Funder: Royal Society
Due Dates: November 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM UK time (Full application) | September–November 2027 (Expected 2028 round)
Funding Amounts: Up to £703,800 over four years, plus justified relocation and visa costs
Summary: Supports early-career Black heritage researchers undertaking curiosity-led natural sciences research and developing independent careers in the UK.
Key Information: Applicants need a qualifying UK connection and less than 24 months of full-time postdoctoral experience.
Description
The Royal Society’s Career Development Fellowship is a four-year postdoctoral programme supporting the retention of researchers from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. The current pilot focuses on Black heritage researchers transitioning from PhD study to early postdoctoral research. It funds high-quality, curiosity-led natural sciences research at UK institutions, alongside tailored mentoring, training, networking and engagement.
The fellowship aims to help researchers develop their own ideas, establish their research and build the skills needed for independent research careers. By its conclusion, fellows are expected to be strong candidates for independent fellowships or academic posts. An additional fellowship, supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, funds research directly relevant to dementia, excluding clinical and interventional studies on humans.
