Independent fellowships

For Those Looking to Establish an Independent Research Group:

Departmental support is required before applying and must be obtained through the Expression of Interest (EoI) process.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to discuss their research ideas with relevant academic staff, particularly those they may wish to collaborate with, as well as the Head of the most relevant Section.

Researchers should also engage with the Research Facilitation team early in the process to discuss application requirements and receive guidance. If you have questions about the EoI process or need assistance connecting with academics in the department, use the link to schedule an informal chat via Teams.

Application Process

To apply for an independent research fellowship hosted by our department, please submit the following documents to the Research Facilitation Team:

• Complete EoI form
• Traditional CV
• Supporting statements from a minimum of two referees.

Applications must be submitted at least 3 months before the funder deadline (see the table below) and will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview, where they will deliver a brief presentation followed by a Q&A session with the panel. Departmental support, once granted, remains valid for one year and applies to all available fellowship deadlines. Successful fellows will also be assigned an academic mentor from Oxford Chemistry. Our Research Facilitators will guide you through all aspects of the application process and can offer help with application feedback, costings and interview preparation.

The department welcomes fellowship applicants from diverse backgrounds and strongly encourages individuals from underrepresented groups in chemistry to apply. Most of the fellowship schemes we support offer the flexibility to be held part-time to accommodate personal circumstances, such as caring responsibilities or disability/chronic health conditions.

We also welcome applications from those returning from a career break or transitioning from roles outside academia.

If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances or have any accessibility or accommodation needs for the application or internal selection process, please contact the fellowship team at research-facilitator@chem.ox.ac.uk.