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51�Թ��� is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and particularly encourages applications from underrepresented groups.

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants should have a PhD
• For applications to the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the PhD must be submitted before applying and the viva passed before the final selection committee meeting on 9 December 2026.
• In all cases, the PhD must be awarded before the start of the fellowship.
• Exception: applicants to 51�Թ��� College Business School may apply before PhD submission.
• This Fellowship is for early career researchers who have not achieved research independence.
• Applicants should be within 5 years of their PhD (PhD+5) (calculated from the PhD awarded date to the proposed start date, which must be between 1 August 2027 and 1 December 2027).
• Many successful candidates are 0-2 years post-PhD at the time of application.
• Extensions may be considered for reasons such as parental or sickness leave, career breaks, discipline changes, or time spent outside of research.
• Candidates who hold, or have held, early post-doc fellowships (e.g. EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellowship and the Wellcome Early Career Fellowship schemes) are eligible to apply to this fellowship.
• Candidates who hold, or have held, a lectureship, or an intermediate-level fellowship (e.g. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Early Career Fellowship or Medical Research Council Career Development Award) are not eligible.

Scheme level

This fellowship is equivalent in level to the Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship, and the Wellcome Trust Early Career Fellowship.

Salary level

The salary is on the Research Associate scale (£49,017 to £57,472). Candidates seeking a higher salary may wish to consider more senior schemes, such as the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships. 

Right to work

Applications are welcome from UK and international candidates. 51�Թ��� is one of the world’s most international universities and almost 60% of our current IRFs have non-UK nationality. You can find a guide to visa information on 51�Թ���’s Immigration webpages. Proof of eligibility to work in the UK is required before starting the fellowship.

• Fellowships must be based at 51�Թ��� (any campuses) or at fieldwork locations.

• Fellows may spend up to 12 months in total at other research institutions or in industry (maximum six months at any one institution), subject to host confirmation. Exception: If a co-sponsor is based at   the full 12 months may be spent there.

• There are no required teaching duties. Optional teaching and PhD co-supervision can be arranged with the host department in discussion with the sponsor. 
• All necessary licences and regulatory approvals must be in place before the start of the fellowship (or at the very latest before the relevant work is started). 
• Fellows are expected to participate in the tailored programme of support, career development and cohort activities offered by the Early Career Researcher Institute. 
• Fellows are encouraged to apply for additional funding to strengthen their research programme. 
• By the end of the fellowship, fellows should demonstrate readiness for research independence and be competitive for advanced funding schemes, such as the . 

Applications must be supported by a sponsor who is a senior, permanent member of staff within the Academic or Research Families at 51�Թ���. Honorary members of staff are not eligible to be sponsors.

• Sponsors (and co-sponsors) may support one application per competition and sponsor (or co-sponsor) only one ICRF at any one time.
• Sponsors may be full-time or part-time. If the sponsor is part-time, a second sponsor must be appointed to ensure full-time support.
• Interdisciplinary projects may include additional sponsors but a lead sponsor is required.

Internal applicants must move to a new sponsor/supervisor for the fellowship, and may not choose a sponsor (or co-sponsor) who has supervised them post-PhD. This is to support independence and broaden experience. Sponsors are expected to meet the responsibilities listed in Information for sponsors with the support of their host department.

Sponsors are not obliged to support an application. If they choose not to support a potential applicant, it is at the sponsor’s discretion if they choose to give feedback.

Opportunities for external co-sponsorship

Opportunities exist for co-sponsorship by staff members based at . 

Applicants can nominate their fellowship to be within the AI in Science Theme and obtain support from Schmidt Sciences. Successful candidates will have the title 51�Թ��� Research Fellow supported by Schmidt Sciences. It is anticipated that Schmidt Sciences will support six ICRFs within the AI in Science Theme.

A deep knowledge of AI is not a pre-requisite. These fellowships have the aim of identifying excellent researchers and accelerating them in using AI to advance and disrupt Science or Engineering. Please see the AI in Science Theme Remit below for a detailed description of what is expected.

Applicants interested in becoming an IRF supported by Schmidt Sciences and joining the AI in Science cohort will need to indicate this in their application.  They must fill out the additional section on the online application form indicating their awareness of the requirements associated with support from Schmidt Sciences (as listed in this current section) and their suitability for the programme.

 AI in Science Theme Remit

‘AI’ is interpreted very broadly, that is including topics in Bayesian Inference and Robotics, with ‘Science’ covering any typical topic in Natural Science and Engineering. More detail on topics falling within the remit is found in the AI in Science guidance FAQs.

