Early Independence: Ernest Rutherford Fellowships 2026 (Fellowship)

This funding opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.

Who is eligible to apply

Ernest Rutherford Fellowships (ERFs) are open to applicants who hold a doctorate or who can evidence equivalent research experience and are aiming to establish their own research niche and independence.

This fellowship is open to a diversity of research and innovation staff, including researchers, innovators, research technical professionals and research software engineers, who can meet the aims of the funding opportunity. We value intellectual, methodological and technical career paths and there are no time-bound eligibility criteria, for example years of postdoctoral experience.

You must:

• evidence skills, experience, career development and productivity across past appointments

• have your own research plans that do not significantly overlap with those of others

• have the support of an eligible UK organisation

If you secure an academic position at lecturer level prior to the offer of a fellowship, you will be ineligible to hold the fellowship.

Eligible institutions

Fellowships may be held at any eligible UK research organisation that holds a STFC ERF application quota.

Who is not eligible to apply

You are not eligible to apply if:

• you have applied for another UKRI Early Independence Fellowship that will realise equivalent outcomes to this fellowship, and your award is being assessed

• you have been awarded another UKRI Early Independence Fellowship that will realise equivalent outcomes to this fellowship

• you have been awarded a comparable fellowship supporting early independence or a new investigator award from any organisation where you have secured grants as Project Lead, that includes support for and leading of research staff such as postdoctoral research associates as this would indicate that you have already made the step-change to independence

• you are not eligible to apply if you hold or have held a post or position at lecturer level (or equivalent in an institution other than a university) that has enabled you to establish a research niche and independence

• you are not eligible to apply if you have applied for another UKRI fellowship and your application is being assessed

If you are unsure of your eligibility status, please email fellowships@stfc.ukri.org to confirm before you apply.

Years of experience

STFC does not define eligibility for ERFs in terms of a minimum number of years of experience. Instead, you should read the assessment criteria to determine if you have the skills, knowledge and experience to apply.

ERF research organisation quota

You are advised to contact your proposed host organisation, before the application deadline, to determine if they hold an ERF application quota.

Research organisations may have internal processes to select which candidates to support and the deadlines for these may be several weeks in advance of the STFC ERF closing date. Host organisations should not expect you to accept an offer to be hosted before 17 July 2026.

STFC sets a strict limit on the number of applications that each research organisation may submit. Therefore, it may not be possible for a host to support all interested applicants.

Please see the list of research organisation, contacts and internal deadlines. Any applications submitted through research organisations who do not have an ERF application quota will be rejected.

Any research organisations who exceed their limit will be required to withdraw the excess applications. It is therefore very important that you seek assurance from your proposed host organisation that you application can be accommodated within its limit.

Host organisation equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) Statement

Host organisations must provide a statement describing the inclusive process they have used to select their chosen candidates by completing an online survey by 30 September 2026. Submission of the ED&I statement is a mandatory requirement for research organisations submitting an ERF application. ERF applications that are submitted from a research organisation that has either failed to submit or submitted an inadequate ED&I statement will not be considered until an adequate statement has been received.

ED&I Statements will be assessed by a sub-panel of the Education, Training and Careers Committee (ETCC) to ensure satisfactory processes are in place. The outcome of the assessment will have no bearing of how applicants are scored, unless an inadequate score for the ED&I statement is given.

The intention of this survey is to better understand the process by which host organisations are selecting candidates and to identify examples of best practice. The statement should describe the process used to identify potential candidates. It should not include personal details of potential candidates nor any details that may enable them to be identified.

A complete list of the survey questions is provided in the Additional Info section.

Choice of organisation

We recognise that mobility is not the only means to acquire the skills and experiences necessary to build a research career. We also recognise the need for having a fixed institution to provide unique facilities or opportunities, and other circumstances where moving would be unsuitable, such as domestic arrangements.

To demonstrate a commitment to the development of ERFs, we expect you to have agreed host organisation support with the Head of Department. This should be evidenced in the ‘Host Organisation Support’ section of the application

Resubmissions

You can apply to the ERF 2026 fellowship round if you were previously unsuccessful with the same, modified or a different fellowship application from a previous ERF round providing that you still meet the eligibility criteria.

