Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships
Purpose
This fellowship provides a unique opportunity for the most promising newly qualified postdoctoral researchers to make an early start in developing their independent research careers, working in the best laboratories in the UK and overseas.
Candidates will be expected to identify an important biomedical research question and to develop and deliver a personal programme to achieve their research aims.
Successful fellows met at the Wellcome Trust on the 28 July 2009 to discuss their experiences. Watch the video below to find out more about the scheme from the fellows themselves, including how they managed the application process (running time: 3 min 42 s).
Read the transcript [PDF 144KB]
What's included
The fellowship is for four years full-time. Fellowships may be taken up on a part-time employment basis with the tenure of award lengthened accordingly.
The fellowship provides an award of £250 000. These funds provide support for:
- the basic salary as determined by the host institution, with an additional Trust enhancement for basic science fellows
- research expenses (materials and consumables; animals; travel and overseas subsistence; support to attend scientific meetings; and small items of equipment, e.g. laptop).
Support funds for research staff or equipment are not provided. It is expected that an appropriate laboratory will be selected and that the majority of the necessary equipment and facilities required for the proposed research be available to the candidate.
Eligibility
These awards are open to individuals with a relevant connection to the European Economic Area.
You must be in the final year of your PhD studies or have no more than one year of postdoctoral research experience from the date of your PhD viva to the full application submission deadline (e.g. if the full deadline is in February 2010, your viva should not have occurred prior to February 2009). Time spent outside the research environment will be taken into consideration.
The proposed research should fall within the Wellcome Trust's normal funding remit.
Sponsorship and supervision
You must have an eligible sponsoring institution in the UK or RoI that will administer the fellowship for the full duration of the award.
You may be sponsored by your current host institution but must begin your fellowship at a new research location.
You will require a:
- sponsor who can guarantee that the host institution will administer the award for the full tenure of the fellowship - he/she must have a contract of employment at the host institution and have tenure beyond the duration of the proposed fellowship
- mentor who will provide you with independent support and advice for the duration of the award
- research sponsor in every laboratory who must be able to guarantee you access to space and resources for the required period and provide relevant scientific guidance.
A sponsor may also be nominated as a research sponsor or mentor on an application. However, we would not expect a single individual to be proposed for all three roles.
Application process
You should complete and submit a preliminary application form [Word 108KB] by the published deadline. It should be sent in hard copy, with requested accompanying information, to the relevant funding stream at the Trust.
Your preliminary application will be assessed within four weeks of the submission deadline. If successful, you will be invited to submit a full application.
Your full application will be peer reviewed by the relevant Funding Committee and, if successful, you will be short-listed for interview.
Short-listed candidates will be notified two weeks before the interview date. Interviews will be conducted at our offices in London.
Awards will be conditional upon a satisfactory performance at interview.
Application advice
You should give careful thought to your choice of sponsor and mentor. Appropriate individuals will possess strong track records in research, training and/or mentorship.
You will require a sponsor and a mentor, and a research sponsor in every lab. For the full application, you will be required to identify the first research sponsor as a minimum. A sponsor may also be nominated as a research sponsor or mentor on an application; however, we would not expect a single individual to be proposed for all three roles.
You should drive the identification of a research question and the development of the proposal. However, we expect your sponsor and mentor to be provide you with advice and support during the application process.
You will be expected to focus on your research for the duration of the award.
You may not apply for more than one Wellcome Trust fellowship scheme at any one time.
Reviewers typically assess:
- your track record
- the importance of the research question
- your choice of appropriate research sponsors
- the feasibility of the approach
- your vision of how the fellowship will contribute to your career development
- your longer-term aspirations.
The fellowship should normally include periods in more than one laboratory, either in the UK or overseas. There is no time limit on the amount of time spent outside the sponsoring institution. However, recipients are encouraged to maintain a strong link with their host institution during the award.
Candidates will normally be expected to return to UK/Republic of Ireland before termination of the fellowship.
Resubmissions are not allowed.
Deadlines
This is an annual competition.
Details for the 2010 competition are:
- Deadline for preliminary applications: 2 November 2009
- Deadline for full applications: 1 February 2010
- Short-listed applications interviews: 24-26 May 2010
Fellowships may not be taken up prior to PhD award, and must be taken up within one year of award.
Contacts
Enquiries may be directed to the appropriate funding stream, or by telephone to the Grants Management Helpdesk: +44 (0)20 7611 2020.
Immunology and Infectious Disease
E
iid@wellcome.ac.uk
Populations and Public Health
E
pph@wellcome.ac.uk
Neuroscience and Mental Health
E
nmh@wellcome.ac.uk
Physiological Sciences
E
phs@wellcome.ac.uk
Molecules, Genes and Cells
E
mgc@wellcome.ac.uk