Funding, Scholarships and Careers

Funding and Scholarship Opportunities

Undergraduate and Masters Level

• The Geological Society offer a number of undergraduate and masters level travel bursaries and grants to undertake research projects.
• Earth Model Award. The Earth Model Award is an international geoscience competition rewarding excellence in Master’s level research.
• The Geospatial Scholarship Fund. The geospatial scholarship fund aims to support disadvantaged students from various communities to achieve their full potential in higher education by removing much of the financial stress of studying in higher education.

PhD and Early Career Researcher

• STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowships. Funding for early career researchers over a period of 5 years in the areas of astronomy, solar and planetary science, particle and nuclear physics.
• Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021. Funding to support researchers' (with less than 8 years eperience) careers and carrying out research activities abroad.
• EPSRC Fellowships - Open Call. EPSRC offer two types of fellowships that are applicable to Earth Sciences (for researchers with a PhD or atleast 4 years of experience); EPSRC postdoctoral fellowship (up to 3 years), EPSRC open fellowship (up to 5 years).
• EPSRC mathematical sciences small grants scheme. Awards ranging from £10,000 - £80,000 for up to 12 months in the mathematical sciences.
• Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship. A fellowship designed for outstanding postdoctoral scientists and engineers who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances, such as caring responsibilities or health issues.
• The British Federation of Women Graduates. Financial support and awards for third year PhD students.
• L'oreal UNESCO Women in Science Awards. Awards and programmes for female scientists across the globe.
• Daphne Jackson Trust. Fellowships for scientists returning to work after a career break.
• WISE Campaign Network. The WISE Campaign Network website also includes a list of funding opportunites across the UK.
• Royal Commision Exhibition of 1851. 1851 Research Fellowships are intended to give early career scientists or engineers of exceptional promise the opportunity to conduct a research project of their own instigation; an ultimate objective is to contribute to the knowledge base required for a healthy and innovative national culture.
• Geological Repository Network (GeoRepNet). Funding is available for satellite workshops and travel awards between labs or organizations to advance science and technology collaborations related to Geological Repositories.

Lecturer and Beyond

• European Research Council (ERC) - Advanced Grants. Funding up to €2.5 million for established, leading principle investigators to pursue ground breaking and high-rish projects. .
• ESRC Call for Interdisciplinary Environmental Social Science Leadership Team. Funding up to £6.25 million for a period of five years to support teams of social scientists and interdisciplinary experts on topics of climate and environmental social science.
• European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept Grants. Funding of €150,000 which aims to faciliate commercial and social innovation from previously funded ERC funded research.
• European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grants. Funding of up to €10 million for a period of 6 years for groups of two to four principle investigators to jointly address ambitious research problems.
• EPSRC - Strategic Equipment Grant - Open Call. Grants up to £400,000 for strategic equipment for researchers at UK higher education institutions.
• EPSRC Fellowships - Open Call. EPSRC offer two types of fellowships that are applicable to Earth Sciences (for researchers with a PhD or atleast 4 years of experience); EPSRC postdoctoral fellowship (up to 3 years), EPSRC open fellowship (up to 5 years).
• EPSRC mathematical sciences small grants scheme. Awards ranging from £10,000 - £80,000 for up to 12 months in the mathematical sciences.
• EPSRC Programme Grant. Flexible funding to support research groups addressing significant research challenges.
• EPSRC new investigator award - Open Call. Funding for researchers who hold a lectureship position but but have not previously led a research group.
• Royal Society - University Research Fellowship (URF). Funding opportunity for early-career scientists who do not hold a permanent post in a university. Research areas include biological research, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics.
• Horizon Europe. Horizon Europe is an EU funding programme for research and innovation, the current topics and funding calls can be found on their website.
• L'oreal UNESCO Women in Science Awards. Awards and programmes for female scientists across the globe.
• Daphne Jackson Trust. Fellowships for scientists returning to work after a career break.
• WISE Campaign Network. The WISE Campaign Network website also includes a list of funding opportunites across the UK.

Careers and Networking Resources

• WiES Mentoring Scheme: The UCL Earth Sciences mentoring scheme.
• STEM Women: Job listings for STEM careers plus online careers events for all stages.
• WISE Campaign Careers Resources: Job listings for careers in STEM across multiple sectors.
• Mums in Science: A free networking site for women.

Newsletters, Groups and Societies

• SEDI: The study of Earth's Deep Interior
• British Geophysical Association newsletter
• The Geological Society has a comprehensive list of special lists groups ranging from the Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group to the Forensic Geoscience group. 

Know of other opportunities you think could be included here? Let us know!