Pre-application contact
Applicants must contact us in the earliest stages of preparing a fellowship application
Brittany Rae
Research Finance Manager
Department of Materials
+44 (0)20 7594 7229
Independent research fellowships are of enormous value to the Department of Materials in enabling us to recruit and retain outstanding researchers, especially at an early stage of their careers, and in facilitating the introduction and development of complementary research to that already carried out within the Department. Prestigious research fellowships are also of significant benefit to the Department in terms of renewal, prestige, and academic impact and are, therefore, positively and enthusiastically supported
We actively welcome early career fellowship applicants to the following schemes:
- Royal Society University Research Fellowship
- Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship
- Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship
- Imperial College Research Fellowship
We also support mobility fellowship applicants to schemes such as the:
- Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship
- Royal Society Newton International Fellowship
Information for fellowship applicants
In writing an application or considering the Department of Materials at Imperial College London as the host institution, you should ensure your research activity compliments the Department’s research portfolio
*On 2 October 2024, the EPSRC announced that it was pausing most of its fellowship schemes with a closing date for new applications of 12 December 2024. Please contact Brittany Rae ASAP if you are intending to apply. More information can be found on the EPSRC website.
Department Assessment Process (DAP)
Some fellowship applications must first go through an internal process called the Departmental Assessment Process (DAP). This allows us to make an initial assessment of the suitability of your application with regard to the Department's ability to support the fellowship you wish to apply to and to ensure that it fits our research strategy. Potential applicants must contact Brittany Rae, Research Finance Manager, Department of Materials in the first instance. >> More about DAP
Current Open Calls:
- ICRF 2025 - fellowships starting 1 August to 1 December 2026
- MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Royal Society University Research Fellowships
The ICRF 2025 call is now open!
This call is open for fellowships starting between 1 August and 1 December 2026.
The Department is willing to accept all enquiries but would especially welcome applications related to the following strategic research topics:
Biomaterials
Functional Materials, including materials for quantum technologies; optoelectronics; materials for energy.
Sustainable Materials, including sustainable materials processing; biomass-derived materials; and recyclable materials.
Theory and Simulation of Materials
To be eligible for submission, candidates need to provide a completed Section 1: Research Proposal and Budget and submit through this Qualtrics form before 12:00(noon) on Thursday 10 July 2025.
(1) CV (2-page)
(2) ICRF Research Proposal and Budget. Please ensure to address why the Department of Materials is best suited to host the research in the proposal.
Chosen applicants will be provided feedback and invited to make a full submission ahead of the Imperial deadline. Sponsors will then be required to complete their sponsor forms for the full submission, as well as aid candidates in finding reference letters.
Sponsors (and co-sponsors) are limited to supporting a single fellowship application in each competition and may sponsor (or co-sponsor) only one ICRF at any one time. Applicants from Imperial are required to move from their existing sponsor/supervisor to a new sponsor for their ICRF, to increase both their independence and their breadth of experience. Please ensure to complete Section 2: Imperial Sponsor Details
Candidates are strongly encouraged to review the information for applicants here: Information for applicants | Research | Imperial College London
The application deadline is Monday 19 August 2025.
Please note in a change to previous years, the Department will be reviewing applications ahead of the final submission to Imperial.
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call for 2025 is now currently open.
More information about the scheme is available on the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 website.
Applicants will need to submit a proposal to the Departmental Assessment Process (DAP) in the first instance and Materials Academic Sponsors will need to fill out the accompanying Sponsor Form.
The deadline for DAP submission is Wednesday 16 July at 12:00(noon) BST.
Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application to the scheme early the following week.
Please find guidance and resources for applicants to Imperial available by the EU Team.
The Royal Society University Research Fellowship call for 2025 is due to open in July, and we would like to invite candidates to apply to the scheme through the department.
The Department of Materials is willing to accept all enquiries but would especially welcome applications related to the following strategic research topics:
- Biomaterials
- Functional Materials, including materials for quantum technologies; optoelectronics; materials for energy.
- Sustainable Materials, including sustainable materials processing; biomass-derived materials; and recyclable materials.
- Theory and Simulation of Materials
Applicants will need to submit a proposal to the Departmental Assessment Process (DAP) in the first instance and Materials Academic Sponsors will need to fill out the accompanying Sponsor Form.
The deadline for DAP submission is Wednesday 16 July at 12:00(noon) BST.
Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application to the scheme early the following week.