what's a research fellow

Sloan Research Fellowships

Philipp Strack, Clark Medalist 2024

Program Goal

Sloan research fellowships support fundamental research conducted by early-career scientists..

The two-year $75,000 fellowships are awarded annually to early-career researchers whose creativity, innovation, and research accomplishments make them stand out as the next generation of leaders.

Eligibility Requirements

• Candidates must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in chemistry, computer science, Earth system science, economics, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, or a related field.
• Candidates must be members of the faculty of a college, university, or other degree-granting institution in the U.S. or Canada.
• Candidates must be tenure-track, though untenured, as of September 15 of the nomination year.
• Candidate’s faculty position must carry a regular teaching obligation.

The Sloan Research Fellowship Program recognizes and rewards outstanding early-career faculty who have the potential to revolutionize their fields of study.

Questions about how these eligibility requirements apply to you?  See our FAQ page or email us at [email protected]

• In order to be considered for a Sloan Research Fellowship, a candidate must have a letter of nomination from a department head or other senior researcher. Submissions unaccompanied by a nomination letter from a senior researcher are not accepted.
• More than one candidate from a department may be nominated per fellowship field, but no more than three.

Nomination Letters and Letters of Support are important elements of the selection process and are read carefully by Selection Committees. The letters allow nominators and support writers to give Committee members insight about nominees that is not present in their other application materials (CV, publication list, etc.). Selection Committees recommend that letters of support be submitted by someone who can speak objectively and knowledgeably about the quality and significance of a nominee’s work. Letters submitted by co-authors, personal associates, or professional mentors are, in this sense, less useful to Selection Committees than letters submitted by those with more professional distance from a nominee’s work.     

Who Should Be Nominated?

The Sloan Research Fellowship Program recognizes and rewards outstanding early-career faculty who have the potential to revolutionize their fields of study. Successful candidates for a Fellowship generally have a strong record of significant independent research accomplishments that demonstrate creativity and the potential to become future leaders in the scientific community. Nominated candidates are normally several years past the completion of their Ph.D. in order to accumulate a competitive record of independent, significant research.

In keeping with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's longstanding support of underrepresented scholars in the sciences, the Foundation strongly encourages the nomination of qualified Black, Latinx, Native American, Alaska Native and women candidates.

Materials Required

• A letter from a department head or other senior researcher officially nominating the candidate and describing his or her qualifications, initiative, and research; 
• The candidate's curriculum vitae (including a list of the candidates scientific publications);
• Two representative articles by the candidate that highlight his or her independent research;
• A brief (one-page) statement by the candidate describing his or her significant scientific work and immediate research plans;
• Three letters from other researchers (preferably not all from the same institution) written in support of the candidate’s nomination.

How to Submit Nomination Materials

All materials must be uploaded and submitted through the Foundation’s online application portal.  See the Apply page for more information.  

Nominations are reviewed and candidates selected by an independent selection committee of distinguished scientists in each eligible field.

Fellows are selected on the basis of their independent research accomplishments, creativity, and potential to become leaders in the scientific community through their contributions to their field.

Nominations for the 2025 Sloan Research Fellowships will open July 15, 2024.

Selection Committees

CHEMISTRY Héctor D. Abruña, Cornell University Cathleen M. Crudden, Queen's University Todd Martinez, Stanford University Wilfred A. van der Donk, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign COMPUTER SCIENCE Moses Charikar, Stanford University Sham M. Kakade, Harvard University Sylvia Ratnasamy, University of California, Berkeley EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE E. Virginia Armbrust, University of Washington Inez Fung, University of California, Berkeley David Halpern, University of California, San Diego

ECONOMICS Veronica Guerrieri, The University of Chicago Leah Platt Boustan, Princeton University Parag Pathak, Massachusetts Institute of Technology MATHEMATICS Larry Guth, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Amit Singer, Princeton University Karen E. Smith, University of Michigan NEUROSCIENCE Rui Costa, Columbia University Yishi Jin, University of California, San Diego Bernardo Sabatini, Harvard University PHYSICS Lars Bildsten, University of California, Santa Barbara Sally Dawson, Stony Brook University Subir Sachdev, Harvard University Jun Ye, University of Colorado, Boulder

See a list of all past members of the Selection Committees.

Terms of Awards

• Fellowships are for a two-year term, beginning on September 15 th of the award year.
• Fellowships are paid in a single lump sum.
• The Fellowship amount is $75,000.
• Fellowship funds may be used by the fellow for any expense judged supportive of the fellow’s research including staffing, professional travel, lab expenses, equipment, or summer salary support.
• Fellowship funds may not be used for indirect costs or overhead charges.
• Fellows are obligated to notify the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation if they are changing institutions.
• Once per year, Fellows (or their institution) are obligated to submit both a substantive report (detailing what is being done) and a financial report (detailing how much money has been spent and on what).