These posts are not suitable for research into generic AI with general application - candidates must be aiming to substantially advance a particular area of science. Applicants could view themselves as AI researchers tackling a particular piece of Science or Science researchers using AI to transform their area. A deep knowledge of AI is not a precondition for this fellowship: only an appreciation of the need for AI and a willingness for skill acquisition in AI.

Cohort and Location

IRFs supported by Schmidt Sciences will join the cohort of ~25 Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellows. They will be co-located within 51�Թ���’s new interdisciplinary AI campus, I-X, and alongside other AI researchers including from across 51�Թ���’s faculties and departments. 

IRFs supported by Schmidt Sciences will have close ties with the group(s) of their sponsor(s) and will also be assigned an academic buddy (in addition to their sponsor) drawn from the I-X faculty, to assist in integration into I-X. Fellows have their own support staff, coffee morning, seminar series, symposium and series of social events.

 I-X

The  is 51�Թ���’s flagship interdisciplinary campus devoted to AI and its applications. It is located within 51�Թ���’s Translation and Innovation Hub (I-HUB) at White City and I-X hosts academics from across 51�Թ���’s departments and faculties. Its aim is to bring together interdisciplinarity, AI and grand challenges. 

Training and Development

Training and Development is a key part of the IRFs supported by Schmidt Sciences , whether helping an AI expert master a scientific topic or a scientific topic expert advance their AI skills. The fellows will join a unique co-located cohort of top scholars with tailored training and one-on-one career development.  The fellows will have a dedicated Career Development Consultant and a dedicated Senior Teaching Fellow. Emphasis is also placed on skill sharing between the fellows. Successful candidates are expected to -

• develop a training and career development plan upon arrival; and
• develop and present a two hour mini course in an AI topic of their choosing.

Kindness, Outreach and Low and Middle Income Country (LMIC) Engagement

Our cohort places an emphasis on kindness among scientists and kindness to others. The IRFs supported by Schmidt Sciences provide a unique opportunity for outreach and LMIC engagement. We are enthusiastic about outreach and engagement in our local community and support our fellows in this direction.  The fellowship includes a commitment to deliver their mini course either within the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences network or the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (Trieste); these support researchers in a range of fields outside Mathematics and Physics.

Departmental Participation

Candidates who are suitable for an IRF supported by Schmidt Sciences should indicate in their application if the programme appeals to them, and that they wish to be considered as such.  Please be aware that some departments are only supporting IRFs supported by Schmidt Sciences and thus the AI in Science Theme, whereas others will support applicants whether or not they are selected for support from Schmidt Sciences. Unless specified otherwise, departments will accept applications to all topics covered in their research areas. Further departmental details are available under the '51�Թ��� Departments and Key Contacts' section. For departments which are only offering IRFs via AI in Science, we note that there are only six 51�Թ��� College Research Fellowships supported by Schmidt Sciences available across the entire cohort; for departments that are supporting a range of fellowships marking the application as 'AI in Science' has no bearing on the success rate (since departments will fund fellows whether or not they are co-funded by Schmidt Sciences). Applicants should carefully consider their choice of department and sponsor, and make contact with the relevant department if they wish to confirm that their choice of subject area will be considered for funding.

Further Questions

If you have general questions on the IRF programme, including on the application process for the IRFs supported by Schmidt Sciences under the AI in Science Theme, please contact researchfellowships@imperial.ac.uk

If you have specific questions on the AI in Science Theme remit, then please contact Eileen Boyce, Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Centre Manager, e.boyce@imperial.ac.uk.

Applicant briefings

The Early Career Researcher Institute offers application briefings. Please register for one of the sessions below. A recording will be made available afterwards for those unable to attend. 

• Tuesday 14 April - CLOSED
• - 10:00-11:30

Step 1:  Find an appropriate sponsor and department

Applicants are responsible for identifying an appropriate sponsor. Please see Finding a sponsor for support. Not all departments are participating in the IRF scheme, please check  Department information and key contacts to confirm.

Step 2: Contact your proposed sponsor and department

Applicants must contact their proposed sponsor and host department as early as possible to:

• confirm support for the application
• identify any internal departmental deadlines or shortlisting processes
• secure required departmental approval

All applications require departmental approval before submission. 

Step 3:  Prepare and submit application

Applications must be submitted via the 51�Թ��� Jobs website (ref: NAT02128).  

