Fellowship opportunities

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Exeter is renowned for its vibrant, high‑impact research culture, uniting world‑leading experts in astrophysics, quantum systems, 2D materials, photonics, and biophysics, with cross-domain excellence in metamaterials and imaging. Its researchers consistently push the boundaries of fundamental science while driving innovative, real‑world applications—from pioneering exoplanet discoveries to breakthroughs in next‑generation materials, optical technologies, and the physics of living systems, linking to technology sectors that include healthcare technologies, ICT, energy, defence and security. We have an extensive network of industry and government collaborators and sponsors, including Dstl, Henry Royce Institute, NPL, QinetiQ, PepsiCo and Syngenta.

Applying to my fellowship with Exeter as my host was a very smooth process. They provided great assistance with setting up my fellowship budget, offered very constructive feedback on my research proposal, and, when it was time to prepare for an interview, organised mock interviews and a few coaching sessions, which helped me a lot.

I am a Chilean astronomer doing research on exoplanetary science. Since 2023, I have worked at the University of Exeter, supported with a University Research Fellowship by the Royal Society.
My research aims to understand how planetary systems form and evolve, with a particular focus on their outer regions that host a wide variety of objects from gas giant planets down to smaller icy bodies similar to comets, clustered in debris discs analogous to the Kuiper belt. These outer regions hold the key to understanding fundamental processes of planet formation, their dynamical evolution, and habitability. To that end, I use a variety of observations (e.g. with ALMA and JWST) and simulations (e.g. dust evolution, hydrodynamical and N-body).

Fellowship schemes

Key UK and EU fellowship schemes are listed below. Some other countries have their own fellowship schemes, for which we are also able to provide support and advice, and we welcome enquiries.

Funder	Scheme	Notes	Deadline
Daphne Jackson Trust	Daphne Jackson Fellowships	Fellowships are usually held part-time for 2 years. The scheme aims to return those with a STEM background to their careers following a career break of 2+ years.	Apply any time
EPSRC	Postdoctroal Fellowships	3-year fellowship open to applicants who have completed their PhD. Only open to candidates whose research fits the mathematical sciences theme.	No closing date
The Leverhulme Trust	Early Career Fellowships	3-year fellowships providing 50% match-funding for early career researchers (<4 years post-PhD) in any area except medical research. The ESE Faculty only supports 3 applications per round	Usually March every year
MRC	Career Development Awards	Up to 5-year fellowship. Must hold a PhD and be ready to transition to independence	Usually September each year
NERC	Independent Research Fellowships	5-year fellowships for early career researchers of any nationality in any area of NERC’s remit	Annually around June
	Knowledge Exchange Fellowships	1-3 year fellowships held at 20-80% to focus on accelerating and amplifying impact from NERC research. Applicants can be at any career stage from user or academic background.	Annual call around April
Royal Academy of Engineering	Research Fellowships	5-year fellowship open to researchers with no more than 4-years' experience since PhD whose research fits RA ENG remit	Usually September each year
	UK IC Postdoctoral Fellowships	2-year fellowship. Must hold PhD and have less than 5 years’ experience. Must be a citizen of Andorra, Australia, Canada, the EEA, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Switzerland, the UK, the US or Vatican city. Research in collaboration with the UK Intelligence community	Annually, usually in April
	Green Futures Fellowship	10-year fellowship open to ‘exceptional scientists’ for real-world solutions to climate change challenges.	Annually in November
Royal Astronomical Society	Research Fellowships	Up to 3 years for researchers with no more than 3 years’ experience since PhD. Covers astronomy, solar system science, geophysics and closely related branches	September 2027
	Norman Lockyer Fellowships	Up to 3 years for researchers with no more than 3 years’ experience since PhD. Astronomical areas covered by the Royal Astronomical Society.	September 2028
The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851	Research Fellowships in Science or Engineering	Up to 3-year fellowships for early-career researchers (<3 yeas post-PhD) of any nationality.	Usually February each year
The Royal Society	University Research Fellowships	8-year fellowships for outstanding early career scientists with 3-8 years postdoctoral experience who do not hold a permanent university position.	Usually September each year
	Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships	8-year fellowships for outstanding early career scientists who require a flexible working pattern.	Usually November each year
	Short Industry Fellowships	3-6 month fellowship for knowledge exchange between academia and industry. Must hold PhD and academic position with duration beyond award	Twice a year in Spring and Autumn
	Industry Fellowships	Up to 2-year (or 4-year part-time) fellowships for academic scientists who want to work on a collaborative project with industry and for scientists in industry who want to work on a collaborative project with an academic organisation.	Twice a year in Spring and Autumn
	Faraday Discovery Fellowships	7-year fellowship for mid-career researchers.	Annually – first stage in September
	Wolfson Fellowship	5-year fellowship for outstanding non-Uk researchers to relocate to the UK	Two rounds per year
The Royal Society/ Newton Fund	Newton International Fellowships	Up to 2-year fellowships for non-UK early-career scientists (up to 5 years post-PhD) who wish to carry out research in the UK.	Annual call, usually opens January
	Newton Advanced Fellowships	2 or 3 year awards to support researchers across the natural sciences with less than 15 years postdoctoral experience, including clinical or patient-oriented research, enable established international researchers to develop the strengths and capabilities of their research group through training, collaboration and reciprocal visits with a partner in the UK.	Annual call, usually March
STFC	Ernest Rutherford Fellowships	5-year fellowship. Open to any researcher with a PhD and without a permanent academic position	Usually September each year
UKRI	Future Leaders	Up to 7 years in duration on a 4+3 model, to support early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential.	Two rounds per year
Wellcome Trust	Early Career Award	5-year fellowship. Must hold PhD and be at ‘early career stage’ but no time limit stipulated.	Three rounds per year
	Career Development Fellowships	8-year fellowship. May only submit if candidate is a PDRA/F and not eligible for Early Career Award.	Three rounds per year
	Discovery Awards	8-year fellowship aimed at established researchers with international standing	Three rounds per year