Fellowship opportunities
The Department of Geography conducts internationally-recognised research that is frequently interdisciplinary in nature, combining expertise from across humanities, social sciences and sciences. This expanding, dynamic and supportive research environment is an ideal location for independent research fellows. Many former fellows have gone on to become permanent members of academic staff within the Department.
Fellowship support is offered at all stages:
- Advice on scheme suitability and proposal writing from our many successful fellows and research support staff, many of whom have worked for funding bodies and who have expertise in bid development across a range of key funders.
- Review and feedback on all aspects of draft proposals.
- Assistance with interview preparation, including the convening of mock panels and communications training where appropriate.
- 1:1 mentoring from senior colleagues.
- Peer support from our Early Career Researcher network.
- Opportunities (but no obligation) to gain teaching experience and to supervise BSc, MSc, MRes, and PhD project students.
- Training and personal development.
- Support for grant proposal development from senior academic colleagues and funder specialists within our Research professional services team.
- Clear criteria for progression to permanent positions.
- Opportunities for proleptic appointments.
Fellowship schemes
Key UK and EU fellowship schemes are listed below. Some other countries have their own fellowship schemes, for which we are also able to provide support and advice, and we welcome enquiries.
| Funder | Scheme | Notes | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHRC | Leadership Fellows | For research leaders, including early career researchers with outstanding future leadership potential; for projects between 6-24 months’ duration. | Open |
| Daphne Jackson Trust | Daphne Jackson Fellowships | Fellowships are usually held part-time for 2 years. The scheme aims to return those with a STEM background to their careers following a career break of 2+ years. | Apply any time |
| EPSRC | Postdoctoral, Early Career and Established Career fellowships | A single scheme that supports 3-5 year fellowships at three career stages. Applicants are expected to hold a PhD and must be able to demonstrate the attributes expected for the career stage. Open for specific combinations of career stage/priority areas, refreshed twice a year. | No closing date |
| ESRC | Postdoctoral Fellowships | 1-year full-time/2 years part-time. Open to applicants who have completed their PhD at a research organisation that is part of a DTP or CDT and who are within 12 months of completing their PhD. | TBC |
| New Investigators Grants | Up to 5 years; open to high-quality candidates from anywhere in the world who have a maximum of four years’ postdoctoral experience. | Open | |
| NERC | Independent Research Fellowships | 5-year fellowships for early career researchers of any nationality in any area of NERC’s remit | Early October annually |
| Knowledge Exchange Fellowships | 1-3 year fellowships held at 20-80% to focus on accelerating and amplifying impact from NERC research. Applicants can be at any career stage from user or academic background. | Annual call around April | |
| The Leverhulme Trust | Early Career Fellowships | 3-year fellowships providing 50% match-funding for early career researchers (<4 years post-PhD) in any area except medical research. | Usually March every year |
| Research Fellowships | 3-24 month fellowships offering up to £50k for experienced researchers to conduct a programme of research in any discipline. | Usually November each year | |
| The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 | Research Fellowships in Science or Engineering | Up to 3-year fellowships for early-career researchers (<3 yeas post-PhD) of any nationality. | Usually February each year |
| The Royal Society | University Research Fellowships | 5-8 year fellowships for outstanding early career scientists with 3-8 years postdoctoral experience who do not hold a permanent university position. | Usually September each year |
| Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships | Up to 5-year fellowships for outstanding early career scientists who require a flexible working pattern. | Usually November each year | |
| Industry Fellowships | Up to 2-year (or 4-year part-time) fellowships for academic scientists who want to work on a collaborative project with industry and for scientists in industry who want to work on a collaborative project with an academic organisation. | Usually March/April each year | |
| Newton International Fellowships | Up to 2-year fellowships for non-UK early-career scientists (up to 7 years post-PhD) who wish to carry out research in the UK. | Annual call, usually opens January | |
| The Royal Society/ Newton Fund | Newton Advanced Fellowships | Up to 3-year awards to support researchers across the natural sciences, including clinical or patient-oriented research, enable established international researchers to develop the strengths and capabilities of their research group through training, collaboration and reciprocal visits with a partner in the UK. | Annual call, usually March |
| UKRI | Future Leaders | Up to 7 years’ in duration on a 4+3 model, to support early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential. | Two rounds per year |
