The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh warmly welcomes and supports applications for independent research fellowships from early career researchers with a suitable project proposal and scheme in mind.

Relevant schemes include:

• AHRC Catalyst Awards: up-to-five-year awards, to support researchers without prior experience of leading a significant research project. Current round closes 30 April 2024.
• BBSRC Fellowships: three-year fellowships. Applications usually open in February, due May, for fellowships commencing the following January onwards. Current round closes 2 May 2024.
• Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowships: flexible fellowships for returners from a career break for health, family or caring reasons. Applications can be made at any time.
• NERC Independent Research Fellowships: five-year fellowships for early-career researchers. Applications usually open in August and close in November for fellowships commencing the following May onwards.
• Royal Society University Research Fellowships: eight-year fellowships for early-career researchers in natural sciences (note, these can be held at a not-for-profit research organisation). Applications usually open in July, close September, for fellowships commencing the following May onwards. Next round closes 10 September 2024.
• Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships: eight-year fellowships for outstanding postdoctoral scientists who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances, such as caring responsibilities and/or health-related conditions. Applications usually open in September, close October/November, for fellowships commencing the following July onwards. Next round closes 29 October 2024.
• Royal Society/British Academy Newton International Fellowships: three-year fellowships for non-UK scientists who are at an early stage of their research career and wish to conduct research in the UK. Current round closes 19 March 2024.
• RSE Personal Research Fellowships: twelve-month awards enabling researchers to focus on a research project, providing research expenses and covering the cost of a temporary replacement to enable the fellow to remain in continuous employment. Current round closes 28 March 2024.
• UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships: four-year fellowships, extendable by a further three years. Applications usually open in February/March and close June/July, for fellowships commencing by the following November. Current round closes 18 June 2024.
• Wellcome Career Development Awards: eight-year awards for mid-career researchers from any discipline. Applications usually open three times a year. Current round closes 11 April 2024.
• Wellcome Early-Career Awards: five-year awards for early-career researchers from any discipline. Applications usually open three times a year. Current round closes 21 May 2024.

Application process

We encourage applicants from all backgrounds and have a range of initiatives to promote diversity and inclusivity, including part-time and flexible working and proactive celebration of diversity among our staff, students, and volunteers. More on equality, diversity and inclusion.

If you are interested becoming a research fellow at RBGE, please get in touch with Alex Davey (adavey@rbge.org.uk) at any time, ideally at least three months in advance of the deadline for any preferred scheme, with a brief description of your proposed project. You will be assigned a staff mentor to help you explore appropriate fellowship options and develop an outline application. The outline application will be reviewed by 3-4 individuals to provide feedback. For proposals that are considered likely to be successful, our fellowship support team will provide further guidance and feedback during the full application process.