The above terms and conditions are spelled out in more detail in the formal fellowship agreement. Please see the For Current Fellows tab for more information.

Announcing 2024 Sloan Research Fellowships

Teaching robots to think on the fly, creating a safer, more resilient society: 2023 marconi prize awarded to hari balakrishnan, announcing the 2023 sloan research fellows, ucla-led research unearths obscure heat transfer behaviors, zuckerberg, chan want new harvard institute to answer questions about the brain, ai.

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Clinical Research Fellow

Charlotte addy.

1 Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast

Judy Bradley

Lorcan mcgarvey, j stuart elborn.

Imperial College and Royal Brompton Hospital, London

Damian Downey

Introduction.

Clinicians with expertise in clinical research are essential to delivering high quality care, developing innovation and inspiring future researchers. 1 Clinical research skills are an essential part of postgraduate training, with all trainees required to complete an “academic checklist” during speciality training. 2 Specific academic training pathways are available, 3 but for those wanting to develop an interest in research without committing to a formal academic pathway, a period “out of programme” (OOP) as a Clinical Research Fellow can be undertaken. 4 Trainees can chose to do this at any stage in their career but this most commonly occurs during speciality training. 5 , 6

WHAT IS A CLINICAL RESEARCH FELLOW?

A Clinical Research Fellow is a doctor employed in a research role 4 often leading to a higher degree e.g. MD/PhD. Research is usually carried out over 2-3 years. 4 Shorter term posts designed to assist in delivering larger studies are also available. 6 The diversity of roles undertaken by Clinical Research Fellows is vast with a variable balance between original research and delivering other studies. 6 Roles can encompass any part of clinical research from addressing basic science questions in the laboratory to clinical trials.

Conducting research requires new skills to complement those developed in clinical training. 5 , 6 There are a growing number of structured “training fellowships” which include specific training in research skills, alongside conducting original research. 6 These are supported by national funding bodies such as the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) 6 , Wellcome Trust 7 or Cancer Research UK 8 and by local Clinical Research Networks including the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network (NICRN). 9

Clinical Trial Fellowships

Specific training, legislative and governance requirements are required for any researcher or “Trialist” conducting clinical trials. 10 Clinical Trial Networks provide leadership, funding, education and support for trials and the teams delivering them. In the UK the largest group supporting fellowships in clinical trials is the NIHR, with competition for NIHR funding and fellowships consistently high. 6 As the need for researchers with specific “Trialist” skills increases structured fellowships in clinical trials are also increasing. 6 - 9

The first NICRN 9 Fellowship “The James Fellowship in Clinical Trials” started in 2015. This was specifically designed to provide training and experience in delivering clinical trials combined with completion of the fellow’s own trial as part of a PhD programme at Queen’s University Belfast. This fellow participated in numerous trials, successfully delivered an original research study, published articles and presented work at international conferences. The success of this fellowship has allowed other NICRN fellowships to be created using a similar model.

Routes into fellowships

Routes into Clinical Research Fellow posts vary depending on the fellowship, associated higher degree and funding source. Posts are advertised in medical journals, online and increasingly on social media. Fellowships provided by large research bodies including the NIHR 6 , Wellcome Trust 7 and Health and Social Care (HSC) Research and Development 11 have a competitive application and interview process. Applications require a project proposal supported by a senior researcher. 6 - 8 Making contact early is essential as this process may take over a year. Evidence of commitment to research including an intercalated degree, conference presentations and publications increase the chances of a successful application.

Whilst this sounds daunting the most important thing to remember is that nothing makes researchers happier than discussing their work. Senior researchers welcome interest from juniors who want to consider undertaking research and are happy to provide guidance on where to start. Many research projects have started off with a simple conversation.

BENEFITS OF BEING A CLINICAL RESEARCH FELLOW

The best aspects of being a Clinical Research Fellow are the varied opportunities on offer and the chance to develop research skills which can be taken into a future academic or clinical career. Fellowships offer the opportunity to develop research skills in a structured manner within a supportive environment. 6 Fellowships are flexible allowing better work/life balance and flexibility around outside commitments. These posts allow you to work within enthusiastic multi-disciplinary research teams and to learn from both your supervisors and the wider research team. Such posts offer the opportunity to develop your own research program and network of contacts by attending local, national and international meetings and conferences. 6 - 9 , 11 The investment of research bodies into fellowships provides additional support to encourage presentation and publication of your own research. 6 - 9 , 11

However, undertaking a Clinical Research Fellow can be challenging. Once a post is identified time “Out Of Programme for Research” (OOPR) must be planned well in advance. 4 With planned changes to postgraduate training this may become easier in the future. 5 , 6 Clinical Research Fellow posts are often fully funded with a salary but checking whether this covers University fees, study budgets and other potential expenses is vital. Fellows usually have no on call commitments, which inevitably impacts on the salary paid.

