Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
Below we have highlighted fellowships for which postdoctoral researchers in planetary scientists may be eligible to apply – please be sure to follow the links provided for further information regarding application deadlines, procedures and eligibility.
STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship
Fellowships to enable early career researchers with clear leadership potential to establish a strong, independent research programme within the remit of the STFC core Science Programme (astronomy, solar and planetary science, particle physics, particle astrophysics, cosmology, nuclear physics).
The awards are for a duration of five years.
Candidates must have a PhD and a minimum of five years’ research experience (from the start of the postgraduate programme) and a minimum of two years’ postdoctoral experience and must not have a permanent academic position.
Up to 12 are awarded each year.
Further information: https://stfc.ukri.org/funding/fellowships/ernest-rutherford-fellowship/
Fellowships to enable early career researchers with clear leadership potential to establish a strong, independent research programme within the remit of the STFC core Science Programme (astronomy, solar and planetary science, particle physics, particle astrophysics, cosmology, nuclear physics).
The awards are for a duration of five years.
Candidates must have a PhD and a minimum of five years’ research experience (from the start of the postgraduate programme) and a minimum of two years’ postdoctoral experience and must not have a permanent academic position.
Up to 12 are awarded each year.
Further information: https://stfc.ukri.org/funding/fellowships/ernest-rutherford-fellowship/
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships
Fellowships to conduct innovative research of your own instigation in any of the physical or biological sciences, in mathematics, in applied science, or in any branch of engineering.
The awards are for a duration of up to three years, subject to annual review.
Candidates must be in possession of a recent PhD, or equivalent qualification with 3 years or less post-doctoral research experience.
The research should be carried out at a different Institution from the one where the candidate’s PhD research was undertaken
8 awards are made each year, 1 of which is designated the 1851 Brunel Fellowship for a successful candidate who has proposed a project to be pursued in an academic engineering environment.
Further information: https://www.royalcommission1851.org/awards/
Fellowships to conduct innovative research of your own instigation in any of the physical or biological sciences, in mathematics, in applied science, or in any branch of engineering.
The awards are for a duration of up to three years, subject to annual review.
Candidates must be in possession of a recent PhD, or equivalent qualification with 3 years or less post-doctoral research experience.
The research should be carried out at a different Institution from the one where the candidate’s PhD research was undertaken
8 awards are made each year, 1 of which is designated the 1851 Brunel Fellowship for a successful candidate who has proposed a project to be pursued in an academic engineering environment.
Further information: https://www.royalcommission1851.org/awards/
Royal Society University Research Fellowships
Fellowships to enable researchers to build an independent research career in all areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering.
Initially funding is provided for five years with the opportunity to apply for an extension of three additional years
Candidates must be in the early stages of your research career (having between 3 to 8 years of research experience since your PhD by the closing date of the round), must not hold a permanent post in a university or not for profit research organisation and must not hold or previously have held a fellowship that provides an opportunity to establish an independent research group and therefore independent researcher status.
~30 awarded each year
Further information: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/university-research/
Fellowships to enable researchers to build an independent research career in all areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering.
Initially funding is provided for five years with the opportunity to apply for an extension of three additional years
Candidates must be in the early stages of your research career (having between 3 to 8 years of research experience since your PhD by the closing date of the round), must not hold a permanent post in a university or not for profit research organisation and must not hold or previously have held a fellowship that provides an opportunity to establish an independent research group and therefore independent researcher status.
~30 awarded each year
Further information: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/university-research/
Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship
Fellowships to enable researchers who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances (e.g. parenting or caring responsibilities or health-related reasons) to to take a first step into an independent research career in all areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering.
The awards are for a duration of up to five years.
Candidates must have completed your PhD but have no more than six years of research experience post PhD by the closing date of the round, must not hold a permanent academic post and must be able to demonstrate a current need for flexible support due to personal circumstances at the time of application.
Candidates are not required to move institution.
Approximately 4-5 awards made each year.
Further information: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/dorothy-hodgkin-fellowship/
Fellowships to enable researchers who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances (e.g. parenting or caring responsibilities or health-related reasons) to to take a first step into an independent research career in all areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering.
The awards are for a duration of up to five years.
Candidates must have completed your PhD but have no more than six years of research experience post PhD by the closing date of the round, must not hold a permanent academic post and must be able to demonstrate a current need for flexible support due to personal circumstances at the time of application.
