Fellowships

About the Department

The Department of Chemistry is part of the University of Oxford’s Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division. The Department has held a Silver Athena SWAN award since November 2015.

We offer an excellent environment for talented and committed researchers to develop from the post-doctoral stage of their careers towards becoming established as Chemistry research leaders of the future.

We would like to encourage applications from outstanding individuals who are looking to develop their independent research identity.

Why apply to hold a Fellowship at Oxford?

We can offer an excellent research environment, access to world class facilities, training programmes and mentorship. If your application is supported by the Department and funded by the funding body, we will provide you with adequate office and laboratory space for your group and access to facilities.

Early Career Fellowships provide complete independence but without the usual teaching or administrative demands. This enables the researcher the ability to grow, seek additional funding when necessary, travel and to building an international reputation.

We have endless scope for collaboration; within the department and with other Universities and in Industry. Most of our Early Career Fellows secure permanent positions either at Oxford or other institutions - in many cases at some of the most prestigious departments and research institutions - both in the UK and worldwide. We have a strong record of our Fellows obtaining highly competitive funding such as ERC Starting/Consolidator Grants. 

We also have extensive opportunities for access to independently funded research, such as DTC's for graduate students and RRF's and similar for postdocs.

Training and support

The department and MPLS division hold training programmes for Independent Early Career Researchers and Postdoctoral development.

The Department has a dedicated early career research facilitator who will:

·         Assist with applications, and understanding of funder requirements.

·         Help you obtain letters of support as required.

·         Liaise with central university research services on your behalf

·         If you are invited to interview, arrange mock interviews and internal review of your application

A member of our finance team will be able to assist you with costing of proposals.

For more information please contact Katherine Rooke. 

Expression of Interest (EoI) process

For those wishing to develop their own independent group:

Departmental support is required before application. You can obtain departmental support by going through the EoI process. The guidelines can be found here.

 

For those wishing to work with a supervisor to develop their own independent project:

These fellowships do not require an EoI submission but there may be an internal selection process before application. Please contact the academic supervisor that you are interested in working with and the Research facilitation team to discuss your application.

The staff list for the department can be found here. If you are unsure of who to approach you can start by contacting the relevant research theme lead or the research facilitation team.

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 Katherine Rooke at an early stage to discuss the application process, or if you have questions as to whether you need to submit an Expression of Interest. If you would like to apply for an Independent research fellowship hosted in our department, then please submit the following documents to the Head of Department’s office.

·         Complete EoI form

·         Research proposal (2 pages max). Anything beyond 2 pages will not be reviewed.

·         CV

·        Please also ensure that brief supporting statements from two referees are submitted directly to the Head of Department’s office. 

We are also interested in developing further collaborations with those at the Harwell Campus.

Fellowships and Schemes

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Scheme Duration Eligibility Funder Deadline Suggested EoI Deadline
Future Leaders Fellowship 4 years with possible extension to 7 years See person specification  10th Nov 2020 14th Oct 2020     (FLFs only)

 

 

Scheme Duration Eligibility Funder Deadline Suggested EoI Deadline
Postdoctoral Fellowships 3 years See person specification. Currently only available in Maths and Energy

April

September

January

 Not required
Open Fellowships 5 years See guidance Apply at any time

January

May

September

 

 

Scheme Duration Eligibility Funder Deadline Suggested EoI Deadline
Independent Research Fellowships 5 years   October May

 

Scheme Duration Eligibility Deadline Suggeted EoI Deadline
Discovery Fellowships 3 years <5 years post PhD May Not required
David Philips Fellowships 5 years >3 years post PhD May January

 

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
University Research Fellowship 5 years 3-8 years post PhD September May
Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship

5 years

<6 years post PhD

Needs for flexible support

 November May
Flair Fellowships     May  

 

Scheme Duration Eligibility Deadline Suggested EoI Deadline
Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships 4 years <4 years post PhD

April

September

 Not required
Sir Henry Dale Fellowships 5 years Early Independent Researcher

May

September

January

May
Research Career Re-entry Fellowships 4 years After a career break of two or more years

April

September

January

May

 

 

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
Daphne Jackson Fellowships 2 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
European Research Council Starting Grant 5 years 2-7 years post PhD October May
H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie     September  
         

 

Scheme Duration Eligibility Deadline Suggested EoI Deadline
Research Fellowships 3 years <3 years post PhD February Not required but there is an internal selection process

 

Scheme Duration Eligibility Deadline Suggested EoI Deadline
Newton International Fellowships 2 years   March Not required but there is an internal selection process
Canon Foundation Research Fellowships     September No deadline
Parkinson's UK Senior Fellowships 3 years <3 years post PhD    
CRUK Career Development Fellowships     February  
Alzheimer's Research UK    

January

July

  

Scheme Duration Eligibility Deadline Suggested EoI Deadline
Junior Research Fellow        
Glasstone Fellowship     October Not required

 

Funder Scheme Duration Eligibility
Daphne Jackson BHF-Daphne Jackson Fellowships 2 years After a career break of two or more years
Wellcome Research career re-entry fellowship Research Career Re-entry Fellowships 4 years After a career break of two or more years
British Heart Foundation Career Re-entry Research Fellowship 4 years After a career break of two or more years