Once in post, balancing competing commitments between your own research, training and clinical commitments requires organisation and efficient time management. Logistical challenges can be encountered in ensuring appropriate access to IT systems in both the university and Trust; as well as appropriate contracts and indemnity cover for all work you may be required to do.

WHAT CAN I DO AFTER A FELLOWSHIP?

After finishing a Clinical Research Fellow post trainees can return to clinical training 1 , 3 or if inspired to pursue a research career consider an academic training pathway. 1 , 5 , 6 Reviews of postgraduate and academic training highlighted the need for increased flexibility 3 , 5 , 6 leading to academic pathways becoming available at all stages of training. 4 , 5 , 6 An Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) or lectureship (ACL) combining clinical training with an ongoing research role can be applied for during core/speciality training. 4 , 5 , 6 Later in your career skills developed as a Clinical Research Fellow may allow negotiation of research time within a Consultant job plan or open up the possibility of a clinical academic post with time split between the NHS and a University. 6 National research bodies including the NIHR 6 and Academy of Medical Sciences 12 are increasingly supporting structured fellowships for post-doctoral researchers wanting to pursue an academic career. The drive to promote flexibility within academic training is likely to further increase the academic career options available. 5 , 6

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE?

There is a wealth of information on Clinical Research Fellow posts available on the NIHR website 6 and information on OOPR can be found the Royal College websites. 4 , 13 It is easiest to start by talking to other local trainees who have undertaken a Clinical Research Fellow post or look out for research showcase events aimed at trainees in your local area. In NI there is an annual Trainees research day with representatives from across the spectrum of clinical research supported by the Ulster Medical Society. Meet the expert events, conferences and guest lectures are also all useful places to make contact with research teams.

Acknowledgements

The “James Fellowship in Clinical Trials” is kindly supported by the NI Clinical Research Network and a philanthropic donation from the James Family to support research into Respiratory Disease within Northern Ireland.

UMJ is an open access publication of the Ulster Medical Society ( http://www.ums.ac.uk ).

An Introduction to Fellowships

Main navigation, why apply for fellowships.

Fellowships are merit-based awards that offer financial support for undergraduate or postgraduate study and research. When you apply for fellowships, you are refining your future plans and goals, and honing your ability to write and speak persuasively about your experience and aspirations. While national fellowships are competitive and the final outcome may be uncertain, the skills that you develop when you commit to applying will serve you well beyond Stanford.

Getting Started on Fellowship Applications

• Reflect on what you have accomplished so far, and what you want to do next.
• Find out about opportunities that support your goals. Attend fellowship overview sessions (typically in the Spring Quarter) and application workshops for specific fellowships (typically in Autumn Quarter), and read the relevant fellowship web pages.
• Meet with your faculty advisors and mentors as you deepen your academic exploration. Ask them about fellowship opportunities that you should consider.
• Meet with Undergraduate Advising Directors and campus fellowship liaisons to discuss your interests and goals.
• Ask your faculty mentors as early as possible for letters of recommendation. Before you leave for the summer, or in early fall, meet with them to discuss your application plans.
• Look up sample application documents to become familiar with what is required in an application and what documents you need to prepare.
• Read samples of previous award recipients’ essays to get an idea of what successful applications include. Be aware that you will bring your own experiences and qualities that are different from other students. Sample essays for fellowships are available in the offices of Undergraduate Advising Directors, and the resource library section at the AARC and at the central Academic Advising office (Sweet Hall, 1st Floor). Sample essays for ORC-administered fellowships are available at the ORC library (Bechtel I-Center).
• Strong applications are refined over months, not days.  Register  with Academic Advising to receive updates on the competitions you are working on. In the months leading up to the application deadline, you should present an early draft of your application to your faculty mentors and the campus fellowship liaison for feedback. Work also with consultants at the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking to refine your essays.
• Manage your time: Identifying and applying for fellowships takes time, effort, and perseverance. On top of working on the application, you are often also managing a full course load and other responsibilities. Consider applying for a  fellowship as being the equivalent of taking a 2-3 unit course in a given academic quarter.

Research Fellow

A Research Fellow is a NIH employee who possesses a doctoral degree and is on a time-limited, renewable appointment. The purpose of the Research Fellowship is to provide junior-level scientists experience in biomedical research while they provide a service relevant to the Institute or Center’s (IC) program needs. The Research Fellow will spend the entire fellowship in laboratory research, while supporting the performance of NIH intramural research. Scientists with considerable experience beyond postdoctoral training may be designated Senior Research Fellows .

To be eligible for a Research Fellowship, a candidate must have demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement and the ability to conduct successfully, with minimal supervision, a pre-established program in laboratory research.

Because Research Fellows perform services for NIH in addition to the training experience, these positions apply against the IC’s Full-Time Equivalent Employment (FTE) ceiling.

