What is a Royal Society Career Development Fellowship?
The Royal Society Career Development Fellowship is a four-year postdoctoral research fellowship designed to support the retention of talented researchers from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM.
The fellowship provides funding to conduct high-quality, independent research alongside a comprehensive programme of mentoring, training and networking. It aims to support fellows in establishing strong research profiles, developing leadership capability and progressing towards long-term academic careers in the UK.
The fellowship is funded by The Royal Society: an independent scientific academy of the UK, and is currently offered as a pilot scheme. At present, applications are invited from researchers from Black heritage backgrounds. If successful, the pilot may be broadened to include researchers from other underrepresented groups in future rounds.
Fellows at The University of Manchester benefit from a vibrant, inclusive research environment, world-leading facilities and tailored career development support.
Key information
Status: Currently closed.
Next call: To be confirmed.
Duration: Four years (full-time postdoctoral fellowship).
Eligibility:
The Royal Society Career Development Fellowship is aimed at:
- Outstanding early-career researchers in STEM
- Researchers from underrepresented backgrounds, currently offered as a pilot for researchers from Black heritage
- Postdoctoral researchers seeking to establish a long-term academic research career in the UK
Full eligibility criteria are set by the Royal Society and may change between calls. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to review the funder guidance carefully once the scheme reopens.
Before you apply: To help you develop a competitive proposal, we encourage prospective applicants to contact us well ahead of the funder’s deadline. Early conversations can:
- Identify potential academic sponsors
- Ensure your research vision aligns with Manchester’s strengths.
Benefits of the Royal Society Career Development Fellowship
Royal Society Fellows receive four years of funding to support the development of an independent research career at The University of Manchester.
The fellowship combines research funding with structured career development, mentoring and networking opportunities, supporting fellows to build confidence, visibility and leadership capability alongside their research.
Manchester supports researchers at all career stages and is committed to equality of opportunity and inclusive research culture. Fellows join a supportive environment with access to expertise, facilities and professional development tailored to their needs.
As a Fellow at Manchester, you’ll benefit from:
- Four years of funded postdoctoral research
- Time and support to establish an independent research profile
- A comprehensive programme of mentoring, training and networking
- Access to world-leading facilities and interdisciplinary research communities
- Guidance from senior academics and support with future funding and career progression
- A supportive and inclusive research environment committed to widening participation in STEM.
Application process
Confirm that you meet the fellowship’s eligibility criteria before preparing an application.
You should ensure that:
- You meet the fellowship’s career stage requirements
- You are eligible under the scheme’s current focus on underrepresented groups
- Your research area aligns with Manchester’s research strengths.
Full eligibility criteria are set by the Royal Society and should be reviewed carefully for each call.
You must contact a department well in advance of the funder deadline to confirm support and understand any internal requirements.
Some departments and institutes 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 research project
- Its alignment with departmental priorities.
Be prepared to share:
- 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 internal approval is confirmed, you can prepare your application for submission to the Royal Society.
Applications are submitted via the Royal Society’s Flexi-Grant® application and grant management system.
A typical application includes:
- A detailed research proposal
- CV and track record
- Host support statements
- Any additional documentation required by the scheme.
Please note that Manchester’s internal review process may require materials several weeks before the funder's deadline.
After submission, applications are assessed by the Royal Society.
This typically includes:
- Peer review
- Assessment by Royal Society panels.
Final funding decisions are made by the funder. Successful candidates will then agree start dates with their host institution.
What our fellows say
“I hold a Royal Society Career Development Fellowship in the Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Manchester, where my work focuses on developing digital twins for bioprocesses that enable biogas and biorenewables co-production.
This fellowship, together with Manchester’s world-class facilities, collaborative culture and supportive research environment, has provided a strong platform for accelerating my career and leadership development while also strengthening partnerships between industry and academia.”
Bovinille Anye Cho / Royal Society Career Development Fellow
Frequently asked questions
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.
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? Get in touch
Fellowship scheme questions
- For questions about eligibility or Royal Society processes, contact the Royal Society at cdf@royalsociety.org.
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.