International Senior Research Fellowships

Purpose

This scheme supports outstanding researchers, either medically qualified or science graduates, who wish to establish a research career in an academic institution in selected European countries - Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakian Republic and Slovenia.

Applicants wishing to apply for a Fellowship in an academic research institution in India should visit the Wellcome Trust-DBT India Alliance website.

Please note that following a review of the International Senior Research Fellowship scheme, opportunities for funding in South Africa will focus on supporting scientists at senior, intermediate and training level wishing to undertake work in the areas of public health and tropical medicine.

For information on current award holders, arranged by geographical region, see the International Fellows directory.

What's included

The fellowship is for five years, and provides:

• a salary, set according to age, experience and the appropriate academic scales
• essential costs of the research programmes, including consumables, equipment, collaborative travel, research assistance and technical support if appropriate
• a flexible funding allowance and support to attend scientific meetings, in addition to requested essential costs.

All budgetary requests must be fully justified.

You should discuss the appropriate salary with your sponsor.

Eligibility

You should have between five and ten years' research experience at a postdoctoral level or clinical equivalent and have a substantial record of publications in your chosen area of research in leading international journals.

Your proposed research must be conducted at an academic institution in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakian Republic or Slovenia.

You need not be a national of the country in which you wish to hold the fellowship.

We usually expect candidates to have spent a significant period of their postdoctoral (or equivalent) research career working outside their chosen country. However proposals can also be considered from those who have pursued successful careers entirely in-country.

Applications are particularly encouraged from outstanding scientists working outside their own countries who wish to return home.

Sponsorship

You must have a sponsor in your host department who will guarantee space and facilities, and can guarantee that you will be welcomed in the host institution. Your sponsor must hold an established post at the host institution.

It is not necessary for your sponsor to sign the preliminary application form, but it should be noted that full applications will not be processed unless your sponsor is able to guarantee all these requirements.

Your host institution should be able to provide a future career position for you, subject to its usual selection procedure. We would hope that on completion of your award you would be given the opportunity to become a more permanent member of staff.

Any host institution that has not previously received substantial Wellcome Trust funding must be assessed for eligibility to apply and to receive Trust funds. We will inform the applicant of our requirements for this assessment.

If you applied last year and were not short-listed to submit a full application, you are not restricted from re-applying, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for the scheme.

Application process

You must complete and submit a preliminary application form [Word 207 KB] by the published deadline.

• An electronic copy of the completed form (as a Word document) should be emailed to the appropriate funding stream (see 'Contacts').
• Three hard copies (one to be the signed original) should be sent to the Trust's postal address, marked for the attention of the appropriate funding stream.

Full submission details are included in the guidance notes [Word 89KB].

You will be notified in writing of your success, or otherwise, in reaching the next round of the competition. Decisions will not be available by telephone.

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

Your application will be reviewed by the relevant Funding Committee and, if successful, you will be short-listed for interview.

Application advice

You are encouraged to contact the appropriate funding stream (see 'Contacts') if you have any queries regarding the scheme, a potential application or career issues.

We particularly welcome applications from outstanding scientists working outside their own countries who wish to return home.

You may not apply for more than one Wellcome Trust fellowship scheme at any one time.

Deadlines

This is an annual competition.

• Preliminary application deadline: 5 June 2009
• Full application deadline: 11 September 2009
• Funding Committee review: February 2010
• Short-listed candidate interviews: March/April 2010

Late applications will not be accepted at any stage.

Fellowships must be started within one year of award.

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
F +44 (0)20 7611 7288
E iid@wellcome.ac.uk

Populations and Public Health
F +44 (0)20 7611 7288
E pph@wellcome.ac.uk

Neuroscience and Mental Health
F +44 (0)20 7611 8687
E nmh@wellcome.ac.uk

Physiological Sciences
F +44 (0)20 7611 8687
E phs@wellcome.ac.uk

Molecules, Genes and Cells
F +44 (0)20 7611 8352
E mgc@wellcome.ac.uk

See Contact us for our postal address.