A Research Fellow is a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident (green card, resident alien), or non-resident alien with a valid employment-authorized visa foreign national, who has been appointed to conduct health-related research at a NIH facility. Research Fellow (Visiting Program [VP]) appointments may be renewed; however, the total length of an appointment may not exceed the 5/8 Year Duration Policy . For foreign nationals on a visa, all renewals are subject to applicable visa restrictions.

As part of an effort to attract and retain top-level Research Fellow and Research Fellow (VP) candidates for a variety of different scientific disciplines, the NIH established the following programs:

• Early Independent Scientist : an intramural component of the national NIH Director’s Early Independent Scientist (EIS) Program designed to support recent doctoral graduates in independent positions without the need to train further in a post-doctoral fellowship.
• Independent Research Scholar (IRS) : a new program launched in 2019 focused to build the workforce diversity of independent research scientists.

Both Research Fellows and Research Fellows (VP) are Full-Time Equivalent Employment (FTE) positions.

Approvals (Process)

Research Fellows are appointed using Title 42(g) and approved by the delegated authority in each IC. Research Fellow appointments are traditionally approved by the Scientific Director (SD) for an initial 2-3 year period, but may be made for a shorter period (no less than 3 months). Depending on salary level and other pay components proposed, review and approval may be required from both the IC Title 42 Standing Committee and the NIH Compensation Committee (NCC). Please consult the Title 42 Pay Model for additional information.

For Research Fellows that require clinical credentialing, an additional approval must be received from the Director, CC (or delegate) after recommendation by the Clinical Center (CC) Credentials Committee and the Medical Executive Committee (MEC). For further information, please contact the Office of Credentialing Services, Clinical Center (OCS/CC) at [email protected] or 301-496-5937.

Additional approvals and requirements for Visiting Program fellows can be found at the Division of International Services .

Check Sheets / Checklists

There is currently no Deputy Director for Intramural Research (DDIR) -approved check sheet or checklist for the Research Fellow designation. Individual ICs may have additional requirements and check sheets. Please contact your Administrative Officer (AO) or HR Specialist for additional guidance.

Intramural scientists at the NIH, as is true for all scientists, should be committed to the responsible use of scientific tools and methods to seek new knowledge. While the general principles of scientific methodologies are universal, their detailed application may differ in various scientific disciplines and circumstances. All research staff in the Intramural Research Program should maintain exemplary standards of intellectual honesty in formulating, conducting, presenting, and reviewing research, as befits the leadership role of the NIH.

Within the NIH IRP, the ethical conduct of researchers is governed by the following three disciplines:

• Research Ethics
• Government Ethics

Ethics information may also be available through your specific IC. Please contact your Ethics Counselor for additional guidance.

Pay / Compensation

Pay and compensation for Title 42(g) appointed Research Fellows is based on the Title 42 Pay Model . Research Fellow salary ranges are in Band I. Depending on salary level and other pay components proposed, review and approval may be required from both the IC Title 42 Standing Committee and the NIH Compensation Committee (NCC).

For additional pay and compensation information for Research Fellow (VP) appointments, according to their specific visa requirements, please contact the Division of International Services (DIS) .

Recruitment Process / Appointment Mechanisms

Recruitment of a Research Fellow is made via Title 42(g) .

Sufficient outreach efforts must be taken to assure that a diverse pool of potential candidates (e.g. minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities) is made aware of fellowship opportunities. At a minimum, the candidate must possess a doctoral-level degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, including: Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M., D.D.S., D.M.D., Sc.D., or other research doctoral-degree widely recognized in U.S. academe as equivalent to a Ph.D.

Official position descriptions are not required. However, the supervisor must prepare a narrative statement fully describing the duties and responsibilities required.

Qualifications for a Research Fellow appointment include the following:

• Appointees must be U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent resident (green card, resident alien), or non-resident aliens with a valid employment-authorized visa.
• Candidates must possess a Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.V.M. or equivalent degree in a biomedical, behavioral, or related science, or have been certified by a university as meeting all the requirements leading to such a doctorate.
• Candidates must furnish proof that they meet educational requirements. For most scientists, official transcripts are required. For very senior scientists with established professional reputations who are well known in their fields, a copy of the doctoral degree, and professional license if any, may be sufficient. However, if the diploma does not indicate the field in which the doctorate is awarded (e.g., indicates only Doctor of Philosophy), then copies of transcripts or listings of courses are required.
• Foreign educated scientists from certain countries (e.g., China) may be unable to provide official transcripts. In those rare cases, a copy of the diploma, with official English translation, if necessary, may be accepted. However, if the diploma does not indicate the field in which the doctorate is awarded (e.g., indicates only Doctor of Philosophy), then copies of transcripts or listings of courses, with official translation, are required.
• Foreign education must be evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that it is comparable to education received in the United States. ICs may wish to consult with the Division of International Services, ORS, and with OIR for preliminary advice on the equivalency of foreign degrees with U.S. doctorates. Simply because a degree is identified as a doctorate does not mean it is equivalent.
• A minimum of two references is required from professionals in the field, attesting to the candidate’s scientific qualifications, credentials, and accomplishments. Additional references may be required depending upon Office of Intramural Research (OIR) policies and the Intramural Professional Designation (IPD) proposed.