If you are resubmitting the same, revised or new project, you should ensure that any relevant feedback provided by the panel has been addressed. STFC reserve the right to reject an application if the panel’s comments have not been addressed.

Please note, STFC’s ERF resubmission policy is under review, and we may not accept uninvited resubmissions in future opportunities.

Other funding

You should not be in receipt of duplicate funding for the same or similar application from more than one funding agency. Details of similar applications that have been submitted to other funding agencies must be added in the ‘Other funding support’ section of the application. You must advise STFC if a successful funding decision is made by the other funding agency.

International researchers

Fellowships are open to applicants of any nationality. Where applicable, you will need to comply with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements and hold a work permit prior to taking up the Fellowship. Work permits are a matter for direct negotiation between the institution, UKVI and the Home Office.

All successful applicants who require a visa to work in the UK will be eligible to be considered under the Global Talent visa route.

In line with the highly prestigious nature of the award, this visa route is designed for people who are internationally recognised as world leaders or potential world-leading talent in the fields of science and the arts and enables the holder to be both adaptable and flexible during their research in the UK.

The grant of any visa is always subject to the standard Home Office general grounds for refusal of a visa. UKRI is able to provide additional guidance regarding the appropriate evidence required to complete the visa application process under the Global Talent visa route.

Applications are welcome from candidates who intend to use the Fellowship as a means of re‐establishing themselves in the UK following a period overseas.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks

• support for people with caring responsibilities

• flexible working

• alternative working patterns

• job shares (contact us for further guidance)

For this funding opportunity, joint applications on a job-share basis are permitted.  If your application is a proposed job-share, please state this where relevant in your application and set out your proposed arrangements in the ‘Applicant Capability to Deliver’ and ‘Career Development’ sections.  Both applicants for any joint applications will be able to list themselves as the fellow.

UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Full or Part-time

Fellowships can be held either on a full‐time or a part‐time basis by applicants wishing to combine their fellowship with caring responsibilities. We will also consider requests to hold the fellowship on a part-time basis to allow the fellow to reduce their overall working time (full-time equivalent).

A part‐time award can be held at 50% or above of full‐time equivalent. A part‐time fellow may not hold another part‐time position in conjunction with the fellowship. The period of award for fellowships held on a part‐time basis can be extended on a pro-rata basis following discussion with STFC.

Demand management

Demand management is being applied to this funding opportunity. Further details are provided in the ‘additional information’ section.

Aim

This is an Early Independence Fellowship, as described in the Fellowship investment framework, to support you to establish your own research niche and independence.

Scope

This scheme supports excellent investigator-led research across the breadth of our remit.

STFC is offering up to 10 ERFs to exceptional researchers at an early stage of their career. Applicants on an upward trajectory to pursuing working independently and developing research leadership are encouraged to apply.

The project must afford scope for original work and align to STFC strategic objectives and core business areas:

• astronomy, solar and planetary science

• particle physics

• particle astrophysics

• nuclear physics

• accelerator science

• computational science

• quantum technologies

We welcome multidisciplinary applications that cross into other research council areas but expect the primary focus of your work to fall within STFC remit. We welcome projects of all types of research activity. This includes those that develop original theoretical and analytical outputs and those that design and build cutting edge experiments, instrumentation or software development that fundamentally underpin and further research in STFC core business areas.

We work with other research councils to ensure that applications close to remit boundaries are assessed by the most appropriate lead council. Please contact fellowships@stfc.ukri.org with any queries about the suitability of your application before applying.

This fellowship supports talented researchers who have evidence of career consolidation and productivity across past appointments to:

• lead research plans to establish their research niche

• make the first step-change towards establishing independence

You must provide strong evidence of working towards these goals, demonstrating an upward trajectory to pursuing independent work within a host organisation. You must show high potential to become future research leaders.

Duration

The duration of this award is 5 years.

Projects must start by 31 March 2028.

Funding available

STFC will fund 80% of the FEC.

Fellowship applications are costed on the basis of full economic cost (FEC). If a fellowship is awarded, STFC will provide funding at 80% of the FEC requested.

The host institution must agree to fund the balance of FEC for the application from other resources. Universities and other higher education organisations use the transparent approach to costing (TRAC) methodology to calculate FEC.

