 June 2027.
• Able to start their Fellowship in July 2027 or October 2027, available from April 2027 to July 2028 to attend virtual onboarding activities, and from October 2027 to attend in-person convenings.

Applicants should complete the attached form and requested supporting statements (see form for details) and submit to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk by 1600 Wednesday 15 April 2026.

AXA Chair and Fellowship

For further detail contact researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk

There is one opportunity a year to put someone forward for an AXA Chair or Fellowship position (note Fellowship calls are for specific research areas). Imperial is only permitted to submit one candidate per call, and the process is managed centrally. More information about these opportunities can be found on the AXA Chair position webpage or the Fellowships webpage

AXA Chair

2025-26 call OPEN. Internal deadline midday 3 October 2025

The Chair scheme is primarily to attract an individual to Imperial. Departments together with the proposed applicant should complete an AXA Internal Expression of Interest form and send this, with a 3 page CV of the proposed applicant, to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk by midday 3 October. Within the form, Departments should detail the strategic benefit to Imperial of pursuing an application. Applications must come from the Department, not the applicant. 

The Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) will review submissions based on the declared strategic benefit and fit to the scheme. The department of the chosen applicant will be informed of the next steps to continue the process. 

AXA Postdoctoral Fellowship

Spring 2025 call closed. 2026 call expected March/April 2026.

Interested candidates' Departments should initially approach researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk stating the individual that they wish to put forward/attract, how they meet the AXA chosen research area, why AXA is the best route to support them, and the strategic benefit to Imperial of pursuing an application. 

If the Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) is convinced AXA is an appropriate fit for the candidate, and Imperial has not met its application limit, the department will be informed of the next steps to continue the process.

NERC 'Pushing the Frontiers of Environmental Science Research' rounds (July and January closing dates)

For further detail contact researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk

In 2015, NERC introduced a Demand Management quota system, whereby institutions whose 6-round success rate for the former Standard Grants (response mode, including New Investigator grants) fell below 20% received a cap on the number of proposals they could submit for that financial year's rounds. For more information view the NERC Demand Management webpage.

Imperial has achieved a success rate above 20% over the grant rounds included the NERC calculations, and therefore will not have an institutional cap imposed for the July 2025 and January 2026 rounds. However, to increase the quality of proposals being submitted to avoid future restriction, an internal review group will continue to aid in the support of bids. Submission to the internal review group therefore remains mandatory.

For further details of how to submit your proposal to the internal NERC Proposals Review Group and the key dates for the next upcoming round, please visit our dedicated NERC Internal Demand Management page.

EPSRC Strategic Equipment Outlines

For further detail please contact Mark Bambury.

EPSRC have relaunched their strategic equipment call as a responsive mode opportunity for which the College is permitted to submit up to 6 applications in the period to 18 June 2026.

Funding is for either:

• purchase and set-up of infrastructure
• resources to support existing infrastructure

The full economic cost (FEC) of your infrastructure must be at least £400,000.

The resources to support existing equipment applications must have a maximum duration of two years.

Interested parties should complete the EPSRC Strategic Equipment Outlines Application Proforma (.docx).

The completed form should be submitted to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk, outlines will be considered at the College’s Research Advisory Group (RAG).

Outlines will be considered three times across 2025/2026 as per the following timetable.

Applications should be submitted to EPSRC no more than four weeks after approval to submit by RAG.

Additional information can be found on the EPSRC Strategic Equipment process webpage

Below are the calls that have been pre-announced and are expected to need management. A process for these calls will be announced as soon as possible.