Fellowships
Fellowship at Oxford Chemistry
We offer a dynamic and multidisciplinary research environment with state-of-the-art facilities and access to excellent infrastructure and expertise in the wider Oxford area. Fellows benefit from comprehensive training and development, a mentoring programme and career support.
Early Career Fellowships aim to provide career development opportunities for those who are at a relatively early stage of their academic careers, but who have a proven record of research. Early Career Fellowships provide complete independence but without the usual teaching or administrative demands. This gives researchers the time and ability to develop their independent research, apply for additional funding, network, travel to conferences, and build an international reputation.
We have a team of in-house experts, our research facilitators, that help with all aspects of fellowship applications for both internal and external candidates, spanning postdoctoral to established career levels. We encourage and facilitate collaboration, both within the department, the wider university, and with other universities, research institutes, and industrial partners.
The Department of Chemistry is strongly committed to equality and valuing diversity and we operate a flexible working policy.
For more information please contact the Research Facilitation team.
Applying for Early Career and Postdoctoral Fellowships
For those wishing to develop their own independent research group
Departmental support is required before application via the Expression of Interest (EoI) process - see guidelines here.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to discuss their research ideas with a member (or members) of academic staff in the Department, especially those with whom they might seek to collaborate, and the Head of the most relevant Section.
Researchers are also encouraged to contact the Research Facilitation team at an early stage to discuss the application process. If you have questions regarding the EoI process or would like support contacting academics in the department, follow the link to set up an informal chat via Teams.
Application process
If you would like to apply for an independent research fellowship hosted in our department, please submit the following documents to the Head of Department’s Office:
- Complete EoI form
- Research proposal (2 pages maximum - anything beyond 2 pages will not be reviewed)
- CV
- Ensure brief supporting statements from at least two referees are submitted directly to the Head of Department's Office
Candidates are encouraged to contact the relevant Head of Section before applying to see if their research is a good fit for the department.
Successful candidates will be invited to interview where they will give a short presentation followed by questions from the panel. Departmental support is then valid for a year, which covers all available fellowship deadlines. Successful fellows will be assigned an academic mentor from Oxford Chemistry. Our Research Facilitators will guide you through all aspects of the application process and can offer help with application feedback, costings and interview preparation.
EoI deadlines
EoIs are reviewed on the following dates:
- 19th September 2023
- 16th January 2024
- 21st May 2024
For those wishing to work with a supervisor to develop their own independent project
Some postdoctoral fellowships are subject to an internal selection process before application. Please contact the academic supervisor you are interested in working with and the Research Facilitation team to discuss your application.
If you are unsure of who to approach, you can start by contacting the relevant Research Theme lead or the Research Facilitation team.
Fellowships and Schemes
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Funder Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Future Leaders Fellowship | 4 years with possible extension to 7 years | See person specification |
4th July 2023. |
MPLS selection process applies. |
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Funder Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Fellowships | 3 years | See person specification. Currently only available in Maths and Energy |
28th September 2023* |
Not required |
| Open Fellowships | 5 years | See guidance | 28th September 2023* |
January May August |
*From May 2023, you must apply to EPSRC responsive mode open fellowships via The Funding Service (TFS).
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Funder Deadline | Suggested EoI deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career Development Award | 5 years | Postdoctoral researcher |
April September |
January May |
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery Fellowships | 3 years | No limit on PDRA years | 25th May 2023 | No EoI. Host laboratory required. |
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Funder Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
| Independent Research Fellowships | 5 years | October | May |
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Research Fellowship | 5 years | 3-8 years post PhD | 7th September 2023 | May |
| Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship |
5 years |
<6 years post PhD Needs for flexible support |
31st October 2023 | May |
| Newton International Fellowship | 3 years | Non-UK Citizens working outside the UK. | 28th March 2023 |
No EoI. Internal selection process applies. |
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellcome Early Career Awards | 5 years | <3 years post PhD |
February May |
September January |
| Wellcome Career Development Awards | 8 years | Mid Career Researcher |
December April |
September January |
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Research Council Starting Grant | 5 years | 2-7 years post PhD |
24th October 2023* |
May |
| Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship |
European 1-2 Years |
Maximum 8 years post PhD |
September 13th 2023* | No internal process |
*For European Research Council fellowships, there is an internal Research Services deadline 2 weeks before the call deadline.
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Ramsay Memorial Fellowships | 2 years | November | Not required |
* These fellowships only provide only 50% of the salary. You would need to discuss with your potential supervisor how to fund the remaining 50%.
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Fellowships | 3 years | <3 years post PhD | January | Not required but internal selection process applies. |
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne Jackson Fellowships | 2-3 years | After a career break of two or more years | No deadlines | 3-4 months before you plan to apply |
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
| Junior Research Fellow |
Advertised on www.jobs.ox.ac.uk |
|||
| Glasstone Fellowship | 3 Years | Advertised on www.jobs.ox.ac.uk |
Glasstone Fellowships are allocated in advance to departments via an even distribution model whereby every eligible department receives the same number of fellows. Each department is allocated one of the 8 fellowships every 4 years on a rotating basis (Chemistry next due in 2025).
| Funder | Scheme | Duration | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Heart Foundation | Career Re-entry Research Fellowship | 4 years | After a career break of two or more years |
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Early Career Fellowships | 3 years | <4 years post PhD | February | Not required |
* These fellowships only provide only 50% of the salary. You would need to discuss with your potential supervisor how to fund the remaining 50%.
| Scheme | Duration | Eligibility | Deadline | Suggested EoI Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon Foundation Research Fellowships | 3 months to 1 year |
February September |
No deadline | |
| CRUK Career Development Fellowships | 6 years |
March |
January |