For further information about FEC, see the STFC guidance for applicants.

What we will fund

ERFs provide funds to cover your salary, the costs of personal travel and some minor equipment costs. These will have been awarded under the Directly Incurred Costs heading. Fellows who have returned from a career break may also use funds applied for retraining and updating their skills where this has been justified in the context of the proposed research project.

You may request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project however, your host organisation must provide funding for any costs associated with reasonable adjustment as part of your employment.

Salary

Your salary will have been agreed with your proposed host institution prior to submitting an application. The agreed salary should be in accordance with the institution’s standard recruitment and employment practices. The appointment level on the institution’s salary scale should be justified in the application. The salary costs requested should include employer’s national insurance and superannuation contributions.

Salary increments over the period of the fellowship should be taken into account, but not anticipate future pay awards. STFC will award funds based on the agreed salary scales at the time of announcement, with provision for future years increase based on standard UKRI indexation rates. Once announced the grant will not normally be increased to take account of different indexation rates.

Travel

Personal travel is taken to include necessary collaborative visits and fieldwork, and attendance at one conference workshop or symposium during each year of the fellowship. This excludes fieldwork and visits that form part of the work of a research group with which you may be associated.

If you are associated with an STFC research grant, you must ensure that any travel connected with the research project for which the grant was given is claimed from that source.

You should estimate in your application all personal travel and subsistence funds required during the lifetime of the fellowship. Travel and subsistence costs are expected to be around £2,200 each year. If there are circumstances for applying for additional funding in excess of the guidance levels, please give justification in your application.

Other costs

Applicants may request minor equipment and consumables up to a guided total of £5,000 for the duration of the fellowship under ‘directly incurred other costs’.

At the end of the fellowship, any resources purchased will belong to the institution. If there are reasons for applying for more than the guideline level of £5,000, then justification of these costs should be included in your application. Examples of justification could include the greater costs needed for resources if your work is focused on designing and building cutting edge experiments and instrumentation.

We do not fund mentoring time and this cost should not be included in the funding costs. Laptops may be costed where a new member of staff (for example, a fellow) who is employed purely for the grant will require this, or where a higher specification is required for the completion of specific grant related activities such as data modelling or enhanced graphics.

These costs should be applied for under ‘directly incurred other costs’.

Relocation and visas

Applicants moving to the UK from overseas to take up an award may request relocation and visa costs including Immigration Health Surcharge and Certificate of Sponsorship.

These costs should be applied for under the ‘directly incurred other costs’ heading on the proforma and are in addition to the £5,000 under ‘other costs’.

STFC will award relocation costs up to a maximum of £1,200 if moving from Europe or £3,000 if moving from outside of Europe.

Directly incurred costs

Costs that are explicitly identifiable as arising from the conduct of a project are charged as the cash value actually spent and are supported by an auditable record. ERFs provide funds to cover your salary, the costs of personal travel and some minor equipment costs.

These should be requested under the ‘directly incurred costs’ heading. Applicants who are returning from a career break may also apply for funds for retraining and updating their skills where this can be justified in the context of the proposed research project.

Directly allocated costs

Estates costs include building and premises costs, basic services and utilities and appear under the ‘directly allocated costs’ heading. Estates costs are calculated by the research organisation on application.

Pooled technician costs can also be claimed under ‘Other Directly Allocated’ costs.

Indirect costs

Indirect costs include the costs of administration, such as personnel, finance, library and some departmental services. As with estate costs, indirect costs will be calculated by the research organisation and a single figure will be entered on the application.

Read about funding available in the STFC guidance for applicants.

What we will not fund

STFC will not provide funding in research grants for any publication costs associated with peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers. UKRI provides direct funding to research organisations for this purpose. Fellows that were awarded publication costs associated with research outputs other than journal articles and conference papers, such as books, monographs, critical editions, catalogues etc. may, however, claim these as a Directly Incurred Other Cost.

The Ernest Rutherford Fellowship is for an independent research project. Applicants cannot apply for costs to fund PDRAs or PhD students.

Supporting skills and talent

We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.

See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where applicants can find additional support.

Assessment process

We will assess your application using the following process.

Expert review

We will invite external experts to review your application independently, against the specified criteria for this funding opportunity.

