Independent Research Fellowships
Apply now for the University of Leeds Fellowships Initiative
The Faculty of Biological Sciences represents one of the largest groupings of biological scientists in the UK, with an internationally renowned track record in research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), Biology at Leeds was ranked 8th nationally, and 4th in terms of research power (Nature 457, 13, 2009). This provides a strong platform upon which to continue its growth. The Faculty is a major area of strength within the University and enjoys very close working relationships with the Faculties of Medicine and Health, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, and Engineering. The size of the Faculty and the University of Leeds is an opportunity to bring people together into interdisciplinary research groupings. Significant recent investments in our infrastructure contribute to the dynamic and vibrant research environment that offers excellent opportunities for leading edge research.
As part of our academic strategy, we are committed to fostering a dynamic research-led environment, peopled by high quality staff and we are particularly interested to hear from researchers wishing to hold an Independent Research Fellowship in the Faculty.
Applicants will join an ambitious research environment with a world class infrastructure and research facilities in all major areas of Biological Sciences. Applicants are particularly encouraged in areas which would enhance the Faculty’s cross-disciplinary and collaborative research programmes.
What we can offer
- Advice on preparing your application – from experienced, senior staff including; suitable funding sources; effective CV content; the application process; costing the grant and core research facilities; peer review and mock interviews.
- Lab and office space - New independent fellows are given suitable lab and office space.
- Support - access to PhD studentships and support staff to support your career development.
- Mentoring and guidance – senior academic as mentor from day one they provide one-to-one advice and guidance on grant writing and peer review to ensure the best opportunity for success, and act as an independent advisor to your career progression. You will also become a full member of a Faculty research group, providing you with access to wider support and guidance.
- New investigator network – as a Fellow in the Faculty you will join the large network of new investigators who meet on a regular basis to share their experience and discuss best practice.
- Career development – access to a suite of University training schemes and the opportunity to develop your teaching skills.
- Facilities – in-house cutting-edge equipment to support world-class research.
- Start up fund – negotiable fund for use to kick start your research programme.
A large proportion of our staff hold, or have held, fellowships and the Faculty has historically had an excellent track record in recruiting independent fellows as permanent members of staff at the end of their fellowships. The career-developing environment at Leeds will be highly beneficial to your career whether a position becomes available at the end of your fellowship at Leeds or elsewhere.
About our Research
Research in the Faculty is currently coordinated within six main groupings:
For further information about our research or informal discussion about how your research could fit into the Faculty please contact the relevant Research Group Leader.
Next step
To discuss a potential Fellowship application, please contact the relevant research group leader, Professor James Deuchars (Pro-Dean for Research) or Professor Adrian Whitehouse.
Prospective fellows should then send a brief curriculum vitae and one page summary of their research interests to n.m.turner@leeds.ac.uk
Sources of external funding for independent Fellowships
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
David Phillips Fellowships 
These prestigious fellowships aim to support early-career scientists who have demonstrated high potential and who wish to establish themselves as independent researchers. Up to 10 fellowships are available each year. Awards are for a period of 5 years and carry a personal salary and a significant research support grant.
Eligibility
Applicants should have between 3 to 10 years in active postgraduate research studies and postdoctoral research employment.
Further Information
David Phillips Fellowships
Closing Date
Next proposal deadline: 2010 TBC
British Heart Foundation (BHF)
Career re-entry research fellowship
To provide an opportunity to re-establish a career in cardiovascular science in an established research institution in the UK after a break of more than two years. Award covers personal salary, salary for technical support or a research assistant, consumables and equipment essential to the project.
Eligibility
Applicants must be post doctorates who are returning to work after a 2 year (or more) career break; residency requirements apply (see BHF website)
Further Information
Career re-entry research fellowship
Closing Date
No closing date
Intermediate basic science research fellowship
To provide a career opportunity for talented individuals hoping to become research leaders in an established research institution in the UK. Awards are for 4 years and provide funding to cover personal salary, salary for technical support or a research assistant, consumables and equipment essential to the project.
