Career Development Fellowship
The Royal Society's Career Development Fellowship funds early career Black heritage researchers in STEM to establish independent scientific careers in the UK with mentoring and research support.
Funder: Royal Society
Due Dates: November 18, 2026: Application deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to £703,800 over four years per award; typically covers salary, research costs, overheads, and relocation/visa expenses.
Summary: Four-year postdoctoral fellowship supporting early career researchers from Black heritage backgrounds in STEM to establish independent research careers in the UK.
Key Information: Strict eligibility for those with less than 24 months postdoctoral experience and self-identifying as Black heritage; highly competitive (3% success rate in recent round).
Description
This fellowship is designed to support the most promising early career researchers from Black heritage backgrounds as they transition into independent research careers in the UK. The scheme provides substantial research funding, salary support, and a comprehensive programme of mentoring, training, and networking. It aims to address underrepresentation in STEM and foster a more diverse, innovative scientific workforce. The fellowship is a pilot initiative, with the potential to expand to other underrepresented groups in future rounds.
