The London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (LISS DTP) is offering four ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowships for October 2027. They give social scientists who have just finished a PhD protected time to turn their thesis into publications, build skills and networks, and plan their next career step, hosted at King’s College London, Queen Mary University of London or Imperial College London.
These are career development awards, not project grants. The fellowship is built around developing you as a researcher, and new research can’t be funded through it. For dementia researchers working in the social sciences, such as dementia care, health services and policy, ageing and society, health economics or public health, it’s a useful bridge between the PhD and a first postdoc role.
What it funds
Fellowships run for up to 9 months full-time or up to 18 months part-time, starting on 1 October 2027. Full-time fellowships must finish by 30 June 2028. The award covers the fellow’s salary, plus a budget of up to £7,500 for other costs such as mentoring, travel, conferences, training, and impact and engagement events.
Each fellow is supported by a mentor at their host institution, who would not normally be their PhD supervisor. LISS publishes a list of mentors willing to support applications, and working with a non-academic partner organisation is encouraged. Our guide on what makes a good mentor may help you think about who to approach.
Who can apply
- A UK PhD. Your PhD must have been completed in the UK at a UK research organisation. You must have been awarded your PhD, or passed your viva with minor amendments, by 23 March 2027, and have it awarded by 1 October 2027. You don’t need to have held an ESRC studentship.
- Early in your postdoc career. No more than 12 months of active postdoctoral experience, counted from the date you passed your viva to 23 March 2027.
- Social science focus. Single or combined disciplines are welcome, but at least half of the fellowship activities must sit within the social sciences, and your proposal must fit one of LISS DTP’s six research areas: Global Health Innovation; Business Analytics, Management and Applied Economics; Language, Culture and Education; Environment and Sustainability; Global Order and Security; or Public Policy and Governance.
- One application only. You can apply to only one DTP. Applying to more than one gets all of your applications withdrawn.
Lab-based and biomedical researchers won’t be eligible for this one. The Global Health Innovation and Public Policy and Governance areas are the most natural fit for social science work on dementia.
Deadlines and decisions
There are two stages:
- Expression of interest. Submit the online EOI form, plus the online diversity monitoring form, by 10:00 on 17 December 2026. You’ll hear by the end of January 2027 whether you’ve been invited to the next stage.
- Full proposal. Invited applicants email the application form and mandatory attachments to LISS by 23:59 on 23 March 2027.
Interviews take place in May or June 2027, with decisions in mid-June. Successful proposals then go to the ESRC at the end of June, ahead of the 1 October start.
LISS is running an online applicant briefing on 23 November 2026, 13:00–14:00 GMT, which is worth joining if you’re thinking of applying.
How to apply
Start with the call specification and FAQs on the LISS website, check the mentor list, and get in touch with a potential mentor early. If you’re new to fellowship applications, our guide to securing your first research fellowship walks through how to build a strong case. Questions about the scheme go to the LISS DTP team at liss-dtp@kcl.ac.uk.
Read the full details and apply
Visit funding web page
(https://liss-dtp.ac.uk/esrc-pdf/)