Candidates are not required to move institution.
Approximately 4-5 awards made each year.
Further information: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/dorothy-hodgkin-fellowship/
Daphne Jackson Trust Research Fellowship
Fellowships awarded to researchers in STEM subjects who have had a career break for family, caring or health reasons and wish to return to research.
The awards are typically for a duration of up to two years, part-time.
Candidates must be a resident of the UK with the right to remain in the UK indefinitely, have at least 3 years of research experience and/or a PhD and have had a career break of two or more years (for family, caring or health reasons).
Number awarded varies each year.
Further information: http://www.daphnejackson.org/fellowships/
Fellowships awarded to researchers in STEM subjects who have had a career break for family, caring or health reasons and wish to return to research.
The awards are typically for a duration of up to two years, part-time.
Candidates must be a resident of the UK with the right to remain in the UK indefinitely, have at least 3 years of research experience and/or a PhD and have had a career break of two or more years (for family, caring or health reasons).
Number awarded varies each year.
Further information: http://www.daphnejackson.org/fellowships/
Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship
Fellowships providing career development opportunities for those who are at a relatively early stage of their academic career in all subject areas except disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals.
The awards are typically for a duration of three years on a full-time basis.
Candidates must hold a PhD or have equivalent research experience, having formally submitted their doctorate thesis no more than four years prior to the application closing date (unless they have had a career break), must not yet have held a full-time permanent academic post in a UK university, must not be in a post to pursue own research (e.g. be These fellowships provide 50% match-funding for the fellows salary – you must therefore get your proposed institution to provide the additional and other costs (e.g. lab costs) associated with the research.
Principal Investigator on a 3-year post-doctoral research project).
Number awarded varies but in 2018 they anticipate ~100 fellowships will be awarded.
Further information: https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/funding/grant-schemes/early-career-fellowships
Fellowships providing career development opportunities for those who are at a relatively early stage of their academic career in all subject areas except disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals.
The awards are typically for a duration of three years on a full-time basis.
Candidates must hold a PhD or have equivalent research experience, having formally submitted their doctorate thesis no more than four years prior to the application closing date (unless they have had a career break), must not yet have held a full-time permanent academic post in a UK university, must not be in a post to pursue own research (e.g. be These fellowships provide 50% match-funding for the fellows salary – you must therefore get your proposed institution to provide the additional and other costs (e.g. lab costs) associated with the research.
Principal Investigator on a 3-year post-doctoral research project).
Number awarded varies but in 2018 they anticipate ~100 fellowships will be awarded.
Further information: https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/funding/grant-schemes/early-career-fellowships
NERC Independent Research Fellowship
Fellowships offer the opportunity for candidates to develop their scientific leadership in environmental sciences.
The awards are for a period of five years.
Candidates must have a PhD or expect to submit their PhD thesis before the fellowship interviews would take place and must not have a permanent academic position in a university or equivalent organisation.
Typically more than 10 awarded each year.
Further information: https://nerc.ukri.org/funding/available/fellowships/irf/
Fellowships offer the opportunity for candidates to develop their scientific leadership in environmental sciences.
The awards are for a period of five years.
Candidates must have a PhD or expect to submit their PhD thesis before the fellowship interviews would take place and must not have a permanent academic position in a university or equivalent organisation.
Typically more than 10 awarded each year.
Further information: https://nerc.ukri.org/funding/available/fellowships/irf/
Royal Astronomical Society Research Fellowship
Fellowship enabling outstanding candidates to pursue research in the UK in the disciplines advanced by the RAS i.e. astronomy, solar system science, geophysics and closely related branches of these sciences.
Candidates must either hold a recognized PhD degree or equivalent obtained after 1 October five years before the start of the fellowship (e.g. 1 October 2013 if applying in 2017 for a fellowship beginning in 2018), or have taken the PhD viva voce examination by the application deadline and expect to be awarded the PhD degree before the Fellowship start date.
Only one RAS Research Fellowship may be held in the same university at any one time
The RAS has funded at least one RAS Research Fellowship each year since 2010.
Further information: https://www.ras.org.uk/awards-and-grants/fellowships/2330-fellowship-call
Fellowship enabling outstanding candidates to pursue research in the UK in the disciplines advanced by the RAS i.e. astronomy, solar system science, geophysics and closely related branches of these sciences.
