UKRI: Future Leaders Fellowships: round 8

16/02/2023

04/07/2023

We’re looking to fund fellowships of up to 7 years to support talented researchers and innovators who are transitioning to research or innovation leadership. Fellowships will be funded for 4 years in the first phase, with the option to apply to renew for a further 3 years later on. The scheme aims to: - develop, retain, attract and sustain research and innovation talent in the UK - foster new research and innovation career paths including those at the academic, business and interdisciplinary boundaries, and facilitate movement of people between sectors - provide sustained funding and resources for the best early career researchers and innovators - provide long-term, flexible funding to tackle difficult and novel challenges, and support adventurous, ambitious programmes.

Applications are welcome from the entirety of the UKRI remit, and we have not seen a difference in the award rates between applications from different disciplines. We welcome and encourage applicants from remits including the arts, humanities and social sciences and the 7 technology families, as launched in the UK’s innovation strategy.

This scheme is for early career researchers and innovators who are either: - are transitioning to or establishing independence - may be developing their own original and ambitious plans within a commercial setting. You do not need to hold a PhD and there are no eligibility rules based on the number of years since your PhD. However, if you do not hold a PhD, you must be able to demonstrate equivalent research or innovation experience or training. There are no eligibility rules based on whether you currently hold a permanent or open-ended academic position or job role.