Ernest Rutherford Fellowship application process at MSSL now open for 2025!

Ernest Rutherford Fellowship applications at MSSL for 2025

1. Purpose of the Opportunity

Ernest Rutherford Fellowships (ERF) enables early career researchers with clear leadership potential to establish a strong, independent research programme. They encourage talented researchers in UK universities to remain in the country and at the same time attract outstanding overseas researchers to the UK. ERFs are intended for early career researchers who do not have an academic position. Each fellowship will last for five years.

2. Relevant STFC Regulations

The STFC apply a quota limit to the number of applications for each UK University Department. For the Department of Space and Climate Physics in 2025 the limit is 4 applications. For full details of the ERF scheme please see the UKRI Funding Finder page.

3. Departmental Process

A Departmental Internal Review process will be held to consider potential ERF applications, assess each one independently, and if necessary to select 4 from a larger pool.
Applicants should be associated with a Departmental academic sponsor, with whom the proposal has been discussed.

Preliminary applications should be submitted for internal review to the MSSL Head of Research, Mat Page (m.page@ucl.ac.uk) by 16:00 on the 1 July 2025. The candidate is asked to complete the accompanying Expression of Interest Template: 

Expression of Interest Template

The Departmental Academic Sponsor is asked to separately provide a letter of support (1 page max.) discussing eligibility, fit to Department/Research Group strategy, and the suitability of the candidate in relation to the published ERF assessment criteria including their track record.
A Departmental Committee will assess these preliminary applications and will give prompt feedback. The meeting date is expected to take place during July 2025. 
The Departmental Committee has been selected according to role within the Department, experience of fellowship selection panels, coverage of MSSL’s science areas, and EDI considerations. 

If, after this process, the applications quota has not been reached, further late-emerging applications for internal consideration may be considered at the Head of Department’s discretion.

We cannot offer a guarantee of a proleptic academic position to successful ERF candidates.
Candidates who go forward to the STFC selection process are requested to keep the Head of Research and their academic sponsor informed of their progress.

4. Career Breaks, Diversity and Impact of Covid

MSSL welcomes returners to research from career breaks and applicants from diverse backgrounds and under-represented groups. The Departmental Committee will take into account the effect on productivity of a career break and that this may continue beyond the return to work. The Departmental Committee will also consider the unequal impacts of that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the track record and career development of applicants.