Flexible Travel Awards: Fellowships
SCHEME TO BE DISCONTINUED

Purpose

Important changes are being made to the Trust’s biomedical science grant programmes, which will affect this scheme.

This scheme provides enhanced opportunities for mobility and collaboration, and enables successful scientists to obtain significant new research skills or experience either in new disciplines, interdisciplinary areas or in an emerging aspect of their own field.

What's included

The award can be made for a period of between one and two years (three years in exceptional circumstances) and provides:

• a basic salary as determined by the host institution (basic scientists will also be provided with a Trust enhancement)
• research expenses (materials, consumables and animals, travel, support to attend scientific meetings)
• subsistence or overseas allowances for periods of time spent outside the fellow's home base
• course fees if appropriate.

Support for research staff and equipment is not normally provided. However, modest requests for equipment may be considered, but you are expected to select a laboratory appropriate to the research proposed, where you will have access to the majority of the necessary equipment and facilities required for the proposed research.

Fellowships may be taken up on a part-time employment basis with the tenure of the award lengthened accordingly.

Formal taught courses or research experience can be obtained either in the UK or overseas. You will need to justify fully your choice of course/laboratory.

Time permitted for non-research activity during the fellowship is normally restricted to a maximum of eight hours each week.

Eligibility

These awards can be held by individuals at any stage of their career, provided that basic scientists have at least two years' postdoctoral experience. Clinicians must have a National Training Number, or an appropriate equivalent, and have completed a PhD.

The proposed research should fall within our normal funding remit.

For fellowships to be held in UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI)
You should have a relevant connection to the EEA.

For fellowships to be held in developing/restructuring countries
You must have a sponsor who can demonstrate he/she has established a strong independent track record of research accomplishment. This could include publications in the international scientific literature, or success in obtaining research funding from the Wellcome Trust or a similar funding agency.

The sponsor's eligibility must be established by early contact with Trust staff. Please direct your initial queries by email to the appropriate funding stream inbox (see 'Contacts') and should include the sponsor's CV, full publication record, details of source of personal salary support, duration of employment contract and a list of research grants held.

Sponsorship and supervision

You must have an eligible sponsoring laboratory in the UK/RoI, developing or restructuring country.

You require a sponsor who holds an established post at the host institution with tenure beyond the duration of the proposed fellowship. An NHS employee should hold an honorary academic appointment. Your sponsor must be in a position to guarantee space and resources required for the fellowship.

You must also have a research sponsor to provide relevant scientific guidance and guarantee space and resources if research is to be undertaken outside the host institution.

Appropriate sponsors will possess strong track records in research and mentorship.

If appropriate, the same individual may act as the sponsor and research sponsor of the proposed fellowship.

Application process

You can submit a preliminary application form [Word 92KB] with the requested accompanying information by email only to the appropriate stream inbox (see ‘Contacts’).

Preliminary applications will normally be assessed within two weeks of receipt.

If successful, you will be invited to submit a full application.

See ‘Deadlines’ for details of final closing dates.

If your full application is successful, you may be short-listed for interview.

You will be notified at least two weeks prior to the interview date as to whether you have been short-listed. Interviews will be conducted at our offices in London.

Fellowships must be taken up within one year of award.

Application advice

You should give careful thought to your choice of research sponsor. Appropriate individuals will possess strong track records in research and mentorship. We would hope that your sponsor will provide you with guidance during the application process, as well as mentorship throughout the fellowship.

Reviewers typically assess:

• your track record
• the scientific merit of the proposed project
• the significance of the science
• the suitability of the research sponsor and host environment.

We will assess in detail the appropriateness of the proposed travel to obtain new experience and the added benefit of this.

Deadlines

This scheme is being discontinued. See Investigator Awards for more information.

The following closing dates for full applications apply:

Applications can continue to be submitted on a rolling basis before the closing date.

Applicants are advised that the Trust may take up to four weeks to assess a preliminary application before a full application can be invited.

Contacts

Enquiries may be directed to the appropriate 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

See Contact us for our postal address.