Our research fellows make vital contributions to our department. They bring energy and prestige, novel and original research questions and approaches and new collaborative opportunities, as they widen or deepen our current research portfolio. In SMB, research fellows are supported by and embedded into a closely-knit network of colleagues.
What we offer
SMB offers substantial support for the preparation of your Fellowship applications and throughout their duration.
Fellows receive laboratory and office space, access to state-of-the-art equipment and expertise and access to research students from a range of 4-year PhD programmes. In addition, we provide bespoke mentoring and continued professional training; with the aim of guaranteeing the success of all Fellows. Importantly, we aim, wherever possible, to provide a longer-term commitment for our Fellows after the external funding has come to an end, subject to the successful appraisal and review towards the end of the Fellowship.
How to apply
The SMB Fellowship Panel will review expressions of interest twice a year.
For informal enquiries, please contact our Fellowship Coordinators via email: smb-fellowship@ucl.ac.uk.
Applications are made via the UCL portal in response to an open call for expressions of interest which will request the following information:
1) a short CV with names of referees;
2) a two-page research vision/draft fellowship application;
3) a cover letter explaining how your proposal is suitable for the fellowship scheme(s) you are interested in, a timeline for application(s), and how you see this research programme fitting with SMB.
We have specific deadline dates for when reviews will take place, and applications will be assessed at the nearest date that follows.
We ask candidates to apply to us 4 months in advance of their target Fellowship application deadline.
Once applications have been assessed, selected candidates will be invited to give an online research seminar open to everyone in SMB, followed by an online interview with the Fellowship Panel. Successful candidates will then be invited to spend a day, in person, at our Research Department, providing an opportunity to see our laboratories and research facilities and to have 1:1 discussions with Prof Franca Fraternali, Head of SMB, and some of our group leaders, including past and current SMB Fellows, based on shared research interests.
We are looking for
- A competitive, dynamic, original and innovative research vision
- Well-rounded colleagues with a well-developed sense of community spirit and citizenship
- We are strongly committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of gender, ethnicity or disability to create the best possible cultural diversity in SMB
We will assess
- Your research contributions and the scientific merit of your project
- The significance of the research and the feasibility of your proposal
- Your institutional ‘fit’, i.e. the mutual benefit and suitability of the SMB’s environment for both your research and for the development of your independent career
We look forward to your application!