Explore postdoctoral research fellowship funding opportunities below and feel free to get in contact with relevant members of our academic staff to help formulate your ideas. Read more about the application process on our Fellowship Tips and Guidance page.
Horizon Europe Marie Sklodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellowships
The UK plans to Associate to Horizon Europe and so we are currently eligible to apply as a host organisation based in Europe. MCSA Postdoctoral Fellowships are for two years and involve joining an established research group in the Department. The scheme is open to applicants of any nationality provided they have not resided or worked in the host country (UK) for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to the call deadline. There are no restrictions based on nationality or age but applicants need to have a PhD and up to 8 years of research experience after PhD. The deadline for this proposal is usually in September (please check the MCSA website to be sure), so you can expect internal deadlines to begin in July. The funding provides an allowance towards living, travel and family costs; further details are available on the funder website. Applications are made via the EU's participant portal, and the final proposal is submitted by the applicant.
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Independent Research Fellowships
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Independent Research Fellowship (IRF) scheme is designed to develop scientific leadership among the most promising early-career environmental scientists in research areas fitting NERC’s remit (see their website for details). These competitive fellowships are offered for 5 years and include salary and research expenses. The deadline for these proposals is usually in early October, with internal deadlines in August. Applicants must have submitted their PhD thesis by the time the fellowship interview would take place (usually the March following the closing date). Applicants must not have a permanent academic position and the scheme is open to applicants of any nationality. Proposals are submitted to the University’s Research Operations Office (ROO) who then check and approve it, prior to submitting it to the funder on the applicant’s behalf.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) offer 10 Fellowships each year to early-career researchers in astronomy, solar and planetary science, particle physics, particle astrophysics, cosmology and nuclear physics. Although most of these fields are not represented in the Department’s current research, candidates working in the areas of cosmochemistry, meteoritics and planetary science may be interested in this scheme. Deadlines for this scheme are usually in early September, with internal deadlines in July. The University offers a quota system for these applications (more details: https://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/vacancy/5625 - need to find out if the Dept can support applications). The Rutherford Fellowships are highly competitive and suitable candidates will normally: (i) currently hold a fellowship or, be employed on their second or third postdoctoral position following completion of their Ph.D.; (ii) be able to demonstrate a highly successful research record, including an impressive publication list and associated recognition – evident via a strong citation record; and (iii) have shown evidence of leadership within their research field and/or major research collaborations/projects. STFC also encourage application from those seeking to resume their research career, after career breaks of normally at least one year.
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 research fellowships
Awards are for 3 years and should be held at a different institution from the one where the candidate's PhD research was undertaken. Funding is for the Fellow's salary plus a contribution to research expenses. A letter of acceptance from the Head of Department, and institutional administration is required to be submitted with your application. Applications are made through the funder's application funder's application portal; applicants must supply two references: neither should be from the host institution, and one should be from your PhD supervisor (see the website for more details). The deadline for this scheme is normally in early January.
Royal Society Fellowships: University Research Fellowships (URF)/DHF)
This scheme is for outstanding scientists in the UK at an early stage of their career who have the potential to become leaders in their field. Applicants must not hold a permanent academic position, nor have previously held an independent research fellowship and must have between 3 and 8 years experience since your PhD at the close of the round. The scheme is open to applicants of all nationalities. Funding is available for 8 years and includes the applicant's salary and funding towards research expenses as outlined in the funder guidance/website. Applications are submitted through the Royal Society's application portal – Flexigrant – and funder deadlines are usually early September. Applications must contain a statement of support from both the Head of Department and two nominated referees. One should be someone who has worked closely with you and one should be external to your current research group. One should be from outside of your chosen host institution and should ideally be international. Both referees (and the Head of Department) must sign in to Flexigrant to directly upload their statements of support, so you must make sure you've invited them from within the portal and that they are able to log in and complete the references at least a few days before the funder deadline. The portal will not allow your application to be sent through the mandatory institutional approval steps until all components are marked as complete.
Royal Society Fellowships: Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellowships (DHF)
This scheme is very similar to the URFs, for outstanding scientists in the UK at an early stage of their career who have the potential to become leaders in their field but who also have a demonstrable need for a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances, such as parenting/caring responsibilities or health issues. Applicants must be in the early stages of their career having either recently completed their PhD or have up to 6 years research experience since your PhD at the closing date of the round. Applicants must also not have a permanent academic position at the time of application; applicants may be of any nationality. Funding is available for 5 years and includes the applicant's salary and funding towards research expenses. Funder deadlines are usually in October/early November.
Royal Society Newton international fellowships
The scheme provides the opportunity for the best early stage post-doctoral researchers from all over the world to work at UK research institutions for a period of three years. Funder deadlines are normally in March. Applicants must have a PhD by the time the grant starts, but no more than 7 years active full-time postdoctoral experience at the time of application. Applicants must be currently working outside the UK and not hold a UK citizenship. Funding is for 3 years and covers the applicant's salary, research expenses and additional costs for relocation and visa (including dependents). From the 2023 call onwards, successful applicants will be employed through their host institution via a salary (previously fellowship holders were considered visitors to the department and paid a stipend). Applications are submitted through the Royal Society's application portal: Flexigrant. Further information is available on the Royal Society's webpages where there is additional information for applicants from specific partner countries. References are required from the UK Head of Sub-Department, your UK co-applicant, your current supervisor overseas and two nominated referees. The latter should be able to comment independently and authoritatively on your application. One must be nominated by yourself, and one by the UK co-applicant. Referees should not be from the same institution as the applicant or UK co-applicant, nor should they be your former or current supervisor. All referees must be invited to the application in Flexigrant and you must make them aware that they need to log in to the system and complete the reference online. You will not be able to submit your proposal for mandatory institutional approval until all elements, including references are complete, so please make sure your referees are able to complete the reference several days ahead of the funder deadline.
Royal Society Career Development Fellowship
A four-year, postdoctoral research fellowship that aims to support the retention in STEM of researchers from underrepresented backgrounds. The scheme will initially run as a pilot with researchers from Black heritage. Applications to this new scheme open November 2023. More details here.
Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships
The Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship is a highly prestigious, fiercely competitive, post-doctoral award for researchers who are near the start of their career. Cambridge applicants have an exceptional record of securing LECFs and the number of award holders researching in Cambridge has grown steadily over the years. The application process for LECFs is 2-stage as all applicants must have guaranteed matched funding from the University’s Isaac Newton Trust (INT) before submitting a full proposal to the Leverhulme Trust. The INT pledges to support candidates who are successful in the LECF national competition with the necessary institutional funding and thus holds an internal competition to determine which candidates can receive a pledge of INT support. Details of the application procedure are here. Applicants should note that the INT internal deadlines are usually in early January and Leverhulme (funder) deadlines late February.