School of Chemistry

Research Fellowships

The School is committed to the development of outstanding research leaders at all career stages to deliver an ambitious interdisciplinary research strategy with strong alignment with knowledge exchange and industry engagement. Early Career Researchers, in particular, are regarded as essential to maintaining the vitality of the research and teaching environment. The School values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity.

There are a host of competitive fellowship schemes available from various funding bodies, charities and institutions specifically targeted at Early Career Researchers. These schemes provide the opportunity to build an independent research career and successful applicants are expected to be strong candidates for future academic posts within the university.

The School of Chemistry at Nottingham provides an excellent research environment, REF 2014 judged 95% of our research activity to be 'internationally excellent' or 'world leading'. The School has outstanding facilities for research and a very good track record of nurturing and supporting high quality Early Career Researchers during their fellowship and beyond.

Each academic year, a careful internal review of prospective applicants takes place, and the School of Chemistry typically supports up to ten of the most outstanding candidates through the fellowship application process. 

Please submit your Expression of Interest, and original research proposal, 12 weeks before the fellowship’s deadline, to the School’s Director of Research (Prof. Andrei Khlobystov) or the Head of School (Prof. Steve Howdle).

Download Expression of Interest form (External Applicant)

Download Expression of Interest form (Internal Applicant)

These fellowship schemes include (for application procedures and eligibility details click on the links provided below):

  • EPSRC Open Fellowship and EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellowship
    EPSRC Fellowships are offered across the whole of the EPSRC remit, although calls are targeted at specific areas. There are no set deadlines for these fellowships.

  • Royal Society University Research Fellowships
    The RS University Research Fellowships aim to provide outstanding scientists, who should have the potential to become leaders in their chosen field, with the opportunity to build an independent research career. The 2022 call opens Tuesday 12 July 2022. Repeated yearly, the next internal deadline is Tuesday 14 June 2022. The funder deadline is 3pm on Tuesday 06 September 2022.

  • Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships
    Aimed at those who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances such as parenting or caring responsibilities or health issues. Female candidates are particularly invited to apply. The 2022 call opens Tuesday 06 September 2022. Repeated yearly, the next internal deadline is Tuesday 09 August 2022. The funder deadline is 3pm on Tuesday 01 November 2022.

  • Marie Curie Actions Individual Research Fellowships
    There are a number of Fellowship schemes available for both Europeans and those from the rest of the world. These fellowships are extremely competitive and only those with exceptional track records should apply. The 2022 call opens Wednesday 13 April 2022. The next internal deadline is Wednesday 22 June 2022. The funder deadline is Wednesday 14 September 2022.

  • UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) ‘Future Leaders Fellowship’
    The Faculty of Science at the University of Nottingham is keen to invite expressions of interest from exceptional researchers for the current round of the UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) ‘Future Leaders Fellowship’. Candidates are to submit and expression of interest by by 15 September 2022. See here for more details about what is required. 

You may also wish to consider the following fellowship schemes:
Fellowships Internal Deadlines Funder Deadlines
Ramsay Memorial Fellowships Tuesday 23 August 2022 Tuesday 15 November 2022 (forecast)

1851 Research Fellowships

Friday 28 October 2022 Friday 20 January 2023 (forecast)

Wellcome Early-Career Award

Wednesday 23 November 2022 Wednesday 15 February 2023 (forecast)

Leverhulme Early-Career Fellowship

Friday 02 December 2022 Friday 24 February 2023 (forecast)

Royal Academy of Engineering - UK intelligence fellowships

Wednesday 25 January 2023 Wednesday 19 April 2023 (forecast)

Royal Society of Edinburgh enterprise fellowships

Friday 03 February 2023 Friday 28 April 2023 (forecast)

BBSRC Discovery Fellowships

Friday 10 February 2023 Friday 05 May 2023 (forecast)

BBSRC David Phillips Fellowships

  This fellowship is currently paused.
NERC Fellowships   Various deadlines, please check the website.
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF) 

Expression of Interest deadline: 
9am Wednesday 07 June 2023. 
Download the expressions of interest document. 

Wednesday 13 Sept 2023
Nottingham Research Fellowship

As a research-led institution, the University of Nottingham recognises the contribution of early career researchers as essential to delivering a high-quality research agenda and offers the Nottingham Research Fellowships including:

  • Anne McLaren Fellowships

    The Anne McLaren Fellowships are aimed at outstanding female scholars in STEM subjects at the early stage of their academic careers.

  • Nottingham Research Fellowships

    The Nottingham Research Fellowships Scheme targets outstanding early career researchers in most academic disciplines at the University.

Potential Fellowship Applicants

If you are interested in applying for a Fellowship to be hosted within the School of Chemistry at Nottingham, you should take the following steps:

  • Make sure you satisfy the eligibility criteria and check the closing date for a selected fellowship scheme.

  • Attach an original research proposal, which needs to be distinct from the research of your postdoctoral or PhD supervisors.

The School may invite you to visit Nottingham to give a short presentation on your proposal, with feedback from colleagues.

Candidates whose proposal is considered ‘competitive’, and whose research aligns well with the School’s research themes, will receive a strong letter of support from the Head of School and commitment of resources to ensure that the applicant can rapidly establish independent research activity in Nottingham.

School of Chemistry

University Park Nottingham, NG7 2RD

For all enquiries please visit:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/enquire