In addition to the aforementioned process, the NIH has established two additional recruitment methods as part of an effort to attract and retain top-level candidates for a variety of different scientific disciplines:

• Early Independent Scientist : an intramural component of the national NIH Director’s Early Independent Scientist (EIS) Program designed to support recent doctoral graduates in independent positions without the need to train further in a post-doctoral fellowship. Successful candidates are provided the resources to establish an independent research program, including salary and benefits, support for lab personnel, lab space, supplies, and start-up equipment. For additional information, please visit the Early Independent Scientists page as part of the IRP Web site.
• Independent Research Scholar (IRS) : a new program launching in 2019 focused to build the workforce diversity of independent research scientists.

Research Fellow appointments are made via Title 42(g) and renewed in 1-year increments, according to the 5/8 Year Duration Policy . The maximum length of this fellowship is eight years, and the duration is determined by the length of time spent at NIH in all fellowship capacities, unless the scientist is approved for tenure-track or another staff NIH appointment. For foreign nationals on a visa, all renewals are subject to applicable visa restrictions.

A Research Fellow is not granted independent resources by their Institute, except for Early Independent Scientists.

Termination

Research Fellow appointments may be terminated before their expiration date for cause (e.g., personal or scientific misconduct), unsatisfactory performance, or administrative reasons, including but not limited to, programmatic changes and/or budgetary considerations. Terminations of a Research Fellow must follow the policies and processes appropriate to the Title 42(g) appointment mechanism.

This page was last updated on Thursday, July 13, 2023

University Research Fellowship

This scheme is for outstanding scientists who are in the early stages of their research career and have the potential to become leaders in their field. These long-term fellowships provide the opportunity and freedom to build an independent research career in the UK or Republic of Ireland and pursue cutting-edge scientific research.

Decision by

See our tips for applicants to this scheme  

About the scheme

The University Research Fellowship (URF) programme aims to support the next generation of research leaders to undertake cutting-edge research. The objectives of the URF programme are to enable outstanding early career scientists with the potential to become leaders in their field to:

• Build an independent research career at a UK university or research institution
• Gain the freedom, time, and long-term flexible support to pursue high-quality and innovative lines of scientific research
• Develop as research leaders by offering tailored high-quality professional development, networking and engagement opportunities.

Fellowships are for eight years, with years six to eight being subject to satisfactory progress demonstrated in a mid-fellowship review at year four.

The Royal Society recognises that diversity is essential for delivering excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and wants to encourage applications from the widest range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to maximise innovation and creativity in science for the benefit of humanity. We regularly review and revise policies and processes to embed equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles in all aspects of the grant making process and ensure all talented applicants have an equitable chance to succeed as per the assessment criteria.

See below for details of adjustments we can provide for disabled applicants.

Changes to the scheme 

As part of the Royal Society’s wider changes to our costing policy, applicants are now permitted to apply for a maximum award value over eight years (£1.83 million for the 2024 round). Maximum caps for salary contribution and research costs have been removed and going forward there will be a total maximum grant value for applicants to work with. 

We recommend reading the information in full and contacting your host organisation Research Office in the first instance with any questions.

What does the scheme offer?

Applicants can apply for up to a maximum of £1.83 million over eight years. 

Funds can cover:

• Contribution to the award holder’s salary
• Indirect and estate costs 
• Equipment costs and research expenses including consumables, travel, etc. 
• Contribution towards research assistance salary and associated indirect and estate costs 
• Support for a new four-year PhD studentship(s)
• Relocation and visa costs for the applicants and their dependants (partner and children). The total grant cap may be exceeded in order to cover relocation/visa costs if this is well justified in the application.

Full funding details can be found in the scheme notes and in the Royal Society Funding Guidance .

We provide flexibility to accommodate personal circumstances including part-time working, sabbaticals and secondments. There is provision for maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoptive or extended sick leave , as well as financial support for childcare costs  that arise from attending conferences and research visits.

Royal Society Research Fellows also have the opportunity to access a range of career development and engagement opportunities  including training on leadership, science communication and public engagement, and activities coordinated by our science policy and schools engagement teams. For further detail on these additional benefits, read our opportunities page .

Royal Society awards have made a significant impact on many researchers’ careers. Case studies from grant-holders can be found elsewhere on this page, or read an in-depth report on the careers of our alumni on our Career Pathway Tracker page .

This scheme is for you if:

• You have between three and eight years of research experience, excluding career breaks, since the award of your PhD by the closing date of the round; please refer to the scheme notes for further detail about the review of career breaks
• You do not hold a permanent post (including proleptic appointment) in a university or not-for-profit research organisation
• You do not hold, or have not previously held, an equivalent fellowship that provides an opportunity to establish an independent research group and therefore independent researcher status
• Your research is within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, which includes but is not limited to biological research and biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics. For a full list, please see the breakdown of subject groups and areas supported by the Royal Society.

