UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships

• To develop, retain, attract and sustain research and innovation talent in the UK.
• To foster new research and innovation career paths including those at the academic/business and interdisciplinary boundaries, and facilitate movement of people between sectors.
• To provide sustained funding and resources for the best early career researchers and innovators.
• To provide long-term, flexible funding to tackle difficult and novel challenges, and support adventurous, ambitious programmes.

Investment of around £1.5 million over four years, with the ability to extend to up to seven years, will enable the next generation of researcher and innovators to benefit from outstanding support to develop their careers, and to work on difficult and novel challenges.

The FLF scheme has funded fellowships from £300,000 to over £2m, and there is no preference for lower or higher cost proposals.

This includes support for applicants from diverse career paths, including those returning from a career break or following time in other roles.

The support offered is long-term and flexible, with seven years of support available on a 4 (+3) model.

UWS will offer substantial additional support to successful applicants including,

• Funding to recruit a full-time PhD student
• Mentoring and Support from Faculty and Professional Services e.g. bid writing support.

Applicants must have approved support from the proposed host department.

These fellowships are for early career academics and innovators who are transitioning to or establishing independence.

Applicants are expected to hold a doctorate by the start date of the fellowship OR to be able to demonstrate equivalent research/innovation experience and/or training.

There are no eligibility rules based on years since PhD or whether the applicant currently holds a permanent/open-ended academic position or job role. However, individuals who currently hold a permanent position should:

• show that their current position does not demonstrate that they have achieved research/innovation independence and thought leadership
• provide a clear rationale why a Future Leaders Fellowship would be different to their current role
• clearly state that all their working time costed to the fellowship would be dedicated to that fellowship to focus on research/innovation, shielded from other professional commitments
• demonstrate that a Future Leaders Fellowship would be the best way to support their long-term career goals and chosen career route. Applicants who have already achieved research/innovation independence (for example, by securing funding aimed at this career stage) will not be competitive. Senior academics and innovators are not permitted to apply.

The next round of Future Leaders Fellowship (Round 9) opens on 29^th February 2024 with a closing date of 18^th June 2024. Full details can be found at https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/future-leaders-fellowships-round-9/  

Individuals should initially approach the relevant Research Lead to ensure their research aligns with the Research and Innovation Strategy and the research ambitions of the University. Details of UWS Research Institutes, Centres and Groups can be found at https://www.uws.ac.uk/research/research-institutes-centres-groups/.  

An open and inclusive selection process will be used to ensure UWS is selecting the best candidates to support to the full application stage. This will include scrutiny by an internal review panel of each candidate’s draft proposal, CV & outputs.

Please be aware that this call is being demand managed. UKRI have imposed caps on all Universities for this round and UWS can only submit two applications. This email sets out the internal selection process.

Only applicants with the backing of a host School will be eligible for the UWS internal selection process. A maximum of two applications per School (max 8 in total) will be considered by the University Review Panel.

The University Review Panel, chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Innovation and Engagement, will select their applicants from the submitted applications that are supported by a host School.

The two applicants selected for submission will receive support to complete a full application.

Applications are welcome from anyone whose research interests fit within the remit of UKRI. In practice, this means any Early Career Researcher can apply.

However, the FLF scheme is very competitive and as such, applicants MUST have an outstanding track record relative to their level of experience. Your accomplishments should therefore be beyond the level normally expected of someone of your career stage.

14^th February 2024

Internal call and process issued.

2^nd April 2024

Deadline for internal response to call with 4 page Case for Support, CV and draft Institutional letter of support – see guidance docs.

9^th April 2024

School to nominate maximum of 2 applications per School to be considered by University review panel.

16^th April 2024

Review panel meet and decide maximum two applications for submission to UKRI.  Communicate decision to applicants.

14^th May 2024

Near final draft proposals sent for Peer review.

4^th June 2024

Internal deadline for full submission to Research Services for approval, including Institutional Letter of support.

18^th June 2024

Full submission to UKRI.