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Fellowships and Funding

There are a variety of possibilities for fellowships with BEER. If you are interested in pursuing any of these, please contact the most appropriate member of BEER.
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Addison Wheeler Fellowships

Durham University scheme.

Addison Wheeler Fellowships encourage 'efforts for increased knowledge of people and their make-up so as to enable them to make better use of their life here on Earth'. Addressing this aspiration is one of the conditions of the Fellowships but it is intended to be interpreted broadly and should not be seen as restrictive. They are aimed at researchers of a high calibre, who have completed their PhD at the time of application and are at an early stage in their career. Fellows pursue new research ideas of their own design, undertaken in collaboration with academic researchers at Durham University. There are no residency or nationality restrictions.

Find out more about Addison Wheeler Fellowships.

COFUND

Durham International Fellowships for Research and Enterprise, Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) scheme.

The JRF scheme is designed to attract the most talented researchers in Europe and beyond, and to build international networks of scholars with a common passion for today's most important research challenges. The scheme is aimed at researchers with significant post-doctoral experience, but recent doctorands of exceptional ability and researchers who have followed non-traditional academic career paths (such as in public corporations, NGOs or industry) are also encouraged to apply. JRFs will pursue new research ideas of their own design, undertaken in collaboration with academic researchers at Durham University. To be eligible, in line with the terms of funding set by Marie Curie, "researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account."

Find out more about Junior Research Fellowships.

International Senior Research Fellowships

This scheme designed to gather together scholars, researchers, policymakers or practitioners from around the world and across the full spectrum of science, social science, arts and humanities to address themes of global significance in collaboration with Durham's Research Institutes and researchers. Up to 10 Senior Research Fellowships and 7 Policy & Enterprise Fellowships are available for periods of 6 weeks to 6 months (with a typical stay of 3 months). Applications are considered from researchers with an established or emerging international reputation for scholarship or research leadership.

Find out more about Durham International Fellowships for Research and Enterprise.

Leverhulme Trust Early Career Research Fellowships

Early Career Fellowships aim to provide career development opportunities for those who are at a relatively early stage of their academic careers but with a proven record of research. Fellowship is anticipated to lead to a more permanent academic position. Applications are welcomed in any discipline. The University runs an internal selection process for this scheme.

Find out more about Early Career Fellowships.

NERC Independent Research Fellowships

This scheme is designed to develop scientific leadership among the most promising early-career environmental scientists, by giving all Fellows five years' support, which will allow them sufficient time to develop their research programmes and to establish international recognition. Applicants are expected to demonstrate their research vision and philosophy and outline ways in which their research could be developed over the five-year fellowship; explain how they will contribute to the international research area and interact with the leading international groups in their field; explain how they will enable the potential economic or societal impact of their research to be realised. NERC IRFs are open to any nationality and may be held in any area of the NERC remit, but the fellowship must be based at an eligible UK research organisation. Applicants may not have a permanent academic position in a university or equivalent organisation.

Find out more about NERC Independent Research Fellowships.

Royal Society Schemes

University Research Fellowship Scheme

The URF scheme aims to provide outstanding scientists, who have the potential to become leaders in their chosen field, with the opportunity to build an independent research career. Those appointed are expected to be strong candidates for permanent posts in universities at the end of their fellowships. This scheme is very competitive. It covers natural sciences (including agriculture, mathematics, technology, engineering science, but excluding clinical medicine).

Find out more about the University Research Fellowship Scheme.

Dorothy Hodgkins Fellowship

The Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship scheme offers a recognised first step into an independent research career for excellent scientists and engineers who have a current need for flexible support. The primary criterion for assessing Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship proposals is scientific merit. Each fellowship offers the possibility of holding appointments on a part-time basis or converting from full-time to part-time and back again to help match work and other commitments; the possibility to claim back time spent deferring the fellowship and/or working part-time at the end of the fellowship; the possibility of claiming some funds for family support where these can be justified on scientific grounds, Subjects covered are the natural sciences (including agriculture, mathematics, technology, medical, environmental and engineering sciences).

Find out more about the Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship.

Newton International Fellowships Scheme

The Newton International Fellowships Scheme is delivered by The British Academy and the Royal Society. The Scheme has been established to select the very best early-stage post-doctoral researchers from all over the world and enable them to work at UK research institutions for a period of two years. The scheme aims to ensure the UK engages with the best post-doctoral researchers, across all disciplines of physical, natural and social sciences, and the humanities, from around the world. It provides an opportunity for post-doctoral researchers at an early career stage from any country outside the UK to work at a UK research institution for two years. It aims to foster long-term relations between Newton Fellows and the UK research base through the establishment of an alumni programme for former Fellows of this Scheme. The alumni programme will include the possible provision of further funding for Newton Fellows for up to 10 years for follow-on activities, to enable links with UK based researchers to be maintained and developed. This is expected to facilitate, in the longer term, improved access to international centres of excellence for UK-based researchers.

Find out more about the Newton International Fellowships Scheme.

British Academy Schemes

Postdoctoral Fellowships scheme This scheme provides opportunities for outstanding early-career researchers to strengthen their experience of research and teaching in a university environment which will develop their curriculum vitae and improve their prospects of obtaining permanent lecturing posts by the end of the Fellowship. The primary emphasis is on completion of a significant piece of publishable research, which will be assisted by the full membership of an academic community of established scholars working in similar fields.

Find out more about British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships.

EC Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions Research Fellowships

Individual Fellowships fund researchers looking to enhance their career development and prospects by working abroad.

Find out more about EC Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions Research Fellowships.

Branco Weiss Postdoc Fellowship

The Branco Weiss Fellowship provides a platform for exceptionally qualified researchers, demonstrating a willingness to engage in a dialogue on relevant social, cultural, political or economic issues across the frontiers of their particular discipline.

Ideally, fellows pursue unconventional projects in new areas of science, engineering and social sciences.

Find out more about Branco Weiss Fellowships.