Postdoctoral Fellowships
The School of Physics and Astronomy welcomes applications from candidates interested in applying for personal fellowships at the University of Edinburgh.
Fellowship opportunities
To provide transparency and efficiency in the management of applications, the School operates an internal review process for the following fellowship opportunities:
- UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships
- Royal Society University Research Fellowships
- STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowships
- EPSRC Fellowships
- Royal Astronomical Society Fellowships
- Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships
- Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships
- Stephen Hawking Fellowships
Applications for other fellowship opportunities are welcome. Please contact relevant members of academic staff or the director-of-research [at] ph.ed.ac.uk (Director of Research) directly to discuss prospective applications. The School of Physics and Astronomy is committed to advancing equality and diversity, welcoming applications from everyone irrespective of gender, ethnic group or nationality. We particularly encourage applications from female and/or BAME candidates.
This autumn's outline deadlines are:
- Stephen Hawking Fellowship round 2: 4pm Monday 5th October 2020
- UKRI Future Leader Fellowships round 6: 4pm Monday 19th October 2020
How to submit a preliminary application
If you would like the School to support your application for one or more of these fellowships, please submit the following documentation to: fellowships-panel [at] ph.ed.ac.uk. You are strongly encouraged to develop your proposal with the active participation of a member of academic staff. Once outline proposals are received academic supporters will be asked to submit a short e-mail fellowships-panel [at] ph.ed.ac.uk.
Stephen Hawking Fellowships documentation
-
Confirmation of which research area the research fits into (see themes below)
-
CV (2 pages – using the Stephen Hawking Fellowship Template)
-
Outline case for support (4 pages – A4, Arial or other Sans Serif font (min size 11) with 2cm margins on all sides) – this should address the Outline proposal assessment criteria (see below)
Related themes
Cosmology, General relativity, Quantum gravity, Classical gravity, String theory, Statistical physics, Nuclear physics, Particle physics, Particle astrophysics, Theoretical astronomy, Theoretical plasma physics, solar or planetary physics, Mathematical Physics, Condensed Matter physics, Theoretical quantum optics and information, Quantum fluids and solids, Cold atoms and molecules.
Outline proposal assessment criteria
Research Quality
- Candidate presents an excellent research programme which is novel and timely.
- Propose suitable methodology and the appropriate approach to achieving impact and public engagement.
- Demonstrate ambition, adventure, transformative aspects or potential outcomes.
Research Importance
- Candidate provides evidence of how the research will make a significant contribution to the research field.
- Candidate articulates the strategic importance of the research and how it may contribute to the economic, social and cultural prosperity of the UK.
- The potential outcomes arising from the research are identified and plans for maximising their impacts are proportionate, timely and credible.
UKRI Future Leader Fellowships documentation
- PDF copy of the Outline form (see attached forms in .pdf and .doc formats at bottom of this page, School approval section not required at this stage)
- a draft two-page Case for Support (pdf)
- applicant CV and key publications (pdf)
A reminder of the current scheme objectives and requirements:
- To develop, retain, attract and sustain research and innovation talent in the UK.
- To foster new research and innovation career paths including those at the academic/business and interdisciplinary boundaries, and facilitate movement of people between disciplines, organisations and sectors.
- To provide sustained funding and resources for the best early career researchers and innovators.
- To provide long-term, flexible funding to tackle difficult and novel challenges, and support adventurous, ambitious programmes.
- Significant support from the hosting organisation(s) is expected, including a tapered salary commitment from year 3 leading to an open-ended position during or at the end of the Fellowship.
Further information on the fellowships
UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships
Deadline |
(expected) January 2021 |
Eligibility | See rules |
Award value | Up to 1.5 million GBP |
Award duration | 4-7 Years |
Nationality | Any (Tier 1 visa required) |
Further information | UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships |
Royal Society University Research Fellowships
Deadline |
3rd September 2020 |
Eligibility | 3-8 years post PhD |
Award value |
See scheme notes |
Award duration | 5+3 Years |
Nationality | Any (Tier 1 visa required) |
Further information | Royal Society University Research Fellowships |
STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowships
Deadline |
mid September |
Eligibility | See guidance |
Award value |
£5k consumables +£2k/a travel |
Award duration | 5 Years |
Nationality | Any (Tier 1 visa required) |
Further information | STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowships |
EPSRC Early Career Fellowships
Deadline |
early May, end of Sept, end of Dec |
Eligibility | PhD required |
Award value |
See guidance |
Award duration | 5 Years |
Nationality | Any (Tier 1 visa required) |
Further information | EPSRC Early Career Fellowships |
RAS Fellowships
Deadline | (expected) 2021 |
Eligibility | PhD required, up to 5 years postdoctoral experience |
Award value | See guidance |
Award duration | 3 years |
Nationality | Any (Tier 1 visa required) |
Further information | RAS Fellowships |
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship
Deadline | 9 September 2020 |
Eligibility | must be moving from a different country |
Award value | See online |
Award duration | 1-2 years |
Nationality | Any nationality |
Further information | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship |
Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship
Deadline | 10th November 2020 |
Eligibility | need for flexible support, PhD required, up to six years postdoctoral experience |
Award value | See link below: salary, research expenses, contribution to PhD student |
Award duration | 5 years |
Nationality | Any nationality |
Further information | Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship |
Stephen Hawking Foundation
Deadline | 18th November 2020 |
Eligibility | See guidance |
Award value | See link below |
Award duration | 4 years |
Nationality | Any nationality |
Further information | Stephen Hawking Foundation |
Contact details
Application submission email address: fellowships-panel [at] ph.ed.ac.uk.
Contact for further information: director-of-research [at] ph.ed.ac.uk (Director of Research, Prof Martin Evans).