Independent Research Fellowships in the Life and Medical Sciences

The School of Life Sciences and Warwick Medical School are keen to attract and support outstanding researchers looking to take the next step in their independent career and establish themselves as research leaders.

Fellowships are competitively awarded grants which support talented and ambitious researchers to lead an independent programme of research, whilst also providing personal and career development.

A list of Fellowship schemes can be found on our Independent Research Fellowship Schemes page

Fellowships in the School of Life Sciences

SLS welcomes expressions of interest from outstanding researchers that are aligned and complementary to our highly innovative bioscience research:

Fellowships in Warwick Medical School

WMS welcomes expressions of interest from outstanding researchers that are aligned and complementary to our highly innovative biomedical sciences and health sciences research.

Applying for Independent Research Fellowships with SLS or WMS

Applying in 2024

For information on applying for Fellowships with the School of Life Sciences or Warwick Medical School in 2024, please see the individual department webpages.

Applying in 2025

The School of Life Sciences and Warwick Medical School (WMS) are introducing a Joint Review and Selection Process to identify suitable prospective Fellows and provide support in planning and preparing their application(s).

This will run twice a year in the Spring and Autumn to capture Fellowship deadlines due over the following 6 months.

Please be aware that some Fellowship schemes will be subject to additional insitutional selection processes depending on the requirements of the funder/scheme, e.g. UKRI Future Leader Fellowships.

More information on the Process can be found on the SLS-WMS Process for applying for Independent Research Fellowships page

Grant writing tips and advice

A Guide to Fellowships (LAMS workshop)

Slides from the presentation by Dr Kate Rathbone (SLS Research Strategy Development Officer) outlining types of Fellowship, the application process, and things to consider when developing a CV and Fellowship proposal.

A Comprehensive Guide to Fellowship Applications (University of Edinburgh)

This guide was created by Dr Anna Pilz (Institute for Academic Development, University of Edinburgh) to help researchers to understand different types of fellowships and provide guiding questions for self-reflection to assist in identifying suitable Fellowship Schemes and developing proposals.

MRC:12 top tips for writing a grant application

Building grant writing skills can help you secure funding. Updated by popular demand: how to master the application process and make your grant stand out

MRC: Fellowship application myth-busting

MRC confronts four common misconceptions around applying for Fellowships

MRC: A practical guide to applying for scientific kit

Practical advice to help guide your future application.

Research Fortnight: Building better bids

This online bookletLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window presents 12 articles published as part of our Funding Insight section over the last two years. It features interviews with funders, senior and junior grant winners from our dedicated team of reporters, alongside features giving advice on grant writing, strategy and career development.

ASHA: Grantsmanship: Mechanics of Grant Writing

Experienced investigators/reviewers give an in-depth overview of the grant writing process, highlighting recommendations, examples, and mistakes to avoid.

Having Success with NSF: A Practical Guide

Authors: Ping Li, Karen Marrongelle

First published: 3 December 2012

Print ISBN:9781118013984 | Online ISBN:9781118431108 | DOI:10.1002/9781118431108

About this book

This book is designed to help researchers achieve success in funding their National Science Foundation (NSF) research proposals. The book discusses aspects of the proposal submission and review process that are not typically communicated to the research community. Written by authors with successful track records in grant writing and years of experience as NSF Program Directors, this book provides an insider’s view of successful grantsmanship. Written in a practical approach, this book offers tips that will not be found in official paperwork and provides answers to questions frequently asked of NSF Program Directors. The purpose of the book is to improve your NSF grant-writing skills and improve your chances of funding.

The research funding toolkit

Authors: Jacqueline Aldridge, Andrew M Derrington

First published: May 2012

ISBN: 9780857029683, 0857029673, 0857029681, 9780857029676

SAGE Publications Ltd

About this book

Writing high quality grant applications is easier when you know how research funding agencies work and how your proposal is treated in the decision-making process. The Research Funding Toolkit provides this knowledge and teaches you the necessary skills to write high quality grant applications.

A complex set of factors determine whether research projects win grants. This handbook helps you understand these factors and then face and overcome your personal barriers to research grant success. The guidance also extends to real-world challenges of grant-writing, such as obtaining the right feedback, dealing effectively with your employer and partner institutions, and making multiple applications efficiently.

There are many sources that will tell you what a fundable research grant application looks like. Very few help you learn the skills you need to write one. The Toolkit fills this gap with detailed advice on creating and testing applications that are readable, understandable and convincing.

Some final advice for planning a Fellowship Proposal

Fellowship schemes are highly competititve, but when planning your application we would encourage you to consider the following questions to help you plan a well-rounded proposal:

What is your defined biological question and/or hypothesis based approach?
What is the novelty, timeliness and expected impact of your proposed research?
What is your unique selling point, perspective or approach?
Do you have freedom to pursue this line of research? (e.g. agreement with a former supervisor and their support)
How does the project proposal fit strategically with the School of Life Sciences/Warwick Medical School?
Have you identified a suitable supervisor, mentor or collaborators at Warwick?
Will your application benefit from any infrastructure or facilities available at Warwick?
Does your CV demonstrate that your career is on an upward trajectory and that you are ready to embark on an independent research career at this point?
What drives you to have an independent research career and are you able to articulate that?