51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Independent research fellowships are of enormous value to the Department of Materials in enabling us to recruit and retain outstanding researchers, especially at an early stage of their careers, and in facilitating the introduction and development of complementary research to that already carried out within the Department. Prestigious research fellowships are also of significant benefit to the Department in terms of renewal, prestige, and academic impact and are, therefore, positively and enthusiastically supported

We actively welcome early career fellowship applicants to the following schemes:

• Royal Society University Research Fellowship
• Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship
• Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship
• 51³Ô¹ÏÍø College Research Fellowship

We also support mobility fellowship applicants to schemes such as the:

•  Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship
•  Royal Society Newton International Fellowship

Information for fellowship applicants

In writing an application or considering the Department of Materials at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø as the host institution, you should ensure your research activity compliments the Department’s research portfolio

*On 2 October 2024, the EPSRC announced that it was pausing most of its fellowship schemes with a closing date for new applications of 12 December 2024. Please contact Brittany Rae ASAP if you are intending to apply.

Department Assessment Process (DAP)

Some fellowship applications must first go through an internal process called the Departmental Assessment Process (DAP). This allows us to make an initial assessment of the suitability of your application with regard to the Department's ability to support the fellowship you wish to apply to and to ensure that it fits our research strategy.  Potential applicants must contact Brittany Rae, Research Finance Manager, Department of Materials in the first instance.  >> More about DAP

Current Open Calls:

1. The is now open.

The process has changed compared with previous years. There is now a two-stage application process and PhD award date eligibility has changed: applicants must have a PhD, which was awarded (or the PhD has been unconditionally approved) no more than four years before the submission deadline of the expression of interest. Please review the terms and conditions on the funder webpage to confirm eligibility.

We would like to invite candidates, both internal and external, to apply through the department. Please ensurecandidates address why Materials is the best host for their research as well as Imperial in the EoI form. Candidates are expected to have discussed their proposed research with a Materials Academic who can confirm their support for the application. Proposals are limited to one per sponsor unless approved by the department prior to submission.

Key Dates

• Tuesday April 28^th , COB –
• Candidate: submit application with this RAEng Research Fellow 2026 - Internal Expression of Interest form, CV, and Letters of support* from collaborators here:
• Sponsors: submit application confirming support here:
• W/C May 25^th – College Shortlisting
• Friday 12^th June – College Interview Panel
• Thursday 25^th June – RAEng EoI Submission Deadline

*For Internal Selection, email confirmation in lieu of Letters of support will be accepted, but please note the LoS will be needed for the chosen candidate(s) and turnaround time will be short (within one working week).

Given the earlier internal deadlines, the department will not be conducting interviews prior to the Collegeshortlisting. If invited to a College Interview, candidates are encouraged to contact me as soon as possible to arrange a mock interview.

2. The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Research Fellowship (IRF) (previously known as the ICRF)

 The Imperial Research Fellowship (IRF) – previously known as the ICRF – call for 2026 is now open. These are for fellowships starting between 1^st of August 2027 and 1^st of December 2027, for early career researchers who havenot yet achieved research independence. Candidates should be within 5 years of their PhD.

The timeline for this call has been brought forward significantly this year with a department review deadline of Monday 8^th of June 12pm BST, and a final submission deadline of Thursday 23^rd of July.  

There are some key changes this year for applicants:

• Postdoctoral experience is now counted from date of PhD award (not viva date) to the proposed start dateof the fellowship and is 5 years in total.
• Deadline brought forward to late July to help applicants avoid summer holidays when seeking referenceletters and departmental sign off.

The Materials department invites proposals from both internal and external applicants in the following research topics:

• Biomaterials
• Functional Materials, including: materials for quantum technologies; optoelectronics; materials for energy.
• Sustainable Materials, including: sustainable materials processing; biomass-derived materials; recyclable materials.
• Theory and Simulation of Materials
• Advanced characterisation of materials with focus on ion beam techniques, e.g. Atom ProbeTechnology, Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

To be eligible for submission, candidates are expected to:

• Have spoken to and confirmed support with a Materials academic sponsor.
• Submit a completed Research Proposal and Budget form (Section 1) with a 2-Page CV through this  form before 12pm Monday 8^th of June.
• Address why the Department of Materials is best suited to host the research in the proposal.

Chosen applicants will be invited to make a full submission ahead of the Imperial deadline. Sponsors will then berequired to complete their sponsor forms for the full submission, as well as aiding candidates in finding referenceletters.

Applicants from Imperial are required to move from their existing sponsor/supervisor to a new sponsor for their IRF, to increase both their independence and their breadth of experience. Further, candidates must not select a sponsor (or co-sponsor) who has had a supervisory role in their career.

Sponsors (and co-sponsors) are limited to supporting a single fellowship application in each competition and may sponsor (or co-sponsor) only one IRF at any one time so candidates are encouraged to speak to prospectivesponsors as soon as possible.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to review the information for applicants here: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/research-office/funder-information/research-fellowships/irf/