1851 Research Fellowships are intended to give early career scientists or engineers of exceptional promise the opportunity to conduct a research project of their own instigation; an ultimate objective is to contribute to the knowledge base required for a healthy and innovative national culture. Around eight awards are made each year.

Changes to the application process for engineering projects

In 2021 a separate competition was introduced for researchers in the core subjects of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Aeronautical Engineering submitting applications which address the primary infrastructure needs of modern society: the buildings we live and work in, transportation of many forms and the machinery and plant which supply our energy needs. Those interested in this award should see the Brunel Fellowship. Pure and applied scientists, as well as engineers of any discipline proposing research outside the constraints of the Brunel award, should apply for consideration for a Science and Engineering Research Fellowship.

Applications are Closed

Do you have 3 years or less post-doctoral research experience and want to conduct innovative research of your own instigation?

Fellowships are held from 1 October in the year of award (or such date in 2023 as agreed with the fellow), for a period of typically 3 years, and offers cannot be deferred to a later year.

The 2024 round will open in October.

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  • Dr Sathya Subramanian

    Quantum Algorithms for Testing and Learning

  • Dr Alex Riley

    Constraining the nature of dark matter with Galactic halo substructures

  • Dr Daniel Leybourne

    Elucidating the agro-ecological factors influencing virus success in cereal ecosystems

  • Dr Harry Lane

    Stabilising magnetism in two dimensions

  • Dr Gal Kronenberg

    Edge colouring and decomposition of graphs and hypergraphs

  • Dr Tim Hageman

    Next-generation ice-sheet fracture models to quantitatively predict sea-level rise

  • Dr Mark England

    Investigating the near-term climate benefits of reducing methane emissions: MethaneMIP

  • Dr Harvey Dale

    Chemical Origins of the Genetic Code: Lost in Translation