Apply for funding to carry out independent research within a host laboratory and gain leadership skills. You must demonstrate appropriate and relevant research, technical or innovation experience.
You are not eligible to apply if you hold or have held a post or position at lecturer level (or equivalent in an institution other than a university). You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding.
There is no limit on the value of the grant. BBSRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost.
Your fellowship will last three years. You can work full time or part time (pro rata).
Who Can Apply?
Before applying for funding, check the Eligibility of your organisation.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service.
For full details, visit Eligibility as an individual.
Who is eligible to apply
This funding opportunity is open to early career researchers and research technical professionals wishing to carry out independent research within a host laboratory. Applicants on an upward trajectory to pursuing working independently and developing research leadership are encouraged to apply.
You should be able to demonstrate appropriate and relevant research or innovation experience. This could be through:
- recent completion of a PhD or other higher qualification
- relevant employment within a research or innovation environment
You do not need to hold, or be studying for, a PhD in order to apply.
We also welcome applications from research technical professionals.
You must also be able to evidence reasonable scientific and technical skills and competencies, in line with the ambitions of the Fellowships scheme.
If you are currently studying for a PhD, you are only eligible if you are expecting to have passed your PhD viva before 30 November 2025.
There is no limit on the number of years postdoctoral or work experience.
Holders of postdoctoral training fellowships such as the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions can apply. Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin fellows and Daphne Jackson Trust fellows who meet all eligibility requirements may also apply.
Applicants that have been included on applications as a researcher co-lead (previously known as a researcher co-investigator) are eligible to apply, provided they still meet all eligibility criteria.
You may only submit one application for a BBSRC Fellowship scheme each year.
This funding opportunity was renamed in 2024, it was formerly known as the ‘BBSRC Discovery Fellowships’.
This is the only BBSRC Fellowships opportunity open in 2025.
Who is not eligible to apply
You should not apply if you hold, or have ever held:
- a position at lecturer level (or the equivalent in an institution other than a university), unless this is a teaching-only lectureship
- an equivalent competitive fellowship that allows you to establish an independent research group, and therefore independent researcher status
In addition, you should not have been offered such an appointment before taking up a BBSRC Fellowship. This applies to both fixed-term and permanent positions, and includes positions held at overseas institutions.
If you hold a fellowship where you are eligible to supervise PhD students or submit research grants as a project lead, we consider that equivalent to a lectureship. As a result, you are not eligible to apply.
Examples of these fellowships include, but are not limited to:
- Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Dale fellowships
- Medical Research Council career development awards
- Natural Environment Research Council independent research fellowships
If you have previously applied for BBSRC grant funding as a project lead or project co-lead, you are also not eligible to apply.
Prospective applicants unsure of their eligibility status should email postdoc.fellowships@bbsrc.ukri.org to confirm before they apply.
International applicants
We welcome applicants of all nationalities subject to the fellowship being hosted in the UK.
All successful applicants who require a visa to work in the UK are eligible to be considered under the Global Talent visa route. This replaces the previous Tier 1 (exceptional talent) route.
In line with the highly prestigious nature of the award, this visa route is designed for international researchers who bring new ideas and perspectives, enriching the UK’s research and innovation workforce.
This visa route also enables the holder to be both adaptable and flexible during their research in the UK.
Find out more about the Global Talent visa.
The grant of any visa is always subject to the standard Home Office general grounds for refusal of a visa. UKRI can provide additional guidance about the evidence required to complete the visa application process under the Global Talent visa. Please contact globaltalentvisa@ukri.org for further details.
Resubmissions
You can apply to subsequent fellowship rounds if you were previously unsuccessful, with the same, modified or a different fellowship application providing that you still meet the eligibility criteria. If you are resubmitting the same project, you should ensure that any feedback previously given by the committee has been addressed.
Unsuccessful research grant applications submitted to other schemes are not eligible to be resubmitted to the BBSRC Fellowship scheme unless the work proposed is substantially different in terms of objectives or work to be carried out. Please see the BBSRC policy on resubmissions and revised submissions for further details.
Applicants for a BBSRC Fellowship are not permitted to simultaneously apply to UKRI Future Leaders fellowships funding opportunity but are permitted to seek support for other projects, from specific research councils or other funders’ opportunities, while their BBSRC Fellowship is under consideration. Applications to UKRI research councils must fit within the specific remit of that council and BBSRC will not accept applications where the same work is currently undergoing peer review by another research council.
Part-time fellowships
BBSRC Fellowships may be held full or part-time. We welcome applications from candidates who wish to work on a part-time or flexible basis to combine their responsibilities with a career.
BBSRC Fellowships can be held on a part-time basis down to 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE). In all cases, the length of the fellowship must be extended accordingly on a pro rata basis. For example, a three-year fellowship on a full-time basis would equate to a six year fellowship with the fellow working 0.5 FTE, but the value of the award would remain the same.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.
We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:
- career breaks
- support for people with caring responsibilities
- flexible working
- alternative working patterns
UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.
Visit funding web page
(https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/2025-bbsrc-fellowships-scheme/)
