NERC independent research fellowships

NERC Independent Research Fellowships

This funding opportunity is open to early career researchers wishing to carry out independent research. Through this scheme, NERC invests in researchers seeking to conduct their own environmental research within an eligible host organisation. Candidates should demonstrate convincing evidence of working towards this goal and a high potential to become an independent research leader of the future.

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Candidates must demonstrate that, if awarded an IRF, they will be working independently of senior colleagues with whom they might have previously collaborated or with whom they might currently be working in a supporting role. Assessors must be convinced that research questions have been devised independently.Ь§

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91ЕМКН selects the strongest candidates to support for this opportunity, and runs an internal sift process to select these.

IndividualsЬ§can put themselves forward for these opportunities:Ь§theyЬ§should notЬ§wait to be asked,Ь§butЬ§we recommendЬ§they discuss their intentionsЬ§with their line manager, and mentorЬ§too, ifЬ§they have one. ItЬ§alsoЬ§might be helpfulЬ§forЬ§potential candidatesЬ§to haveЬ§an initialЬ§discussion withЬ§their Research Development Manager (RDM) in the first instance. RDMsЬ§canЬ§provide advice on whetherЬ§thisЬ§is the right opportunity at the right time, or ifЬ§candidatesЬ§need to strengthenЬ§aspects of their application,Ь§e.g. theirЬ§track recordЬ§orЬ§Capability to Deliver.

Recognising that aЬ§fellowship application is a significant undertaking, RDMs would also welcomeЬ§contact fromЬ§candidates who are at an earlier stage of their thinking, and who are considering a proposal in 2027.Ь§

There areЬ§manyЬ§fellowships schemesЬ§withЬ§varyingЬ§eligibility requirements,Ь§encompassing a range ofЬ§levels of experience.Ь§Additionally, there areЬ§many different career pathsЬ§within research,Ь§and a fellowship may not be the right choice for everyone.Ь§RDMsЬ§can discussЬ§allЬ§theЬ§optionsЬ§available.Ь§

We recommend that line managers discuss these opportunities with their research group to encourage ECRs to considerЬ§submittingЬ§an Expression of Interest (EoI).Ь§

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Timeline:Ь§Ь§Interested applicants are asked to email fellowships@reading.ac.uk as soon as possible so that we can register your interest and direct you to the RDM who can advise andЬ§support you through theЬ§fellowshipsЬ§application process. Potential candidates must submit an Expression of InterestЬ§by 26Ь§February 2026, for assessment and selection prior to the funder deadline in June 2026.

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If you are interested in applying to hold a Fellowship at the 91ЕМКН, please do get in touch via fellowships@reading.ac.uk.

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Return to the Fellowships page.