Research Fellowship Applications
We enthusiastically welcome the most promising Early Career Researchers to join our communities via external Fellowships from funders including the UKRI, the Royal Society & European Research Council.
Together the Department of Earth Sciences at UCL and Earth and Planetary Sciences (part of the School of Natural Sciences) at Birkbeck form a vibrant and diverse research community situated in the heart of London. With both Department’s situated only a short walk apart we share complementary research expertise spanning the full breadth of Earth and Planetary Sciences. We host multiple collaborative research projects, share key lab facilities and jointly supervise several PhD students within the London NERC DTP.
Independent Research Fellows form a key part of our community, making valuable contributions across all aspects of our research environment and workplace. We aim to help realise the goals and aspirations of all our Research Fellows by ensuring they are fully embedding within, and supported by, our closely-knit network of colleagues. In return, our Fellows bring energy and dynamism to our departments, pursuing novel and original research questions that bring new collaborative opportunities as they widen or deepen our current research portfolio.
What we offer
Earth Sciences at UCL and Birkbeck offer 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 as well as the ability to supervise postgraduate research student projects if desired. In addition, we will provide mentoring and access to training courses to ensure continued professional development; we aim to maximise the chances of success for all our Fellows.
How to apply
The Earth Sciences Fellowship Panel reviews expressions of interest 2-3 times per year. Deadlines are timed to reflect the major fellowship funding calls (indicated in the details below). If not specified below we ask prospective candidates to send the material listed below at least 3-4 months in advance of their target application deadline.
To apply please send the following to es-fellowships@ucl.ac.uk
- a research CV (max 2 pages)
- a brief (max 2 page) research vision/Fellowship proposal outline
- a cover letter explaining how your proposal is suitable for the scheme(s) you are interested in, and your rationale for applying at UCL/Birkbeck
- Any additional requirements for specific fellowship calls as detailed below
After receipt, application assessment will be undertaken by the Fellowship Panel. We may invite applicants to an online interview prior to deciding whether we will support your Fellowship application. We aim to contact all prospective applicants within 2 weeks of our expression of interest deadlines.
We are looking for someone who is:
• competitive, dynamic and has an innovative research vision,
• a well-rounded individual with a sense of community spirit.
We will assess:
• Your suitability to the intended Fellowship scheme(s) based on your research experience, outputs etc.
• The significance and scientific merit of your Fellowship vision,
• The feasibility of your proposed research at UCL/Birkbeck,
• Your institutional fit.
Upcoming Deadlines
NERC Independent Research Fellowships 2026
Call opens: 25th February 2026, Application Deadline: 16 June 2026
Expression of Interest deadline 13/03/2026
Additional requirements:
- please outline in your cover letter any specific lab, infrastructure, or technical support requirements your proposal would require if successful
- Further additional requirements may be added after the call is open - please check back after Feb 25th
We aim to provide an initial response to all Expressions of Interest by March 25th.
Newton International Fellowships 2026 (The Royal Society)
Application Deadline: 11 March 2026
Expression of Interest deadline 12/11/2025 (closed)
Early Career Fellowships 2026 (The Leverhulme Trust)
Application Deadline: 19/02/2026
We are unable to support applicants for this opportunity in 2026.