Independent fellowship opportunities

The School of Chemistry seeks to support fellowship applications from outstanding individuals who are at a career stage where a prestigious independent fellowship will offer the opportunity to develop an independent research profile and become a research leader of the future. 

The School offers a supportive and collaborative environment on which to build an independent career. The School has a strong tradition of nurturing and promoting independent research fellows, and many key members of current staff have come through this route.

To express an interest in any of the schemes listed below, contact both Professor Chris Baddeley (Head of School, chem-hos@st-andrews.ac.uk) and Professor Andrew Smith (Director of Research, chemdor@st-andrews.ac.uk) and include a CV and a separate outline of your proposed research interests and area (two pages).

When assessing your expression of interest for support, the School considers:

• your track record
• the research that you propose to carry out and where that fits within the School strategy
• your career stage, experience and why you would benefit from this fellowship at this stage in your career.

As part of its policy, the School actively promotes the fair treatment of all staff and students irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, age, race, belief, disability, pregnancy and maternity or relationship status. The School of Chemistry holds an Athena Swan Bronze Award and encourages expressions of interest from highly motivated candidates of any self-identifying group.

Fellowship schemes

The School is looking to support exceptional candidates in the following schemes:

• Royal Society University Research Fellowships – expression of interest deadline is 15 July 2024 (submission deadline 10^th September 2024)
• Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships – Expression of interest and application form to be submitted by 12:00 on 1^st November 2024 for a fellowship starting in 2025 to the Director of Research (chem-dor@st-andrews.ac.uk). Internal University application deadline (up to 2 candidates accepted from the School) is 3rd December 2024.
  • Leverhulme Trust - Early Career Fellowships Guidance for Applicants 2025 (PDF)
  • Leverhulme 2024 - Template (Word)
• UKRI Postdoctoral and Open Fellowships – these opportunities are available all year but are often linked to specific research priority areas. Details can be found in the EPSRC fellowship guidance (PDF) .
• Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships – offers a recognised first step into an independent research career for outstanding scientists at an early stage of their research career who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances, such as parenting or caring responsibilities or health-related reasons. Expression of interest should be submitted by 4^th October 2024 with a submission deadline of 29^th October 2024.
• UKRI Future Leader Fellowships - This is a very attractive and competitive Fellowship that allows successful candidates to start their independent academic career. It offers a long-term (4 + 3 years) fellowship with a transition to a lectureship appointment.
  The School of Chemistry is invited by the University to identify a single candidate for round 10 of the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. More details about the scheme, including eligibility criteria, can be found in the guidance  on the Future Leaders Fellowships call web page. 

  This is a competitive process. If you would like to apply please request an application form from the Chemistry Director of Research (chemdor@st-andrews.ac.uk), and provide a CV (maximum 3 pages including major outputs), as well as a 3 page summary of the work you intend to carry out as part of your fellowship by 5pm Friday 10th January 2025 to chemdor@st-andrews.ac.uk. Please also note the additional diversity link included in the application form. This is to provide EDI information on all applicants (at all stages of the application process), and meet the EDI monitoring required by UKRI in their response to the CRAC report.

  Timeline for submissions:

  • 10^th January 2025 – applications to School of Chemistry

  • 10^th January to 4^th February  2025 – internal Chemistry shortlisting of candidates and interviews to choose preferred candidate – feedback provided to improve application before submission to University sift

  • 11th February 2025  – deadline for Chemistry to nominate a single candidate for the FLF to St Andrews University sift

  • Week commencing 24^th February 2025  – internal University selection meeting – candidates chosen (St Andrews are limited to be able to support 4 candidates)

  • 18^th June 2025 – proposal due for submission to UKRI

• Broom-McIntyre Diversity Fellowship – this offers a prestigious 3-year independent fellowship programme to support early-career (postdoctoral) researchers from backgrounds that have been historically under-represented in chemistry research and academia in the UK (e.g., women, minority ethnic, LGBTQI+, disabled, low income backgrounds). The Fellowship aims to provide a supportive and collegial environment for early-career researchers to develop their research and prepare themselves for future independent roles in academia and beyond. With all applications assessed on merit, we especially seek candidates from diverse under-represented backgrounds, who have completed a PhD in Chemistry, or a closely related subject, and can demonstrate the potential for independent research and a future academic career. The Broom-McIntyre Research Fellow will be associated with an existing research group within the School such that they benefit from existing technical support and infrastructure. They will also be paired with a mentor to provide support and advice and connected to networks within St Andrews to ensure that the fellow has an excellent peer support group. The first call for this fellowship will be held in July 2024 and further calls will be advertised here and on social media.