Candidates must either hold a recognized PhD degree or equivalent obtained after 1 October five years before the start of the fellowship (e.g. 1 October 2013 if applying in 2017 for a fellowship beginning in 2018), or have taken the PhD viva voce examination by the application deadline and expect to be awarded the PhD degree before the Fellowship start date.
Only one RAS Research Fellowship may be held in the same university at any one time
The RAS has funded at least one RAS Research Fellowship each year since 2010.
Further information: https://www.ras.org.uk/awards-and-grants/fellowships/2330-fellowship-call
Royal Astronomical Society Norman Lockyer Fellowship
Fellowship awarded to enable an outstanding researcher to devote the majority of their time to research on an astronomical topic, including solar system and planetary science.
The fellowship is open to those who hold a doctorate from a recognized institution of higher education at the time of taking up the award. Applicants must normally be 30 years of age or younger on 1 October of the year of appointment. Exceptions to the age limit may be made only in cases of e.g. maternity leave, career breaks, serious illness etc.
The fellowship is available every three years, with applications sought in the years 2016, 2019, 2022 etc. for fellowships starting in the following year.
Further information: https://www.ras.org.uk/awards-and-grants/fellowships/2330-fellowship-call
Fellowship awarded to enable an outstanding researcher to devote the majority of their time to research on an astronomical topic, including solar system and planetary science.
The fellowship is open to those who hold a doctorate from a recognized institution of higher education at the time of taking up the award. Applicants must normally be 30 years of age or younger on 1 October of the year of appointment. Exceptions to the age limit may be made only in cases of e.g. maternity leave, career breaks, serious illness etc.
The fellowship is available every three years, with applications sought in the years 2016, 2019, 2022 etc. for fellowships starting in the following year.
Further information: https://www.ras.org.uk/awards-and-grants/fellowships/2330-fellowship-call
UK Research Institute Future Leaders Fellowships
Candidates must have a PhD or relevant experience. Applicants can be returning from a career break. Fellowships can be held on a part-time basis.
Seven years of support available on a 4+3 model, with a review in year four.
There will be six calls for these fellowships; two calls per year between 2018-19 and 2020-21 (financial years), typically awarding at least 100 fellowships per call across UKRI's remit (with the initial round being smaller, aiming to award ~50 fellowships).
Further information: https://www.ukri.org/funding/funding-opportunities/future-leaders-fellowships/
Candidates must have a PhD or relevant experience. Applicants can be returning from a career break. Fellowships can be held on a part-time basis.
Seven years of support available on a 4+3 model, with a review in year four.
There will be six calls for these fellowships; two calls per year between 2018-19 and 2020-21 (financial years), typically awarding at least 100 fellowships per call across UKRI's remit (with the initial round being smaller, aiming to award ~50 fellowships).
Further information: https://www.ukri.org/funding/funding-opportunities/future-leaders-fellowships/
ESA Research Fellowships in Space Science
The ESA Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Programme is aimed at providing scientists in the early stages of their career, holding a PhD or the equivalent degree, with the means to perform research in space science.
Candidates must have completed their PhD (or equivalent) by the start of the fellowship and preference will be given to candidates within five years of receiving their PhD and nationals from under-represented states at ESA.
Number of awards varies but in 2018 about 8 fellowships will be offered, shared between ESAC (Spain) and ESTEC (Netherlands).
Further information: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/science-faculty/rf/general-information
The ESA Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Programme is aimed at providing scientists in the early stages of their career, holding a PhD or the equivalent degree, with the means to perform research in space science.
Candidates must have completed their PhD (or equivalent) by the start of the fellowship and preference will be given to candidates within five years of receiving their PhD and nationals from under-represented states at ESA.
Number of awards varies but in 2018 about 8 fellowships will be offered, shared between ESAC (Spain) and ESTEC (Netherlands).
Further information: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/science-faculty/rf/general-information
Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers
Aimed at providing early career scientists with the opportunity to carry out a research project on a topic of their own choosing from all disciplines for 6 to 24 months in Germany.
Candidates must have completed their PhD within the last four years.
Approximately 400 to 500 fellowships are awarded annually.
Further information: https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/humboldt-fellowship-postdoc.html
Aimed at providing early career scientists with the opportunity to carry out a research project on a topic of their own choosing from all disciplines for 6 to 24 months in Germany.
Candidates must have completed their PhD within the last four years.
Approximately 400 to 500 fellowships are awarded annually.
Further information: https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/humboldt-fellowship-postdoc.html