Personal funding awards for early-career researchers looking to establish their research independence in any area supported by UKRI.
Applications are welcomed and encouraged from remits including the arts, humanities and social sciences, and the five critical technologies as set out in the Department for Science and Innovation’s Science and Technology Framework.
The fellowship may be made up of a single programme of work, or multiple consecutive or concurrent interlinked projects, led by the fellow.
Applicants are encouraged to think broadly about the type of activities they may pursue as part of their research or innovation objectives. This could include:
- Time for work in other environments.
- Developing international links.
- Developing new skills.
A clear programme of skills development is an essential component of this fellowship. Applicants should therefore consider what career development support opportunities are appropriate. This could include mentoring, professional training and development, and relevant training courses that will underpin future career ambitions and learning.
FLF awards allow fellows protected time to concentrate fully on their research, training and development. In most cases a fellow is expected to spend 100% of their working time on their fellowship, though fellows may spend up to six hours a week (more for clinically active applicants) on other commitments or related activities, provided they enhance career development.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants are expected to hold a doctorate by the start date of the fellowship OR to be able to demonstrate equivalent research/innovation experience and/or training.
There are no eligibility rules around years since PhD or whether the applicant currently holds a permanent/open-ended academic position or job role. However, applicants who have already achieved research independence (for example, by securing funding aimed at this career stage) will not be competitive.
Senior academics are not permitted to apply.
Applicants should use the Person Specification in Annex A of the below guidance to assess and justify their suitability for the scheme with reference to the objectives of the programme.
VALUE AND DURATION
There is no limit to the amount of funding that can be requested, but applicants must be able to justify the amount (the scheme has previously funded fellowships from £300,000 to over £2 million, and there is no preference for lower or higher cost proposals).
Fellowships will be funded for four years in the first instance, with the option to apply to renew for a further three years during the last year of the fellowship.
KEY DATES
Deadline: 18 June 2025*
*Worcester can submit two applications to this call. We will therefore be inviting Expressions of Interest from eligible internal and external researchers and will run a selection process ahead of time to select the two applications to be put forward.
See opportunity webpage and the below guidance for academic-hosted applicants for more information.