What is a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship?
The Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship provides up to eight years of flexible funding to support early-career researchers who need part-time or flexible working arrangements in order to pursue independent, high-quality research.
Funded by the Royal Society, the fellowship is designed to retain talented researchers in the UK research base by removing barriers created by caring responsibilities, health conditions or other personal circumstances. Fellows are supported to develop as independent research leaders while working flexibly over a longer time period.
At The University of Manchester, Dorothy Hodgkin Fellows join a supportive, inclusive research environment, with access to mentoring, facilities and professional development alongside tailored support throughout the application process.
Key information
Status: Currently closed.
Next call: To be confirmed.
Eligibility: To apply, you must:
- Be an early-career researcher, normally within six years of completing your PhD (career breaks discounted)
- Require flexible working arrangements due to caring responsibilities, health needs or similar personal circumstances
- Be able to demonstrate the potential to become an independent research leader
- Propose a high-quality research programme in an area supported by the Royal Society.
There are no nationality restrictions.
Funding:
- Up to eight years of funding, typically held on a part-time or flexible basis
- Salary and research costs requested across the full duration of the award.
Before you apply: To help you develop a competitive proposal, we strongly encourage early contact with The University of Manchester. Early conversations can:
- Confirm eligibility and scheme fit
- Allow time for any internal review or support processes.
Benefits of the Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship
Dorothy Hodgkin Fellows receive long-term, flexible funding to build an independent research career while balancing personal responsibilities.
Manchester supports researchers at all career stages, promoting equality of opportunity and offering tailored guidance on fellowship applications, funding routes and support for childcare or other responsibilities. Fellows join a collaborative research community with access to world-leading facilities and expertise.
As a Fellow at Manchester, you’ll benefit from:
- A flexible fellowship structure designed to support caring or health-related needs
- A vibrant, inclusive research environment across science and engineering
- Access to specialist facilities, research infrastructure and interdisciplinary networks
- Tailored mentoring from senior academics
- Support with future fellowship and grant applications
- Professional, leadership and career development opportunities.
Application process
Confirm that you meet the fellowship’s eligibility criteria before preparing an application.
You must:
- Be within the eligible post-PhD timeframe (normally six years, excluding career breaks)
- Require flexible working arrangements due to personal circumstances
- Demonstrate clear potential for research independence.
You must contact a host department well in advance of the funder deadline to confirm support.
Some departments may have additional internal processes or timelines. Early engagement helps to confirm fit and identify appropriate sponsors.
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.
Applications are submitted via the Royal Society’s Flexi-Grant® system.
Please note that Manchester may require materials in advance of the Royal Society deadline to provide feedback and support.
After submission, applications are assessed by the Royal Society.
This typically includes:
- Peer review
- Panel assessment
- Final funding decisions made by the Royal Society.
What our fellows say
“The Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship is a fantastic scheme as it offers long-term funding and flexible working, both of which are essential in order to pursue a successful, independent research career as a primary caregiver.”
Dr Kara Lynch / Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow
Frequently asked questions
Researchers who require flexible working arrangements due to caring responsibilities or health needs.
Yes. The fellowship is explicitly designed to support part-time and flexible working.
Further questions? Contact us
Fellowship scheme questions
- For questions about eligibility, funding rules or Royal Society processes, contact the Royal Society fellowship team:
- Email: dhf@royalsociety.org
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7451 2666.
Manchester-specific queries
-
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.
-
Application development and other Faculty queries
- For all other queries, including application development support, please contact the FSE Research Development and Innovation team.