Eligibility
Applicants must usually have completed 3-6 years successful postdoctoral work with a series of first or senior author high impact research papers; residency requirements apply (see BHF website)
Further Information
Intermediate basic science research fellowship
Closing Date
No closing date
Cancer Research UK
Career development fellowships
This Fellowship supports outstanding non-clinical scientists at the start of their independent careers. Fellows will have shown special promise in their initial studies in a cancer relevant research field, but may not yet have sufficient experience or the track record to obtain a more senior Fellowship. The Fellowship provides the opportunity to set up an independent research group for the first time.
The Fellowship provides funding support for a period of six years. The Fellowship will provide a competitive salary for the Fellow, a post-doctoral worker, technical assistance, research expenses and an equipment grant to set up the laboratory.
Eligibility
Applicants should have completed between three and six years' of postdoctoral work, and must not have had a prior opportunity to develop a research group.
Further Information
Career development fellowships
Closing Date
Deadline for preliminary applications 12 July 2010
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Postdoctoral fellowships enable talented new researchers to establish an independent research career shortly or immediately after completing a PhD. They provide funding to cover the fellow’s salary and a small amount of travel and subsistence, equipment and consumables. The fellowships last for up to three years. Up to 10 Fellowships are offered by the Cross-disciplinary Interfaces Programme for physical sciences or engineering researchers to work at the interface with the life sciences.
Eligibility
Applicants should have less than four year's postdoctoral experience. Fellowships cannot begin until a PhD has been obtained.
Further Information
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Closing Date
August 2010
Career acceleration fellowships
Career Acceleration Fellowships provide up to five years funding to talented researchers at an early stage of their career. They provide an opportunity to concentrate on research for the period of the award, as well as supporting all the costs of the associated research for the full duration of the fellowship. The expectation is that fellows will have established an independent career of international standing by the end of the award.
Eligibility
Applicants should not hold or have held a permanent UK academic post, or have received, before the start date of the award, the promise of a permanent UK academic post. Applicants should have between 3 and 10 years postdoctoral research and/or relevant industrial experience by the start date of the fellowship. Applicants must not hold or have held an EPSRC Advanced Research Fellowship or currently hold an RCUK Academic Fellowship.
Further Information
Career acceleration fellowships
Closing Date
The next Career Acceleration Fellowship call will be released in July 2010.
Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research
Non-clinical junior and senior fellowships
Two fellowships are available each year for young UK scientists who have a proven record of excellence in a research area relating to the routine cure of leukaemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma and myelodysplasia. The fellowships aim to support young scientists in their progress to independent investigator status. The awards are tenable for five years in any appropriate UK laboratory and cover costs of personal support, additional staff and consumables.
Eligibility
Candidates for junior fellowships should have up to six years postdoctoral experience. Applicants for senior fellowships should have up to 10 years experience on postdoctoral level.
Further Information
Non-clinical junior and senior fellowships
Closing Date
9th July 2010
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Career Development Award
The MRC Career Development Award provides up to five years' support for outstanding post-doctoral researchers who wish to consolidate their research skills and make the transition from post-doctoral research trainee to independent investigator.
The fellowship provides a competitive salary, research support staff, research consumables expenses, travel costs and capital equipment appropriate for the research project under full economic costs
Eligibility
Applicants should hold a PhD/DPhil and usually have between three and six years' postdoctoral experience. Candidates who hold a research-oriented MSc degree, and who have undertaken a period of at least four years' appropriate postgraduate research work, may exceptionally be considered.
Further Information
Career Development Award
Closing Date
Annually January (see MRC website for next deadline)
Senior non-clinical fellowship
The MRC senior non-clinical fellowship is a highly prestigious award for non-clinical researchers of exceptional ability. Applicants are expected to be proven independent researchers with an excellent track record in their scientific field, and demonstrate promise as future research leaders. Support is provided for five years.
The award provides a competitive personal salary for the fellow, research support staff, research consumables expenses and capital equipment appropriate for the research project, travel costs, and other appropriate items under full economic costs at a UK research organisation.
Eligibility
Applicants will normally hold a PhD/DPhil and have at least six years' post-doctoral research experience. Applications from current MRC career development award holders are particularly welcome.
MRC fellowships are not available to individuals who hold a tenured academic or research position, in the UK or overseas, at the time of application.
