Research Fellowships
The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences (SBBS) at Queen Mary University of London welcomes outstanding early career researchers from the UK and overseas who wish to develop their careers through externally funded fellowship schemes. We are committed to supporting fellows to become the research leaders of the future within a vibrant, inclusive, and world-class research environment.
SBBS hosts fellows at all stages of career development and provides tailored support throughout the application and award period. Our programme for externally funded Independent Research Fellowships is designed to foster research independence, offering access to cutting-edge facilities, expert mentorship, and a strong interdisciplinary research community. Fellows benefit from:
- constructive review and feedback on applications,
- interview preparation and strategic guidance,
- ongoing mentorship during their award, opportunities to supervise postgraduate research students, and
- integration into a supportive college-wide community of independent fellows.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to make early contact with the relevant SBBS Research Centre Lead or academic sponsor to discuss their proposal, eligibility requirements, and the application process, which may vary by scheme. Informal expressions of interest are welcomed throughout the year.
Each fellowship has a different deadline and eligibility criteria. Please refer to the relevant websites for more information, listed below.
For further information, please contact the SBBS Fellowship Committee.
Independence fellowships
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Details |
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European Commission |
Supports early-career researchers to establish their own research team and lead a project for up to 5 years. Applicants must have a PhD awarded 2–7 years prior, demonstrate potential for independence, and carry out the project at a host institution in an EU or associated country. |
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NERC |
The fellowship is open to researchers in environmental sciences who demonstrate strong potential for research leadership and provides 5 years of support for the fellow’s salary and research costs. |
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MRC |
Supports medically focused researchers to transition to independence by leading their own programme for up to 5 years. Applicants must show clear independence from previous supervisors and be based at a UK host institution. |
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The Royal Society |
Supports outstanding early-career researchers with 3–8 years of post-PhD research experience and no permanent academic post to establish an independent research career. The fellowship provides 8 years of funding, subject to a mid-fellowship review. |
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The Royal Society |
Provides up to 8 years of flexible funding to help outstanding scientists who require adaptable or part-time working arrangements due to caring responsibilities or health conditions. |
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UKRI |
Supporting early-career researchers with up to 7 years of funding to pursue ambitious research while developing independence. For information on internal deadlines contact the Fellowship Committee |
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Wellcome Trust |
Support early-career researchers to lead an independent research project aligned with health and wellbeing for up to ~5 years, covering salary and research costs. Applicants typically have no more than ~3 years of postdoctoral experience. |
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Wellcome Trust |
Support mid-career researchers to lead a substantial, independent research programme for up to 8 years. Applicants must be established researchers ready to lead their own programme and research team at an eligible host institution, demonstrating strong track record and potential for research leadership. |
Mobility and early career fellowships
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Funder |
Call |
Details |
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Alzheimer’s Research UK |
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Supports early-career researchers in dementia research for up to 3 years. Applicants must have a strong track record, be non-clinical, and be based in the UK with appropriate supervision. |
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Alzheimer’s Society |
Supports early-career researchers or final-year PhD students to develop an independent dementia research project for up to 4 years at a UK institution with appropriate supervision. |
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British Academy |
Support early-career researchers in humanities and social sciences outside the UK to conduct a research project within the UK for 2 years. Applicants must hold a PhD (or be near completion), have up to ~5 years of postdoctoral experience, be working outside the UK, not hold UK citizenship, and meet mobility requirements. |
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British Academy |
Support early-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to complete a research project for 3 years in the UK. Applicants must have less than 3 years post-PhD research experience, not hold a permanent academic post, and meet UK eligibility or association requirements. |
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BBRSC |
Support early-career researchers for 3 to conduct research in biological sciences or biotechnology. Applicants must demonstrate potential for independence; there is no strict limit on postdoctoral experience. |
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Daphne Jackson Trust |
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Support researchers returning to academia after a career break (≥2 years) through flexible, part-time fellowships, typically lasting 2–3 years. Applicants must be UK-based with the right to work, and have taken a break for family, caring, or health reasons. |
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EMBO |
Support postdoctoral researchers in life sciences throughout Europe and the world to conduct research for 2 years. International mobility is a key requirement. |
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ETH Zurich |
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Supports outstanding postdoctoral researchers worldwide to pursue an independent, unconventional research project for up to 5 years. Applicants must have a PhD awarded within the past 5 years, not hold a faculty-equivalent position, and demonstrate exceptional originality and potential for independence. |
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European Commission |
Support postdoctoral researchers to undertake research projects either in Europe (1–2 years) or globally with a return phase (2–3 years). Applicants must have up to 8-year research experience and meet strict mobility requirements (not having resided in the host country for more than 12 months in the past 3 years). |
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Human Frontiers Science Program |
Supports early-career researchers pursuing high-risk, interdisciplinary life-science research, encouraging international mobility through two schemes: Long-Term Fellowships for biologists or Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships for non-biologists entering the life sciences |
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London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership |
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Support recent PhD graduates in the social sciences through a postdoctoral project, typically 1 year (or 2 years part-time). Applicants must have completed a PhD at a UK organisation, have no more than 12 months of postdoctoral experience, and propose research with at least 50% social science content. |
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NIHR |
Supports postdoctoral researchers across health and care disciplines to lead a 3-year research project. Applicants must hold (or be close to completing) a PhD or MD, not hold a professorial post, and be based in England for the duration of the award. |
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Royal Commission |
Intended to give early career biological, physical, mathematical, engineering or applied scientists of exceptional promise the opportunity to conduct a research project of their own instigation. |
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The Royal Society |
Support early-career researchers from outside the UK to conduct research for 2 years. Applicants must have up to 5 years postdoctoral experience, be based outside the UK, not hold UK citizenship, and demonstrate international mobility by moving to the UK for the fellowship. |