Applications Invited for University Research Fellowship

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About the Organization

The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of the world's most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.

The Society’s fundamental purpose, reflected in its founding Charters of the 1660s, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.

The Society has played a part in some of the most fundamental, significant, and life-changing discoveries in scientific history and Royal Society scientists continue to make outstanding contributions to science in many research areas.

About the Fellowship

This scheme is for outstanding scientists who are in the early stages of their research career and have the potential to become leaders in their field. These long term fellowships provide the opportunity and freedom to build an independent research career in the UK or Republic of Ireland and pursue cutting-edge scientific research.

Until this point, the University Research Fellowship (URF) has been a five year fellowship, with the option to apply for a three year extension. From the current round onwards, applicants will have the opportunity to submit a research proposal and costs for an eight-year fellowship. Costs for years six to eight will be subject to satisfactory progress and completion of a mid-fellowship checkpoint review at the start of year four. In addition to the change regarding the duration of the fellowships, the award value has also been updated with respect to previous rounds. From now on researchers can apply for up to £90,000 research expenses per annum to support the research programme proposed in their application. 

These changes have been introduced to increase the stability of funding available to URFs, support them to develop their research group and give them the opportunity to focus on their research aims with a reduced administrative workload.

The scheme offers you:

• the opportunity to build an independent research career
• freedom, time and long term flexible support to pursue high-quality and innovative lines of scientific research
• support to develop as a research leader by offering tailored, high-quality professional development, networking and engagement opportunities
• flexibility to accommodate personal circumstances such as caring responsibilities or health related needs
• This scheme is highly flexible to accommodate for part-time working, sabbaticals and secondments.

Eligibility

Research must be within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, which includes but is not limited to biological research and biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics. For a full list, please see the breakdown of subject groups and areas supported by the Royal Society.

Those applying from Ireland (ROI) are funded by Science Foundation Ireland and will need to read the eligibility requirements in the specific scheme notes.

You can apply for this scheme if you:

• have between three to eight years of research experience since your PhD by the closing date of the round. Career breaks are taken into account; please refer to the scheme notes for further detail
• do not hold a permanent post (including proleptic or rolling contract of employment) in a university or not for profit research organisation
• do not hold, or have not previously held, an equivalent fellowship that provides an opportunity to establish an independent research group and therefore independent researcher status

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through the Society’s grant management system Flexi-Grant®.

Your application will go through the process detailed on the Making a grant application page overseen by one of our five research appointment panels based on your research area.

• Ai: Astronomy, cosmology, physics, earth sciences, environmental physical sciences & geosciences
• Aii: Chemistry and engineering
• Aiii: Pure and applied mathematics, computer science, statistics, communications and computer engineering; the mathematical aspects of astronomy, physics, cosmology, gravitation, theoretical physics
• Bi: Molecular and cellular biology, zoology, plant sciences and physiology
• Bii: Biomedical Sciences

For further information on the Research Appointment Panels, please see our Standing Committees page.

Interviews will be held in April at the Royal Society - you are advised to keep this period free. You will be notified of the result of the application process in May.

The University Research Fellowship scheme is now open to applications. This round will close on 6 September 2022 at 3pm UK time.

Apply here

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