You will not be able to nominate reviewers for applications on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service. Research councils will continue to select expert reviewers.

Following the expert review stage, you will be invited to provide an applicant response for which you have 14 days to respond.

Panel

Following expert review, we will invite members of the STFC ERF panel to use the information provided in your application, the evidence provided by reviewers and your applicant response to assess the quality of your application, rank it alongside other applications, and recommend which applications should proceed to interview.

For more information on how we prioritise applications for funding please visit How we make decisions

Interview

An expert interview panel will conduct interviews with applicants after which the panel will make a funding recommendation.

We expect interviews to be held in April or May 2027.

STFC will make the final funding decision.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in expert review

Reviewers and panellists are not permitted to use generative AI tools to develop their assessment, including to correct language, spelling, grammar and formatting. Using these tools can potentially compromise the confidentiality of the ideas that applicants have entrusted to UKRI to safeguard.

For more detail see our policy on the use of generative AI.

Assessment areas

The assessment areas we will use are:

• vision and approach

• applicant capability to deliver

• career development

• ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Click here to start an application on the UKRI Funding Service https://funding-service.ukri.org/OPP1278/apply/1308

We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

The fellow is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.

Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.

1. Confirm you are the fellow.

2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password.

3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.

4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.

5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.

6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

When including images, you must:

• provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)

• insert each new image on a new line

• use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include:

• sentences or paragraphs of text

• tables

• excessive quantities of images

A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service

• how research offices use the Funding Service

• how reviewers use the Funding Service

References

References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:

• references are easily identifiable by the assessors

• references are formatted as appropriate to your research

• persistent identifiers are used where possible

General use of hyperlinks

Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.

For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.

Deadline

STFC must receive your application by 30 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time.

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

Personal data

Processing personal data

STFC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email fellowships@stfc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)

• declaration of interest

• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section

• conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection

• the application is an invited resubmission

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.

Institutional matched funding

There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations. Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged.

This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.

Publication of outcomes

STFC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at Board and panel outcomes

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.

Summary

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers

• policymakers

• the public

• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• context

• the challenge the project addresses

• aims and objectives

• potential applications and benefits

Core team

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• fellow

Only list one individual as fellow.

UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.

Application questions

Vision and Approach

Create a document that includes your responses to all criteria.  The document should not be more than 6-sides of A4, single spaced in paper in 11-point Arial (or equivalent sans serif font) with margins of at least 2cm.  You may include images, graphs, tables.

For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘Vision and Approach’.

Save this document as a single PDF file, no bigger than 8MB.  Unless specifically requested, please do not include any sensitive data within the attachment.

If the attachment does not meet these requirements, the application will be rejected.

The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.

What are you hoping to achieve with and how will you deliver your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

For the Vision, explain how your proposed work:

• is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)

• has the potential to advance current understanding, generates new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area

• is timely, given current trends, context, and needs

• impacts world-leading research, society, the economy or the environment

• supports wider capacity development in the field(s) or area(s) of focus

Mobility and Knowledge Exchange:

• identifies the potential local, regional or national impacts, both direct and indirect, and who the beneficiaries might be

• enhances the UK’s research and innovation capabilities through local, regional or both activity

• describe how your research plans fit into an international context

• show the importance and alignment of the project to the STFC Programme

For the Approach, explain how you have designed your work so that it:

• is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives

• is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed

• if applicable, uses a clearly written and transparent methodology

• if applicable, summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed

• will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts

Mobility and Knowledge Exchange:

• will increase the mobility of knowledge and research between sectors by supporting knowledge exchange and the movement of people between sectors

• is embedded and develops impact and knowledge exchange after the funding has ended

• communicates and disseminates impact, knowledge exchange, outcomes and outputs

Within the Approach section we also expect you to:

• demonstrate access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment to deliver the proposed work

• provide a detailed and comprehensive project plan, including milestones and timelines in the form of a chart or diagram

• describe how the planned programme of research shows potential to significantly advance the field with the appropriate balance of risk versus reward

• detail a project that is feasible within the period of the fellowship demonstrating a rigorous approach to reach achievable goals

References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Data management and sharing

Word limit: 500

How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed research?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes.

