The Career Development Fellowship (CDF) is a four-year postdoctoral research fellowship designed to bolster the representation of researchers from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM fields.
Initially, the scheme will operate as a pilot specifically targeting researchers from Black heritage. If proven successful, there’s potential to expand the pilot to include researchers from other underrepresented groups.
This initiative is the result of extensive discussions in cross-sector roundtables and analyses based on reports commissioned by the Royal Society. The evaluations considered trends spanning 11 years of data from the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) and compared the Society’s early career fellowships against the eligible applicant pool.
The findings underscored the need for interventions throughout the academic pipeline, especially to support researchers from Black or Mixed Black African, Black Caribbean, or other Black heritage backgrounds. The focus is particularly on researchers transitioning from postgraduate to early postdoctoral stages.
Fellowships under this program will offer funding to conduct high-quality research. Additionally, fellows will benefit from a comprehensive program featuring mentoring, training, and networking opportunities.
Benefits of the Fellowship
The Career Development Fellowship provides:
- Funding: Up to £690,000 over four years, covering the Research Fellow’s salary, associated on-costs (at 80%), directly allocated costs (at 80%), and research expenses.
- Career development support: A high-quality program offering training, mentoring, and engagement to facilitate career development.
- Flexibility: Accommodation for personal circumstances, including part-time working, and provisions for maternity, paternity, adoptive, or extended sick leave.
- Relocation and Visa Support: Applicants can request relocation and visa costs for themselves and dependents (partner and children) in addition to the total grant cap of £690,000 over four years.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the pilot scheme, you must:
- Identity as being from a Black heritage, including mixed Black background.
- Have a PhD or will obtain one by the start of funding, with less than 24 months of post-doctoral experience.
- Both UK and non-UK-domiciled researchers wishing to conduct their research in the UK are eligible.
Applicants are advised to carefully review the scheme eligibility requirements and make sure they meet all the requirements before applying.
Application Deadline
The deadline for applications is 24 January 2024, at 3 pm UK time.
How to Apply
To apply for this Fellowship, click here.
CHECK THESE OUT:
- Career Development Fellowship (CDF) 2024 in UK (Up to £690,000 Over Four Years) – APPLY NOW
- Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 2024 (Up to £690,000)- APPLY NOW
- Royal Society Africa Prize 2023 for African Research Scientists – Apply Now!
- How to sign up for Prime Student
- WhatsApp Can Now Hide Your ‘Last Seen’ Status from Strangers by Default
 is a four-year postdoctoral research fellowship designed to bolster the representation){kind=link}