Required documents (PDF upload)

•  Section 1 Research Proposal and Budget (Word) (must include departmental approval)
•  Section 2 51�Թ��� Sponsor Details (Word)  

Additional documents (if applicable):

• Research Collaborator letters of support (provided by host(s) of any research visit(s))
• Francis Crick Institute Co-sponsor Details (Word) (if supported by a Crick co-sponsor and spending time at the Francis Crick Institute)
• Additional Publications List (Word)

Applicants are encouraged to write in the first person.

No other documents will be accepted.

Signatures  required:

• Applicant (Section 1)
• Head of Department (Section 1)
• Sponsor (Section 2)

Electronic or handwritten signatures are accepted. Typed signatures are not permitted.

Applications missing the required signatures will not be accepted.

Step 4: Confidential reference letters

Two confidential references are mandatory:

• ⁠One must be from the applicant's current institution (if currently at 51�Թ���, must not be from the proposed sponsor or proposed host Head of Department.)
• The second should be from a referee who is well-placed to comment on the applicant's current abilities as a researcher. 

As these letters are confidential, they must be submitted directly by the referees to the 51�Թ��� Fellowships Office (researchfellowships@imperial.ac.uk) by 23:59 (BST) on 23 July 2026. Letters will then be paired with the relevant application by the 51�Թ��� Fellowships Office.

Letters should be sent in pdf format using file naming convention ‘APPLICANT SURNAME_ Ref_REFEREE SURNAME'

Applicants should use the relevant section of the online application form to provide the names of the referees, to aid the Fellowships Office when matching the letters and application. 

As part of our research environment and culture, 51�Թ��� is a proud signatory to the , which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. 

The IRF scheme supports the academic mission of 51�Թ���. Fellows are expected to contribute to the development of 51�Թ���’s Strategy.

Who is most competitive:

• Priority is given to strong early career researchers who are not yet independent but are on track to achieve independence through this fellowship.
• Applicants who have already demonstrated clear research independence, through a track-record of winning external fellowships and grant funding, are unlikely to be successful.
• Applicants unsure of their suitability are encouraged to contact the 51�Թ��� Fellowships Office for further guidance.

Three-stage assessment process:

Stage 1: Faculty Review Panel. 

Eligible candidates will be reviewed by the relevant faculty panel (Engineering, Natural Sciences, Medicine, Business School) based on the sponsor’s host department.  Panels will typically include a representative from the proposed host department with advice from subject experts. The Panel will shortlist candidates for interview based on:

1. Applicant’s track record and potential
2. Suitability of the sponsor and host laboratory
3. Benefit of the scheme to the candidate
4. Ability to communicate with specialist and non-specialist audiences
5. Scientific merit of the proposed research
6. Alignment with 51�Թ���’s Strategy

Due to the expected volume of applications feedback is not provided to applications not selected for interview.

Stage 2: Faculty Interview Committee 

Shortlisted candidates present their proposal and are ranked for competitiveness.

• Faculties may request up to two additional external references.
• A letter of support from the host Head of Department is required for candidates progressing to Stage 3 (and may be requested earlier).

Stage 3: 51�Թ��� Research Fellowship Selection Committee. 

 The final selection of fellows will take place at the 51�Թ��� Research Fellowship Selection Committee based on Faculty ranking and competitiveness.

Co-funded fellowships

Schmidt Sciences (AI in Science Theme)

Applications seeking support from Schmidt Sciences under the AI in Science Theme follow the same core process, with additional  input from representatives of the I-X Centre for AI in Science. Proposals are ranked on both overall quality and fit to the AI in Science remit.

Applicants are reminded that if their chosen Department is only accepting applications for IRFs supported by Schmidt Sciences in the AI in Science Theme, then they will not be eligible for funding if their proposal is not ranked sufficiently highly within the AI in Science Theme. Please check the '51�Թ��� Departments and Key Contacts' section.

Other co-funders

is a valued partner of the 51�Թ��� Research Fellowship scheme and is again participating for 2026. Please note that as part of the assessment process, your application may be shared, in confidence, with the Rosetrees Trust.  If you are selected as a candidate for Rosetrees funding, you will be informed of this prior to your interview and a member of the Rosetrees team may attend your interview. If you do not wish for your application to be shared with the Rosetrees Trust, please indicate this on your Section 1 form.

Consideration of the application by 51�Թ��� does not guarantee that support will be offered.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 23 July 2026 (23:59 BST)

• • Faculty Review Panel shortlisting: August to October 2026
  • Interviews: November 2026
  • Selection Committee: 9 December 2026
  • Results of Selection Committee announced: December 2026
  • Start date for fellowships: between 1 August 2027 and 1 December 2027

Note: it is not possible to defer offers of fellowships for future years