Academic Fellowships

The Society is committed to addressing the career development issues faced by basic scientists and clinical researchers.  Fellowship schemes help scientists follow their chosen career paths, either in academia, industry, (and medicine to a lesser degree), or by applying their skills to another sector.  Fellowships provide an individual with the opportunity to serve in an ideal setting for advanced subspecialty training.  Individuals are given the opportunity to study and gain invaluable insight into a particular field of study.

Here is a list of Fellowships currently available:

Alzheimer’s Research Trust Fellowships

The Alzheimer’s Research Trust offer a number of Fellowships to enable top scientists to dedicate their time and research and to encourage recently qualified scientists to remain in the field of dementia.  For further details visit the Alzheimer’s Research Trust website.

Arthritis Research Campaign Fellowships

The Arthritis Research Campaign is dedicated to reducing the suffering and improving the functional ability of individuals suffering from disorders and conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system. They offer several fellowships to clinicians and allied health professionals working on arthritis and related musculoskeletal diseases. Further information is available at the Arthritis Research Campaign website.

BBSRC Fellowships

The BBSRC have a range of Fellowships on offer including:

  • David Phillips and Institute Career Path Fellowships to help establish postdoctoral researchers as independent investigators.
  • Research Development and Institute Development Fellowships to support academics seeking to pursue new research directions.
  • Enterprise Fellowships to enable researchers to concentrate on commercialising their career.
  • Professional Fellowships which are awarded to outstanding scientists at the height of their career.

Further information on all of these Fellowships can be found on the BBSRC website.

Caledonian Research Foundation

The Caledonian Research Foundation is a Scottish charity that offers Biomedical Research Fellowships and European Visiting Research Fellowships to researchers based in Scottish Universities.  Further details can be found on the Caledonian Research Foundation website.

Diabetes UK Fellowships

Diabetes UK run a number of Fellowships for both basic scientists and clinicians wishing to pursue academic and research careers.  Visit the Diabetes UK website for further information.

National Institute for Health Research Academic Clinical Fellowships

As the academic wing of the NHS, The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) offers over 200 Academic Clinical Fellowships across the UK in almost every clinical speciality. Designed to increase career-path flexibility as part of Modernising Medical Careers, these clinical fellowships allow a physician to conduct clinical research alongside their training, and provide a strong introduction to an academic career in medicine. Visit the NIHR Integrated Academic Training website for full details.

Medical Schools Council Clinical Academic Jobs page

The Medical Schools Council (MSC) represents the interests and ambitions of UK Medical Schools as they relate to the generation of national health, wealth and knowledge through biomedical research and the profession of medicine. Their clinical academic jobs page hosts openings for clinical fellowships at medical schools across the UK as and when they arise, including lectureships and professorships for registered clinicians at any stage of their career.

MSC clinical academic jobs page

Medical Research Council Post-Doctoral Fellowships

The Medical Research Council (MRC) – the UK’s leading institution for medical research - offers a large number of basic science and clinical fellowships to medical and clinical professionals who have completed a post-doctoral qualification and wish to pursue independent research. These fellowships demand rigorous science that can be translated to clinical outcomes, and as a result of their training many MRC fellows go on to become research leaders. Full details can be found on the MRC Fellowships page.

Research into Ageing Fellowships

Age UK (formerly Age Concern and Help the Aged, now merged) offers basic science and clinical fellowships under its funding scheme Research into Ageing. Applications are welcome in any area of ageing biology and age-related health problems and diseases. Visit the Age UK website for further details.

Royal Society Fellowships

The Royal Society runs a series of schemes that enhance the UK science base and foster collaboration between UK based and overseas scientists. Their 7 Fellowship types enable talented young scientists to build independent careers by providing salaries, research expenses and a range of other non-financial support.  Further details can be found on the Royal Society website.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh

The Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland and Royal Society of Edinburgh are now offering 1 Personal Research Fellowship, tenable for up to three years, for post-doctoral research.  The Fellowship is for independent research on the causes and effects of the ageing process including the medical, psychological, sociological or economic consequences of old age with the purpose of improving the quality of life.  Visit the Royal Society of Edinburgh website for further details.

Wellcome Trust Fellowships

The Wellcome Trust have 17 Fellowships and personal awards to support researchers working in the basic and clinical sciences at all stages of their careers, including training, intermediate and senior awards.  The Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships provide a unique opportunity for the most promising newly qualified postdoctoral researchers to make an early start in developing their independent research careers, working in the best laboratories in the UK and overseas.
Full details can be found on the Wellcome Trust website.