Applicants can be of any nationality and those requiring a visa are eligible to apply for a Global Talent Visa  under the fast-track process of endorsement.

Read the scheme notes or FAQs (PDF) for further information on eligibility. Those applying from Ireland (ROI) are funded by Science Foundation Ireland and will need to read the eligibility requirements in the SFI-specific scheme notes.

Please ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements before applying.

You will apply through our application and grant management system, Flexi-Grant®. 

See the ‘Application and assessment process’ page  for a general overview of the application and selection steps and below for details specific to this scheme.

Assessment of your application will be overseen by one of our five Research Appointment Panels (Standing Committees) based on your research area:

• Ai: Astronomy, cosmology, physics, earth sciences, environmental physical sciences & geosciences 
• Aii: Chemistry and engineering
• Aiii: Pure and applied mathematics, computer science, statistics, communications and computer engineering; the mathematical aspects of astronomy, physics, cosmology, gravitation, theoretical physics
• Bi: Molecular and cellular biology, zoology, plant sciences and physiology
• Bii: Biomedical Sciences

Assessment of your application will be overseen by one of the five Research Appointment Panels. Following eligibility checks, applications are initially assessed by a minimum of two panel members who have the most appropriate scientific expertise. A longlist is drawn up, with longlisted applications subject to independent peer review. Following completion of independent peer review, a shortlist for interview is drawn up with oversight from the Panel Chairs. At the end of the interview stage, the Panels will confirm the recommendations for funding.

Further detail on the application and review process is available in the scheme notes.

The Royal Society welcomes applications from scientists with disabilities 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 on [email protected] or +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 those with mental health conditions
• additional costs to support those candidates requiring a chaperone during interviews

For the University Research Fellowship, shortlisted applicants will be invited to an in-person interview at the Royal Society. 

The aim of the interview is for you to demonstrate the importance and scientific validity of your work and for you to also describe how the award will lead to your scientific independence. 

If you have further questions regarding the scheme, please see the FAQs, contact the Grants team on [email protected] or visit our contact us page .

• University Research Fellowship scheme notes
• University Research Fellowship scheme notes for Republic of Ireland applicants
• Conditions of award for Republic of Ireland applicants
• Conditions of Award

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Fellowships & Research

[Insert Research / Healy05-C-cloned.jpg 6.02MB. Permission requested. Still pending.] [image caption] Fellowships and research are excellent experiential learning opportunities that help students develop as professionals and as scholars.

What Is A Fellowship?

Fellowships are short-term, paid, opportunities that are sponsored by a specific organization and obtained through a competitive application process. Organizations sponsor Fellowships for multiple reasons. Most often they are seeking to expand their field by funding research, curating talent for the future workforce, and developing leaders. To satisfy that purpose, host organizations engage Fellows in challenging work and invest in their professional development.

There are a vast number of Fellowships, and programs vary widely. They can be designed to support a range of activities including graduate study in a specific field, research to advance work on a particular issue, developing a new community-based organization or initiative, training and reflection to support the fellow’s growth, and opportunities to further explore a particular field of work. Fellowships can take place domestically or abroad and they can last from a few months to several years.

Finding Fellowships

There are many online resources available to assist you in your search for Fellowship opportunities. We created this Handshake page with a curated list of resources that will get you off to a great start!

FAQs about Fellowships

Experiential Learning

Fellowships are structured to provide significant work experiences, and Fellows are often expected to take on a great deal of responsibility quickly. Generally, Fellows are provided with unique experiences that are not typically available to someone starting out in an entry-level position. This experiential learning component varies depending upon the Fellowship program.

Fellowship programs are known for their commitment to the professional development of individual Fellows and often include intensive training. Key elements of this training might include:

• Academic seminars to develop frameworks and apply theory
• In-depth research and analysis of a particular issue area
• A broad curriculum of skills development which may include leadership, community organizing, public speaking, grant writing, and media relations

Most fellowship programs provide a living allowance or stipend, yet it is not typically comparable to the salary of a full-time job. Financial compensation can vary greatly with stipends ranging from $10,000 to up to $50,000 for a 9-12 month program. Other incentives may be provided to fellows such as healthcare coverage, student loan repayment assistance, and transportation and housing stipends.

Although eligibility requirements vary with the fellowship, most programs look for:

• Motivation, self-direction, and personal integrity
• Highly developed interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership and potential for continued leadership
• Proven competency in a certain field or discipline
• High level of academic performance.

Applications can be extensive and often include a resume, transcript, letters of recommendation and writing sample. Depending on the fellowship, there may be additional application materials required as well.

Additionally, the application process for most programs includes an interview which may be a series of individual interviews, a single panel interview, or situational group interviews in which candidates work together to devise responses to a problem or question.