Further Information
Senior non-clinical fellowship
Closing Date
Annually November (see MRC website for next deadline)
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Postdoctoral fellowships
Early career development awards of up to three years, to provide further post-doctoral experience and to support outstanding environmental scientists as they become independent investigators.
Eligibility
Applicants must hold or expect to hold a PhD/DPhil, or be able to demonstrate equivalent and substantial research experience and have and typically candidates will have one to five years of postdoctoral experience. Applicants must not hold a tenured post in a UK university.
Further Information
Postdoctoral fellowship
Closing Date
Usually beginning of November annually (see NERC website for next deadline)
Advanced Research fellowships
Awarded for up to five years, to enable outstanding early/mid career researchers to develop into team leaders of international standing.
Eligibility
Applicants must have had at least two years research experience at postdoctoral level, not necessarily in the UK, at the time of application. They must also have proved their ability as independent research workers and show potential as team leaders. Applicants must not hold a tenured post in a UK university.
Further Information
Advanced Research fellowships
Closing Date
Usually beginning of November annually (see NERC website for next deadline)
Royal Society (RS)
University Research Fellowships
The University Research Fellowships scheme aims to provide outstanding scientists, who should have the potential to become leaders in their chosen field, with the opportunity to build an independent research career. Those appointed are expected to be strong candidates for permanent posts in universities at the end of their fellowships.
The award provides funding to cover the research fellow's salary costs, estates costs and indirect costs. Research expenses (up to £13,000 for the first year and up to £1,000 annually thereafter) will also be provided.
Eligibility
Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent research experience. Applicants are expected to be at an early to mid-stage of their career. As an example, you could have had between one and three post doc positions.
Further Information
University Research Fellowship
Closing Date
Annually September (see RS website for next deadline)
Wellcome Trust
Career development fellowships in basic biomedical science
Career development fellowships in basic biomedical science enable postdoctoral scientists to become independent research scientists. The proposed research should fall within the trust's science remit.
The scheme provides a basic salary, as determined by the host institution, with an additional Wellcome Trust enhancement, research expenses, including research assistance if required (normally a graduate research assistant or technician; requests for additional research staff may be considered where fieldwork or clinical studies in a developing country are proposed), overseas allowances where appropriate and travel and subsistence for scientifically justified visits of up to one year.
Eligibility
Candidates should be EEA nationals, have a science or veterinary qualification and have between three and six years' research experience from the date of their doctoral degree.
Further Information
Career development fellowships in basic biomedical science
Closing date
Next preliminary application deadline: March 2011
Senior fellowships in Biomedical Science
This scheme provides support for outstanding postdoctoral scientists based in academic institutions in the UK and Republic of Ireland (RoI). Candidates are expected to have an excellent track record in their scientific field and be able to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent research.
Eligibility
Applicants should have between five and normally ten years' research experience (from the date of your viva to the date of your preliminary application) at postdoctoral level and have a substantial record of publications in your chosen area of research in leading international journals.
Further Information
Senior fellowships in Biomedical Science
Closing Date
Next preliminary application deadline: 4 June 2010
Invited full application deadline: 1 October 2010
Sir Henry Wellcome postdoctoral fellowships
Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships provide a unique opportunity for the most promising newly qualified postdoctoral researchers to make an early start in developing their independent research careers, working in the best laboratories in the UK and overseas. Candidates will be expected to identify an important biomedical research question and to develop and deliver a personal programme to achieve their research aims.
The Fellowship provides an award £250K for 4 years. These funds cover the basic salary as determined by the host institution, with an additional Trust enhancement for basic science fellows and research expenses (materials and consumables; animals; travel and overseas subsistence; support to attend scientific meetings; and small items of equipment, e.g. laptop).
Eligibility
These awards are open to nationals of the UK/European Economic Area (EAA) or to non-EEA nationals with the relevant connection to the UK or Republic of Ireland. Candidates should have no more than one year of postdoctoral research experience at submission of full application. Applications will be accepted from candidates in the final year of their PhD.
Further Information
Sir Henry Wellcome postdoctoral fellowships
Closing Date
Deadline for preliminary applications: November
Deadline for full applications: February
(see Wellcome Trust website for next deadline
