The Bartlett celebrates excellence with new awards for early-career researchers

Early-career researchers (ECRs) form a vital part of The Bartlett’s vibrant research community, driving innovation, collaboration, and impact within and beyond UCL. To recognise their achievements, the Bartlett ECR Committee is inviting applications for five award categories:

• Research Excellence Award – Recognising outstanding research undertaken at UCL that has significantly advanced a field or made a positive impact on science, culture, society, or the wider world.
• Teaching Excellence Award – Celebrating exceptional teaching that enhances student learning and success through innovative methods or inspirational guidance.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Award – Honouring individuals or teams who have embedded or championed EDI principles within their research, projects, or departmental communities.
• Outreach and Communication Award – Rewarding creative and effective public engagement that brings research to life beyond academia, using innovative and accessible communication methods.
• Community Award – Recognising exceptional contributions to communities—inside or outside UCL—such as volunteering, championing good practice, or contributing to networks and communities of practice.

Each award winner will receive a £150 Love2Shop voucher, with one or two awards available per category depending on the quality of submissions.

Who can apply

The awards are open to current PhD students, postdoctoral researchers (PDRAs), and research fellows within The Bartlett who have no more than six years of postdoctoral experience (career breaks will be considered). Applicants with permanent positions or visiting roles at UCL are not eligible. Teams may apply, though only UCL colleagues should be included in team entries.

All applications are self-nominations, but supervisors and line managers are encouraged to recommend and support ECRs. Winners’ supervisors or line managers will also be notified.

How to apply

Please complete the application form by the deadline. 

Applicants with permanent positions or visiting roles at UCL are not eligible.

Teams may apply, though only UCL colleagues should be included in team entries.

Applications must clearly explain the applicant’s contribution and the impact of their work in accessible language for a broad review panel.
Entries will be reviewed by members of the Bartlett ECR Committee and the Bartlett Reviewer Panel Bank — a diverse cross-faculty panel of ECRs.

• Deadline: Friday 1 May 2026, 4pm BST
• Notification: Successful applicants will be informed by the end of May 2026
• Award format: Love2Shop e-vouchers, emailed to winners

For enquiries, please contact Sharon Betts, Faculty Research & Impact Administrator, at Sharon.betts@ucl.ac.uk.