Applicant capability to deliver

Word limit: 1,650

Why are you the right individual to successfully deliver the proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of how you have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to make best use of the benefits presented by this funding opportunity to develop your career

• the right balance of skills and aptitude to deliver the proposed work

• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community

• the appropriate team working or leadership skills (appropriate to career stage)

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

The word limit for this section is 1,650 words, 1,150 words to be used for Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the R4RI format to showcase the range of relevant skills you have and how this will help to deliver the proposed work. You can include specific achievements and choose past contributions that best evidence your ability to deliver this work.

Complete this section using the following R4RI module headings. You should use each heading once, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasize where appropriate the key skills you bring:

• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge

• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships

• contributions to the wider research and innovation community

• contributions to broader research or innovation, users and audiences, and towards wider societal benefit

Additions

Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).

You should complete this section as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.

Career development

Word limit: 1,000

Why is this fellowship the right way to develop your career and how will you use it to benefit others?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Ensure that you have identified:

• career development goals appropriate to the fellowship funding opportunity

• how the fellowship will provide a feasible and appropriate trajectory for your personal development and to achieve your stated career development goals (as appropriate to your career stage and field)

• an appropriate trajectory for you to acquire additional skills, like research, leadership, communication and management

• how you will instigate positive change in the wider research and innovation community, for example through Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), advocacy or advisory roles, stakeholder engagement, participation in expert review, influencing policy, public engagement, or outreach

Within the Career development section we also expect you to describe:

• how you will ensure continued research and professional development in those you will be managing on the project, to have a positive research and innovation experience, with opportunities or support to progress their own careers (useful links Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and  Technician Commitment)

• what mentoring arrangements are proposed and how they are appropriate to you

Host organisation support

Word limit: 1,000

How will the host organisation support your fellowship?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Ensure the Head of Department (of the host organisation) provides you with a supporting statement (which they have written), that includes:

• the name and title of the Head of Department providing the written statement

• evidence detailing how the host will support you, as appropriate for your career development and the vision and approach of the fellowship

• how your research environment will contribute to the success of the work, in terms of suitability of the host organisation and strategic relevance to the project

• how the host organisation will ensure your time commitment to the fellowship is protected

• what development and training opportunities will be provided and how they form a cohesive career development package tailored to your aims and aspirations

• what financial or practical support, such as access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment, is being provided and how this strengthens your application

The statement of support provided by your host organisation should be copied and pasted into the text box. You cannot upload the statement of support to this section as an attachment. Your application may be rejected if you upload a host organisation statement of support to the ‘Project Partners: letters (or emails) of support’ section or any other section of your application.

Within the Host organisation support section we also expect you to describe:

• evidence of support from the lead of the proposed host research and innovation group (including the project lead, formerly known as principal investigator or fellow)

• details of the fellowship work to be conducted at another UK or overseas host organisation and how they will support you (if applicable)

Resources and cost justification

Word limit: 1,000

What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:

• significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)

• any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities

You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders. Where a funding limit is imposed on the funding opportunity, requested costs for reasonable adjustments may exceed the maximum funding amount.

Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:

• are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified

• represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes

• maximise potential outcomes and impacts

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Word limit: 500

What are the ethical and RRI considerations, implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical and RRI considerations

• how you will manage these considerations

If you are collecting or using data you should identify:

• any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing and storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further reuse of data)

• formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation.

Animal Involvement and “3Rs”

You must complete this section about how your proposed project will involve or impact animals.

If your project does not involve or impact animals, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what animals you are involving

• the severity of the procedures you are using

• where the procedures will take place

• welfare standards you aim to meet

• the relevance of your project to the development, validation or dissemination of the 3Rs

You may also need to download, complete, and upload at least one set of additional questions. You will be told how to do this towards the end of this section.

To complete this section and check whether your project is in the scope of the questions, refer to the UKRI policy for research and innovation involving animals”

What counts as an animal

UKRI policy relates to all animals in the Kingdom Animalia, including vertebrates and invertebrates.

Genetically modified organisms and biological risk

You must complete this section if your project will include genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies.

If you project does not involve genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• the type of organism your project will involve and the procedures your project will include

• the intended use of the organism or genetic technology

• the genetic, biological and environmental risks of your project

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance on genetic technologies.

