The Royal Society is inviting suitably qualified candidates for its Career Development Fellowship (CDF) 2024. It is a four-year, postdoctoral research fellowship, designed to support the retention in STEM of researchers from underrepresented backgrounds. Meanwhile, the Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of the world’s most eminent scientists. It is also considered the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
The 2024 edition of the Career Development Fellowship (CDF) will have researchers with Black ancestry involved in the scheme’s initial experimental run. If the pilot proves to be effective, researchers from other marginalized groups might be included.
Career Development Fellowship (CDF) 2024
The program was created as a result of cross-sector roundtables and studies that the Royal Society commissioned. These studies examined patterns in data from the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) spanning 11 years and compared the candidate pool that was eligible for the Society’s early career fellowships (PDF) to the data.
This process seeks to support researchers from Black or Mixed Black African, Black Caribbean, or other Black heritage backgrounds, particularly those transitioning from postgraduate to early postdoctoral stages.
In addition to offering financial support for conducting top-notch research, the CDF will offer a full range of networking, training, and mentoring opportunities to help award holders launch prosperous research careers in the UK.
Benefits
- The program provides funding of up to £690,000 spread over four years to pay for research expenses, the Research Fellow’s salary and related on-costs (at 80%), and directly assigned costs (at 80%);
- A first-rate program of instruction, guidance, and involvement to assist professional growth; Adaptability to individual needs, such as part-time employment. Additionally, extended sick leave, paternity, adoption, and maternity leave are covered.
- Relocation and visa expenses for the applicant and any dependents (spouse and kids) may be requested. The £690,000 four-year grant ceiling may be requested in addition to these expenses.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to participate in CDF, Candidates must meet the requirements below:
- Applicant’s research must be within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, which includes but is not limited to biological research, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics.
The following qualifies you to apply for the 2024 Career Development Fellowship:
- You must be identified to be of Black ancestry, even having a mixed-race background; and
- You currently have a Ph.D. or plan to obtain one by the time the funding begins; nevertheless, less than 24 months of post-doctoral experience is required for Researchers with UK or non-UK domicile who want to carry out their research in the country are eligible.
- Please confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements as stated in the scheme notes before submitting an application.
To Apply:
The first few steps to take before you apply include:
- Reviewing the scheme’s notes and FAQs thoroughly (see FAQ on the official page below)
- Confirm your eligibility status, then Identify and confirm support from your sponsor
- Make your intention known to apply to the research office at your host Organisation
How to Apply
- Get the application form via the Royal Society’s grant management system.
- Give your research office enough time to review and approve your application
- Your application must be submitted by 24 January 2024
- For further information please visit the official website via the link below: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/career-development-fellowship/.
Application Deadline
24 January 2024.
