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A guide to securing your first research fellowship: what reviewers are looking for
Stefan Howorka is a chemical biologist at University College London.
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Christoph Salzmann is a physical and materials chemist at University College London.
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Early-career fellowships play a key part in helping researchers to move from supervised work to greater independence. The intense competition, however, can make the application process daunting for early-career researchers (ECRs). Based on our experience of running a successful fellowship support structure in the chemistry department at University College London (UCL), through which we have supported more than 40 ECRs, this guide offers practical advice to help you to strengthen your application at every stage.
Our programme at UCL combines clear online guidance for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers with tailored advice from experienced colleagues. It is designed to help applicants to assess their readiness, refine their proposals and understand how their work would sit within a wider research community. Although the scheme is based at our department, the principles behind it are broadly applicable to ECRs applying for fellowships at other institutions.
Drawing on the lessons from this support structure, our guidelines aim to help you by tackling three questions. How can you determine whether your track record is suitable for your chosen fellowship? How can you develop and formulate a winning research programme for your application? And how can you select the most appropriate university to host you as a future fellow?
By answering these questions, we hope to give you the tools to see your application through the eyes of a reviewer. This, together with your enthusiasm for your research, is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your application.
Early planning for a fellowship application is hugely important. Thinking about your application throughout your PhD and early postdoctoral studies enables you to develop your research activities and CV, and to tailor them to strengthen your future application. Map out key milestones that you want to achieve and include in applications, such as publication submissions, conference presentations, preliminary data generation and funding applications, and create your own deadlines for these ahead of the real fellowship deadlines.
Research fellows are expected to conduct independent scientific research and break new ground. Reviewers therefore look for evidence of emerging leadership and independence.