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• H. Senior Research Fellows

(1) Description

The Senior Research Fellow position is the highest non-faculty research position at Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). The criteria for appointment to Senior Research Fellow are sufficient independence, stature, and national or international reputation in the field to qualify for a tenured appointment at a major research university.

Senior Research Fellows conduct independent research necessary to the intellectual pursuits of a department or research center. This appointment comes with principal investigator rights and does not require close faculty supervision. A need for this appointment must be demonstrated by the department or center. (Note: When a Senior Research Fellow is hired to work in a center, the appointing unit must be a department, not the center itself, and all the search procedures outlined in 13.H.4 (“Steps: Appointment to Senior Research Fellow”) must be followed, including a departmental vote.) The appointment is contingent on funding and space, and Senior Research Fellows must be self-funded through grants on a continuing basis.

The appointment is of unspecified duration and implies that the University anticipates a continuing need for the individual’s services, but in the event that the need or funding disappears and no suitable alternative employment is available within the University, the appointment may be terminated on ordinarily twelve months’ notice from the point that the individual’s funding runs out. In such cases, the individual retains his/her/their appointment until the termination date, but the FAS has no financial responsibility for the individual from the point that the funding has run out.

Feedback on performance will be provided on an annual basis. The appointment is ordinarily full-time; exceptions must be justified. Under no circumstances will such an appointment be made for a project or program wholly dependent upon the presence or continuing interest of a single faculty member.

The Office for Faculty Affairs, in conjunction with the divisional deans and the John A. Paulson Dean of SEAS, will monitor appointments in this category regularly, reviewing numbers in rank, length of service, salary ranges, etc.

Note: Members of the FAS and University community are expected to familiarize themselves with, and conform to, Harvard policies on teaching, research, and service, as appropriate to their position. Please see Chapter 2, “FAS and University Policies,” for more information.

In keeping with Harvard University’s Intellectual Property policies ( https://otd.harvard.edu/ ) and other research policies, faculty and researchers are expected to sign electronically the Harvard University Participation Agreement by the start of their appointment .

Senior Research Fellows are paid at a rate commensurate with experience, in consultation with the assistant dean for faculty affairs.

(3) Search Flowchart: Senior Research Fellow (SRF)

(4) Steps: Appointment to Senior Research Fellow

(5)  dossier checklist:  appointment to senior research fellow.

Please securely send an electronic copy of the preliminary dossier to the assistant dean for the division (AD). Please follow HUIT’s recommended practices for secure document transfer (e.g., Accellion Kiteworks, encryption, etc.), which can vary by user platform. To facilitate storing and sharing of files, please name the file as follows: a) alpha-numeric characters only (no dashes, commas, slashes, etc.)  b) [Last Name] [First Name] [Department Name] SRF dossier [numerical Month, Date, and Year of dossier submission: XX YY ZZ]. E.g., Smith John Psychology SRF dossier 1 4 15.  c) If a dossier is revised and resubmitted, please repeat the original title, followed by “rev” and [Month of resubmission] [Date of resubmission] [Year of resubmission].  E.g., Smith John Psychology SRF dossier 1 4 15 rev 1 15 15.

After the offer is finalized, please send 1 electronic PDF copy of the final dossier to the Appointments Office in the Office for Faculty Affairs via Aurora. Please use the naming convention outlined above. Departments should retain documents according to practices recommended by Harvard Archives at https://grs.harvard.edu/ (please log in).

______1.     Authorization letter for the search.

______2.     If the search was not targeted, the Departmental EEO Report displaying aggregate demographic data from the search, available through ARIeS.

______3.     Case statement (including department/SEAS area vote by name).  Note: The case statement must include a description of all efforts to identify candidates from diverse populations.

______4.    Candidate’s curriculum vitae , including details of the candidate’s Harvard affiliation, if any, and a list of publications.

______5.    Research statement.

______6.    Information on current and pending funding.

______7.    A copy of the letter soliciting evaluations from external letter writers and the recipient list (see Sample Table ), indicating who did and did not reply.

______8.   Eight to ten external letters.

______9.   Copies of all advertisements, if applicable.

Note: The candidate should not solicit student (or postdoc) letters, and any unsolicited student (or postdoc) letters will not be included in the dossier.

To be added to the final dossier after the offer is finalized:

_____10.      A copy of the offer letter and all subsequent emendations to it.

_____11.     A copy of the candidate’s letter of acceptance.

After the offer is finalized, please securely send 1 electronic PDF copy of the final signed offer letter to the AD. Please follow HUIT’s recommended practices for secure document transfer (e.g., Accellion Kiteworks, encryption, etc.), which can vary by user platform.

Completion of an I-9 on or before the appointment start date and submission of any other necessary documents is required of all new employees, or after a break in service of one year or more. Questions about I-9 completion should be directed to FAS Central Payroll.

