Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 2027: Up to £703,800 for Early-Career Black Researchers in STEM
The Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 2027 is a four-year postdoctoral research fellowship designed to support talented early-career scientists from underrepresented backgrounds as they establish independent research careers in the UK. Successful candidates can receive up to £703,800 alongside structured mentoring, training, and networking opportunities.
Overview
The Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 2027 is a four-year postdoctoral research opportunity created to support the retention and progression of researchers from underrepresented backgrounds within STEM. The current pilot scheme specifically focuses on supporting talented early-career scientists from Black heritage backgrounds, including mixed Black backgrounds, during the critical transition from postgraduate study into the early stages of a postdoctoral research career.
The fellowship provides substantial financial support for research combined with a comprehensive programme of mentoring, training, and networking. Its broader purpose is to help award holders establish a successful research career within a UK institution and strengthen their long-term participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Benefits
- Up to £703,800 in funding over four years.
- A contribution toward the Research Fellow’s salary and associated on-costs at 80%.
- Funding for eligible directly allocated costs at 80% and research expenses at 100%.
- Relocation and visa costs for fellows and their dependants, including a partner and children, in addition to the grant cap.
- Tailored training, leadership development, science communication, and public engagement opportunities.
- Flexible support provisions covering part-time working, sabbaticals, secondments, parental leaves, and childcare costs.
Eligibility
- Black Heritage Background: Applicants must self-identify as being from a Black heritage background, including a mixed Black background.
- UK Connection: Applicants must be UK nationals, have completed part of their education in the UK (undergraduate, Master’s, or PhD), or hold/have previously held a postdoctoral position in the UK. Both UK- and non-UK-domiciled researchers of any nationality are eligible provided they intend to conduct their research in the UK.
- Academic & Career Stage: Applicants must hold a PhD or expect to have obtained one by the time funding begins, and must have less than 24 months of postdoctoral experience.
- Research Discipline: The proposed research must fall within the Royal Society’s natural sciences remit, including biological research, biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted electronically through the Royal Society’s grant management platform, Flexi-Grant. Prospective candidates should thoroughly review the official scheme notes and eligibility requirements before beginning their applications.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an in-person interview at the Royal Society to demonstrate the importance and scientific validity of their proposed research.
Deadline
The application deadline for the Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 2027 is 18 November 2026.