Junior Fellowships

Is a junior postdoctoral fellowship right for me?

Typically, a junior fellow will have one or two postdocs under their belt and some relevant lead author publications. They will have their own ideas about a research programme they would like to develop but would benefit from the close support of one or more established labs that can provide them with support, training and mentoring.

How GEE supports candidates

lecturer shows two students how to do something in a lab

We are committed to supporting potential independent fellows who are taking the first steps towards establishing their own research programmes.

We will make every effort to assist you in the early stages of your funding application, providing feedback in developing your project, refining your application and preparing for your interview.

GEE staff include current fellows and many established researchers who started their careers on fellowships, all of whom will be able to share their experience in the development of applications.

Application process

There is no departmental-level vetting process for prospective junior fellowship applicants.

Instead, please get in touch with a GEE academic in a relevant research area who you'd like to work with. They are best placed to advise you on how they, their research group and the wider GEE could support you.

Get in touch with potential lab hosts at least a month before the deadline to avoid disappointment.

Below, we list the most relevant funding schemes, but please note that this is not exhaustive. Please explore the list and the information provided on the funders’ websites.

Short Term Post Doctoral Fellowships

The schemes listed here provide support for junior, postdoctoral fellowships. To apply to any of these, contact a suitable host in the department and develop an application in conjunction with them. There is not departmental vetting for these applications.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions – Individual Fellowships The goal of Individual Fellowships is to enhance the creative and innovative potential of experienced researchers, wishing to diversify their individual competence in terms of skill acquisition through advanced training, international and intersectoral mobility.
Royal Society Newton International Fellowship This scheme is for non-UK scientists who are at an early stage of their research career and wish to conduct research in the UK. The award covers the fellow’s salary for 24 months.
BBSRC Fellowships The scheme provides support for early career researchers (up to five years from PhD) wishing to undertake independent research and gain leadership skills. The three-year award covers the fellow’s salary as well as the costs of travel, training and research consumables.
Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships These awards provide support for individuals at the transition towards independent research (recent PhDs or early postdocs). The four-year fellowship covers the fellow’s salary as well as the costs of travel, training and research expenses (consumables, travel, etc.).
Wellcome Early Career Award
This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. Through innovative projects, they will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme.
MRC Skills Development Fellowship The scheme supports talented early researchers in the biomedical sciences to explore, consolidate and further develop their skills in quantitative skills (mathematics, statistics, bioinformatics) and/or skills at the social science interface. The three-year award includes the fellow’s salary and support for research staff, consumables expenses, travel costs and capital.