Human Participation in Health-related Research

You must complete this section about whether your project will include human participation.

If your project does not involve human participation, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what type of human participation your project includes

• the project design for human participation

• the phase of the clinical trial

• whether the project will be in an NHS setting, if so how the project will be registered

• whether diversity and inclusion will be considered

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance for human participants in research.

Classification of application

Word limit: 10

Question: Please select one of the following classifications that are the closest match to your application for peer review purposes.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

• accelerator physics

• astronomy extragalactic

• astronomy near universe

• astronomy near universe exoplanet or solar

• nuclear physics

• particle astrophysics and cosmology

• particle physics experiment

• particle physics theory

Nature of research activity

Word limit: 30

Question: Please select one of the following classifications for the nature of your research activity that is the closest match to your application for peer review purpose.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

• develops original theoretical and analytical outputs

• designs and builds cutting edge experiments, instrumentation or software that fundamentally underpins and furthers research in an) STFC core business area

• does both of the above

Posts held since PhD

Word limit: 100

Question: What posts have you held since completing your PhD.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Please detail the positions held and the organisations you worked at since your PhD.

Resubmissions

Word limit: 200

Question: Is your application a resubmission from ERF 2025?

What the assessors are looking for in your response.

Resubmission (yes or no)

If yes, please include the Funding Service grant reference of your previous submission and briefly outline changes that you have made to your application, including how this submission addresses feedback from reviewers and the panel.

Other funding support

Word limit: 150

Please give us details of support sought or received from any other source for this or other research in the same field.

If you are seeking or have received support for this or other research, please provide the following information:

• awarding institution

• awarding organisation’s reference

• title of project

• decision made (yes or no)

• award made (yes or no)

• start date

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

Trusted Research and Innovation is the protection of the UK’s intellectual property, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation.

Organisations receiving UKRI funding are obliged to act in line with UK government legislation. They are also expected to undertake appropriate due diligence assessment of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.

You will be asked about:

• which areas of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act your project relates to

• who you intend to collaborate with and how

• if your project requires an export control licence

Your answers may affect the T&Cs of your funding agreement if you are successful. We may use your answers to determine that our current T&Cs are sufficient or if additional T&Cs are required.

Background

The UKRI Fellowship Investment Framework sets out distinct, outcome-focussed fellowship types.

This is a Career Transition: Early Independence Fellowship within this framework to support you to establish your own research niche and / or independence.

STFC fellowships are governed by the grant conditions as set out in the research grants guidance for applicants, unless otherwise stated.

Applications are accepted and awards are made on the understanding that research organisations and fellows agree to observe the terms and conditions and the scheme requirements set out in this guidance and any amendments issued during the currency of the award.

STFC intends its scheme to be flexible and reserves the right to deal as it thinks fit with applications of unusual character and to waive any rule at its absolute discretion.

For further information, you should refer to:

UKRI FEC grant standard terms and conditions of grant

UKRI FEC grants standard terms and conditions of grant guidance

Research organisations must appoint research fellow employees for the full duration of the award and integrate the research fellow within the research activities of the host organisation, while ensuring that they are able to maintain independence and focus on their personal research programme.

Awards are made on the understanding that the fellow’s work and progress are subject to the same monitoring and appraisal procedures as those of other academic staff within the host institution, and that there are adequate facilities at the host institution for the research proposed.

See the terms and conditions guidance for Ernest Rutherford Fellowships.

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Supporting documents

ERF host organisation quota limits, contacts and internal deadlines (DOCX, 56KB)ERF ED&I host organisation statement guidance (DOCX, 295KB)ERF equality impact assessment (DOCX, 29KB)

Global Talent visa

STFC ERFs are eligible for a Global Talent visa under the ‘exceptional promise’ category for future research leaders.

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays

• disruptive working patterns and conditions

• the loss of ongoing work

• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic

Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant and their wider team to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.

Related content

• Corporate policies and standards

• Developing people and skills

• Fellowship investment framework

Related opportunities

• Return to research support bursary

Get help with your application

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page the helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue.

Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility, content or remit of a funding opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your application please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact Fellowships@stfc.ukri.org

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org

Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

• Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm

• Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

To help us process queries more efficiently, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.