The NIHR Postdoctoral Award is aimed at anyone with a PhD or a submitted PhD thesis under assessment who hasn’t yet been appointed to a professorial post. This award provides funding to help you develop your academic career across a broad range of postdoctoral career stages.
The award supports research in any scientific discipline or sector that can demonstrate a contribution to improving health, including public health or social care and is within the NIHR’s funding remit.
It also supports individuals who wish to develop their academic careers while continuing as practitioners, including Health and Care Professionals and PhD holders in local authority settings. For these applicants, up to 40% of award time may be dedicated to practice or policy roles.
Webinar: Learn about the new Postdoctoral Award
This one-hour webinar will walk you through the award, explain what funding committees look for, and offer tips to strengthen your application. 10am on 28 March.
Register for the webinar to learn about the award
Eligibility
To be eligible for the award, you must:
- hold a relevant PhD or MD, or have submitted your thesis for examination at the time of application. You must have been awarded your PhD or MD by the time you attend the interview
- propose to undertake the award at a Higher Education Institution (HEI), NHS body, Local Authority or other provider of health or social care services, either in England or a participating devolved nation
- not already hold a chair position at the point of application
- for clinical applicants: must have completed relevant pre-registration training
More details about eligibility can be found on the Postdoctoral Award page.
What is available through a Postdoctoral Award?
The Postdoctoral Award provides funding for:
- your salary (including clinical service or practice time where applicable)
- a research project
- a support post to assist your research (including a training and development budget)
- the cost of a tailored academic and professional development programme
- annual conference budget
Full details of costs for this scheme are available via the Postdoctoral Award page. Guidance about how to cost your application is available via the NIHR finance guidance.
How much can you apply for?
With the exception of staff and conference costs, there are no strict budgetary caps. All costs must offer value for money and be fully justified in your application, please refer to the finance guidance for applicants for more detail.
How to work out the duration of your award
This is a flexible award, and you are able to choose a duration of between 2 and 5 years Full Time Equivalent (FTE). You can also take it up on a full time or part-time basis between 50% and 100% FTE.
If you work in a clinical or local authority setting, you will have the option to request up to 40% of your time to be dedicated to clinical practice and development work, with this time funded by the award. Find out more about how to calculate your award duration.
Looking for some advise to help your application? Check-out our Salon Webinar Recording – Navigating the NIHR Academic Funding Track
Visit funding web page
(https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/postdoctoral-award-cohort-1/202598)
