Online applications are invited for the Career Development Fellowship at the Royal Society. Check the details and apply here.

About the Fellowship

The Career Development Fellowship (CDF) is a four-year, postdoctoral research fellowship that aims to support the retention in STEM of researchers from underrepresented backgrounds. The scheme will initially run as a pilot with researchers from Black heritage. If successful, the pilot may be broadened to researchers from other underrepresented groups.  

The scheme has been developed following cross-sector roundtables and Royal Society-commissioned reports which looked at trends across 11 years of Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) data and benchmarked the Society’s early career fellowships (PDF) against the eligible applicant pool. 

Career Development Fellowship by The Royal Society [Amount Upto Rs. 7 Cr]: Apply Now!
Career Development Fellowship by The Royal Society

Benefits

  • Up to £690,000 over four years to cover the Research Fellow’s salary and associated on-costs (at 80%), directly allocated costs (at 80%), and research expenses; 
  • A high-quality program of training, mentoring, and engagement to support career development; 
  • Flexibility to accommodate personal circumstances including part-time work. There is also provision for maternity, paternity, adoption, or extended sick leave.
  • Applicants can request relocation and visa costs for themselves and their dependants (partners and children).
  • This process identified a need for interventions across the academic pipeline to support researchers from Black or Mixed Black African, Black Caribbean, or other Black heritage backgrounds, particularly researchers making the transition from postgraduate to early postdoctoral stages. 
  • These costs can be requested in addition to the total grant cap of £690,000 over four years. 

Eligibility

  • Research must be within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, which includes but is not limited to biological research, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics.
  • For a full list, please see the breakdown of subject groups and areas supported by the Royal Society. 
  • You can apply for the pilot scheme if you: 
    • Self-identify as being from a Black heritage including mixed Black background;
    • Have a Ph.D. or will have one by the time the funding starts, but have less than 24 months of post-doctoral experience; 
  • Both UK and non-UK-domiciled researchers who wish to conduct their research in the UK are eligible. 
  • Before applying, please ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements, laid out in the scheme notes. 

Application Process

  • Before the scheme opens to applications on 7 November, you should: 
    • Read the scheme notes and FAQs thoroughly
    • Check your eligibility against the scheme notes
    • Identify and confirm support from your sponsor, and check they are based at an eligible host organization
    • Flag your intention to apply to the research office at your host organization
  • When the scheme opens to applications on 7 November, you should: 
    • Begin your application. The form can be accessed through the Society’s grant management system Flexi-Grant. It doesn’t need to be completed in one session, you can save your application in draft and return it
    • Allow enough time for your application to be reviewed and approved by your research office  
    • Ensure you submit your application by 24 January 2024; you can only do this once all participants (e.g. Head of Department, nominated referee, etc) have completed their sections of the application form and clicked ‘save and submit’
  • What happens when the scheme deadline has passed: 
    • Following eligibility checks, your application will be assessed by a Panel of scientists with broad scientific expertise  
    • Panel members will review and score applications; and subsequently shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the Panel to find out more about their proposed research
    • For additional advice and information, see our Making a grant application page or contact the Career Development Fellowship team

Support for disabled applicants

  • The Royal Society welcomes applications from disabled applicants and provides adjustments to ensure that they can participate fully in the selection process.
  • If you need an adjustment when accessing the application form, attending interviews, or for any other part of the application process, please contact the Grants Team via CDF[at]royalsociety[dot]org or call +44 20 7451 2666.
  • Adjustments can include but are not limited to: 
    • Extension of the deadline 
    • Additional support to complete the application form 
    • Technical support during interviews for candidates with hearing or visual impairments  
    • Support during interviews for neurodiverse candidates and candidates with mental health conditions 
    • Additional costs to support candidates requiring a chaperone during interviews 
  • The Grants Team will be pleased to answer questions about eligibility and/or points covered in this section.

How to Apply?

Interested candidates may apply here

Click here to go through the official notification of the Career Development Fellowship at The Royal Society

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