Elizabeth Gardner Fellowship

Application details.

The Elizabeth Gardner Fellowship

The School of Physics and Astronomy is pleased to invite applications for the 2025 Elizabeth Gardner Fellowship. This four-year Fellowship specifically supports early-career, postdoctoral researchers from backgrounds that are under-represented in the School’s academic community (e.g. gender, minority ethnicity, disability, disadvantaged circumstances, etc.).    

Elizabeth Gardner Fellowships honour the outstanding achievements of Dr Elizabeth Gardner (1957 - 1988). Dr Gardner studied Mathematical Physics at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with first class honours, and was awarded the Tait Medal, Robert Schlapp Prize, and the Class medal. After studying for a PhD at the University of Oxford, she later returned to the School of Physics and Astronomy in 1984 as a Research Fellow. Her works on the optimal storage of neural networks have been selected as two of the most influential papers in the 50th anniversary of Journal of Physics A. 

The Fellowship aims to provide a supportive and collegial environment for early-career researchers to develop their research and submit proposals to secure external research funding (e.g. a 5-year Research Fellowship, such as a Royal Society University Research Fellowship; an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship; or a European Research Council fellowship) and, where appropriate, other external research resources such as telescope/facility time.

Application Procedure:

All applicants should apply online (apply here) submitting an up to date CV as well as the information listed below. The application process is quick and easy to follow, and you will receive email confirmation of safe receipt of your application. The online system allows you to submit a CV and other attachments. 

When applying, it is essential that you include the following:

•           Detailed CV including the names and contact details of three referees

•           1-page outline of a proposed research programme

•           Identify the research group within the School you wish to be associated with. 

•           Please indicate briefly on no more than one page how you personally would use the award of the Elizabeth Gardner Fellowship to encourage talented postdoctoral researchers from minorities to pursue an academic career.

Applications from national, international and internal applicants are all encouraged and we welcome informal queries regarding any aspect of the Elizabeth Gardner Fellowship. These should be directed to the Head of School, Prof Philip Best, pnb [at] roe.ac.uk.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is the 19.2.2025.