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Research Fellow -Neuroscience-Prudencio lab

• Jacksonville, FL
• Neurosciences

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The laboratory of Dr. Prudencio is seeking a postdoctoral fellow (must have Ph.D.) to join the research team. We are looking for an individual with a strong background in molecular biology techniques, who is motivated to contribute to cutting-edge research in our field. If you are passionate about advancing scientific knowledge and possess expertise in molecular biology, we encourage you to apply and be part of our dynamic research environment.

A Research Fellow position in Life Sciences (LS) will require knowledge of either clinical-based research or laboratory-based research often obtained from a postdoctoral program. A Research Fellow at Mayo Clinic is a temporary position intended to provide training and education in research. Individuals will train in the research program of a Mayo Clinic principal investigator. Qualified individuals will demonstrate the potential for research as evidenced by their training and peer-reviewed publications and should become competitive for national research grants. Proof of English proficiency is required for J-1 Short-Term Scholars, Research Scholars, Professors, Specialists, and Student Interns sponsored by Mayo Clinic.

Must have a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in a field deemed relevant by the program. Research Fellow is appropriate for individuals who have completed no more than one prior postdoctoral fellowship, at Mayo Clinic or elsewhere.  

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2024 SRCD Federal Policy Fellow Spotlight:  Sara Nozadi Ph.D.

1. In a few sentences, what is your role at the agency you work for? 

My role at the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department has focused on supporting projects for the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Health Integration Prenatal-to-Three (ECCS) program, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The goal of this program is to help states support alignment and coordination of care systems related to maternal health and early childhood. As a policy fellow, I have supported a variety of projects within the ECCS initiative, including leading a project to better understand the landscape of developmental screening efforts in New Mexico. For this project, I collected data using semi-structured interviews from key New Mexico stakeholders about the coordination of efforts in administration of developmental screening, data storage and referrals to early childhood intervention services. I also researched approaches and models utilized in other states specific to data screening efforts. Additionally, I provide support for a healthcare marketing project that aims to increase referrals to home visiting and early intervention programs in New Mexico. 

2. What interested you in becoming an SRCD Policy Fellow?  

Through my work as an assistant professor, I have had the opportunity to conduct community-partnered research with rural and tribal communities of New Mexico. This work highlighted for me the importance of partnering with communities to understand community-specific needs and concerns related to early childhood development, and to tailor my research and utilize data to better serve local communities.  The ECECD has a deep commitment to improving cross-agency collaborations including strengthening partnerships with local communities and families. Thus, my motivation to become a SRCD fellow was to further develop skills that would help me interact with community organizations, state-level agencies, legislators, and policymakers to be able to conduct policy-relevant research that is aligned with the needs of communities and legislative priorities. 

3. What has been the most memorable project you have completed during your time at the agency?  

One of the projects that I have worked on during my time at the agency is the developmental screening project that aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of developmental screening efforts and stakeholders in New Mexico with the hope to utilize this information to inform how NM can enhance developmental screening administration and increase referrals to early intervention services. This project included two parts. The first part included an assessment plan to interview stakeholders within the state of New Mexico to better understand their process in administration and referral to services. The second part of project was researching successful models/programs from other U.S. states that focused on improving screening administration and referral to early intervention services.

A summary of information obtained from both sections will be presented at the ACT Early Regional Summits in June and July 2024, organized by the Center for Development and Disability (CDD). This information, coupled with feedback from regional partners, will guide the planning of next steps to align and streamline developmental screening administration and referral efforts in New Mexico.

4. What words of wisdom might you pass on to someone who is interested in SRCD’s fellowship program?  

The best advice I received from previous fellows when starting the fellowship program was to be flexible in taking on projects rather than being attached to pre-defined topics that I had in mind or hoped to be part of. Working at the state agency is very different from working in an academic setting. There are multiple influences from various sources including voices from the community members, priorities set by legislative sessions, and changes in leadership, that can change the direction of a project. Being flexible to adapt to new demands and trusting the process was the best advice that was given to me, which I would like to pass on to the incoming fellows.

5. What has been your favorite aspect of SRCD’s fellowship? Please explain why.  

Working more directly and networking with people from various sectors including state agencies, service providers, families and community members, and technical assistance programs have been the most enjoyable experience for me during this fellowship. Through this experience, I have developed a very deep appreciation for the shared leadership and the importance of cross agency collaborations to leverage on various expertise and skills that people from different sectors, agencies and entities bring to a project to make it successful. I have learned so much from each person who I have encountered through this journey, which has underscored for me the importance of having a lifelong learning approach and to trust the power of collaboration for successful team building.

6. What is your favorite book?  

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is one of my favorite novels of all time. Dostoevsky is the master of analyzing human psychology and behaviors. His meticulous analysis of the main characters in this book is the reminder of why we need to have an empathic and trauma-informed lens in judging human behaviors and their underlying motivations, and how the lines between evil and good sometimes can be blurry.