What is an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship?
The STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (ERF) provides five years of funding for outstanding early-career researchers to establish independent programmes in particle physics, astrophysics, nuclear physics, accelerator science, computational science and quantum technologies.
The fellowship is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which supports world-leading research and innovation in the physical sciences. Fellows benefit from a vibrant, supportive research environment at The University of Manchester.
The fellowship is primarily hosted in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, but projects in other departments may also be supported if they align with STFC core science areas. Early discussion with the relevant department is strongly recommended to confirm suitability and sponsorship.
Key information
Institutional deadline: this fellowship is subject to an internal deadline. The deadline for this fellowship has now passed and no new applications will be accepted for the current call.
Call deadline: Currently closed.
Next call: Expected June 2026.
Eligibility:
- Hold a PhD or equivalent experience
- No tenured academic role
- Usually up to 8 years of postdoctoral experience, not counting career breaks
- Research aligned to STFC's remit.
Funding: Five years of support for independent research.
Before you apply: Due to the highly competitive nature of this scheme and institutional limits on applications, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact us well ahead of the funder’s deadline to confirm eligibility, assess alignment with Faculty and University priorities and allow time for internal selection processes.
Benefits of the Ernest Rutherford Fellowship
Ernest Rutherford Fellows receive five years of funding to build an independent research profile in an STFC-aligned field at The University of Manchester.
Manchester supports researchers at all career stages, promoting equality of opportunity and offering guidance on fellowship applications, funding routes and support for childcare or other responsibilities. Fellows join a vibrant research environment with access to world-leading facilities and collaborative expertise.
As a Fellow at Manchester, you’ll benefit from:
- World-leading research environment in particle and nuclear physics, astrophysics, cosmology and accelerator science.
- Opportunities for national and international collaboration, including CERN, the Cockcroft Institute and UK national laboratories.
- Access to specialist facilities and dynamic research communities.
- Tailored mentoring from senior academics, support with major grant applications, and access to professional and leadership development.
Application process
Confirm that you meet the fellowship’s eligibility criteria before preparing an application.
To apply, you must:
- Be an outstanding early-career researcher with the potential to become a future leader in STFC-funded areas
- Typically have no more than eight years of postdoctoral research experience (excluding eligible career breaks)
- Not hold a tenured academic position
- Propose a programme of research aligned with STFC’s remit.
There are no citizenship or nationality restrictions.
You must contact a department well in advance of the funder deadline to confirm support and understand any internal requirements.
Some departments and Institutes may operate additional internal processes or provide tailored support for fellowship applicants. These arrangements may affect how and when you apply and, in some cases, require an Expression of Interest (EOI) or internal selection before submission to the funder.
Contact:
- For advice on departmental fit and internal processes, contact a potential supervisor in the first instance by searching Research Explorer.
If, after carefully reviewing Research Explorer, you are unable to identify a suitable supervisor whose expertise aligns with your proposal, you may contact the Department\’s Head of Research for further guidance. - For all other queries, including application development support, please contact the FSE Research Development and Innovation team.
As part of this initial engagement, you will be asked to discuss:
- Your proposed fellowship project
- Its alignment with departmental priorities.
Be prepared to provide:
- A CV
- A brief outline of your proposed fellowship project.
Early engagement helps to confirm departmental fit, identify appropriate sponsors and allow time for any required internal review.
Once departmental support is confirmed, you can prepare your application for submission to the funder.
Applications must be submitted via the Funding Service (email submissions cannot be accepted).
A typical application includes:
- A detailed research proposal
- Justification of resources
- CV and track record
- Host statement from The University of Manchester
- References (as required by the scheme year).
Please note that Manchester’s internal review process may require materials several weeks before the funder's deadline.
After submission, your application will be assessed by the funder.
This typically includes:
- External peer review
- Shortlisting by the funder's panels
- Interviews for selected candidates.
Final funding decisions are made by the funder shortly after interviews. Successful candidates will then agree start dates with their host institution.
What our fellows say
"The University of Manchester is the perfect fit for my Ernest Rutherford Fellowship, the first awarded in the field of accelerator physics, exploring novel laser and terahertz techniques for future compact particle accelerators.
With access to world-leading expertise and facilities through the Cockcroft Institute, international collaborators such as CERN, and close proximity to the UK's largest linear accelerator test facility at Daresbury National Laboratory, Manchester is the ideal place to deliver cutting-edge accelerator science."
Dr Morgan Hibberd / Ernest Rutherford Research Fellow
Frequently asked questions
Search Research Explorer to identify a potential supervisor whose expertise aligns with your proposed project, then contact them directly to discuss your application.
Yes. Because the University must prepare a host statement and complete internal quality checks, we typically require applicants to submit draft materials several weeks before STFC’s official deadline. Exact timelines vary by department, so contact your potential supervisor early to confirm dates.
Yes. Fellowships are primarily hosted in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, but projects in other departments, such as Earth and Environmental Sciences, may also be supported if they align with STFC core science areas. Early discussion with the relevant department is recommended to confirm suitability and sponsorship.
Prospective applicants receive support identifying an academic sponsor, refining their research proposal and navigating internal review. You’ll also have access to guidance on developing a competitive fellowship application, feedback from senior academics, and information about facilities and research groups you can incorporate into your proposal.
Yes. STFC requires applicants to have an agreed host institution and an academic sponsor before submitting an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship proposal. At Manchester, early discussions help shape your research idea, develop the host statement, and ensure your application aligns with the department’s strengths. We recommend contacting us several months before the STFC deadline.
Eligibility criteria vary between funding schemes. Most require a strong academic track record commensurate to your career stage and circumstances. Check the scheme's criteria.
Further questions? Contact us
Fellowship scheme questions
- For questions about eligibility, funding rules or STFC processes, please contact the STFC fellowship team.
Manchester-specific queries
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Departmental fit and internal processes
- For advice on departmental fit and internal requirements, contact a potential supervisor in the first instance by searching Research Explorer. If, after carefully reviewing Research Explorer, you are unable to identify a suitable supervisor whose expertise aligns with your proposal, you may contact the Department’s Head of Research for further guidance.
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Application development and other Faculty queries
- For all other queries, including application development support, please contact the FSE Research Development and Innovation team.