Senior Research Fellowship Schemes
Senior Research Fellowships in the Department of Zoology provide an amazing opportunity to carry out independent research in a vibrant, stimulating and supportive research environment.
Examples of Senior Research Fellowship schemes are:
- NERC Independent Research Fellowship
- Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellowship
- Royal Society University Research Fellowship
- ERC Starting and Consolidator Grants
- Wellcome Career Development Awards Fellowship
We offer a programme of career support that will help you to obtain a Fellowship and establish your independence as an academic researcher, including assistance with setting up your lab, as well as mentoring and training to help you develop your career. Research Fellows will also have access to the comprehensive package of ongoing support available from the School of Biological Sciences. https://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/research/research-fellowships.
We hold an open annual competition to find applicants for Fellowships that the Department can actively sponsor.
Here are four good reasons why you should consider bringing a Research Fellowship to our Department:
Many of our academic staff have considerable expertise in writing and assessing fellowship applications, having either held these awards themselves or served on the panels that assess and award them. You will be able to draw on this rich resource for guidance and feedback throughout the process, from the initial drafting to eventual honing of your proposal.
For many fellowship schemes, the final selection is through an interview. The best way to prepare for these interviews is through mock interviews with Department of Zoology staff, who are experienced at sitting on fellowship and grant panels. Mock interviews can also be arranged at School level to bring in a wider panel of expertise.
All Research Fellows are given a mentor, who provides support and advice about the transition to becoming an independent group leader. We will give you resources to help you become an independent researcher, help you prepare your first grant applications and encourage you to (co) supervise your first graduate students. (Where the Department has discretionary funding available to support postgraduate education, it strives to prioritise allocation to senior Research Fellows and new staff). We also have an excellent record in ensuring that our Research Fellows are nominated for, and win, national and international awards. These have included The Zoological Society of London Scientific Medal, Society for the Study of Evolution Dobzhansky Prize, Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour New Investigator Award, American Society of Naturalists Young Investigators Award, Zoological Society of London Thomas Henry Huxley Award, and L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Awards.
During the past 10 years, every one of our senior Research Fellows has secured a lectureship or equivalent position at leading international universities and research institutes. A large proportion of our current permanent academic staff originally came here as Research Fellows. Senior Research Fellows will take part in a formal review process established by the School of Biological Sciences bio.cam.ac.uk/research/research-fellowships to support career progression.