This Wellcome Trust scheme supports researchers of Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage in the UK to undertake activities that put them in a stronger position to reach their next career stage within academia. The funding can be used for research or research-adjacent activities, such as training, secondments, and networking.
Who can apply?
Your background and experience
The lead applicant must:
- Self-identify as being from a:
- Black heritage background, including a mixed heritage background. For example, Black African; Black Caribbean; Black Other; Mixed background (must include Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black backgrounds).
- Bangladeshi heritage background, including a mixed heritage background. For example, Bangladeshi Other; Mixed background (must include Bangladeshi backgrounds).
- Pakistani heritage background, including a mixed heritage background. For example, Pakistani Other; Mixed background (must include Pakistani backgrounds).
- Currently be working in or ordinarily resident in the UK.
- Have completed a substantive period of research training relevant to their discipline by the time they submit the application. You must have either:
- Completed a PhD (for example, in the life sciences) or an equivalent higher research degree. You must have passed your viva examination by the application deadline. Or,
- If you have not started a PhD or equivalent degree, at least four years’ equivalent research experience (for example, in the humanities and social sciences).
If you hold your first permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract, you must have been appointed within the last three years unless, during this time, you:
- spent time away from research due to personal circumstances (for example, for a career break, parental leave, long-term sick leave or a chronic illness)
- worked part-time and research was not part of the role (for example if you have been employed as a healthcare professional)
- worked part-time and your cumulative research time is less than three years
If you hold a proleptic appointment, you can request your salary costs from Wellcome for the duration of the award.
Health professionals
If you are a health professional and want to continue with clinical activities, you must be registered with and licensed by the relevant professional regulator in the country you intend to work in. Read our Q&As for health professionals.
Read about the different applicant roles at Wellcome.
Where you’re based
You must be currently working in or ordinarily resident in the UK.
Your administering organisation must be in the UK. The grant cannot be held at an organisation outside the UK at any time.
Your nationality
Any nationality is eligible, as long as you meet the conditions outlined above for the lead applicant.
Other Wellcome awards
You cannot apply for this scheme if you are an early-career researcher or mid-career researcher who already holds another Wellcome award as a lead applicant.
If you already hold other active awards with Wellcome from previous funding opportunities, please refer to our information on applying for and holding multiple Wellcome awards at one time.
Submission of projects that were previously rejected from other Wellcome funding schemes is allowed.
If you’ve spent time away from research
Career breaks, parental leave, sick leave
You can apply for this award if you have spent time away from research (for example, for a career break, parental leave or long-term sick leave). We will take this into consideration during the review of your application.
Working part-time
Lead applicants can be part-time. There is no formal time contribution, but your part-time work should be compatible with delivering the project successfully.
Who can’t apply
You should not apply for this scheme if:
- you do not self-identify as belonging to one of the heritage backgrounds outlined in the ‘Who can apply’ section above
- you are not currently working in or ordinarily resident in the UK
- you have held your permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract for more than three years (unless the exceptions above apply)
- you have not completed a substantive period of relevant research training as defined above
Is your organisation right for this scheme?
Type of organisation
You must be based at an eligible host organisation that can sign up to our grant conditions.
It can be a:
- higher education institution
- research institute
- non-academic healthcare organisation
- not-for-profit organisation
Where your administering organisation is based
Your administering organisation must be in the UK.
What your administering organisation must do
Your administering organisation must:
- Meet the responsibilities required by the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers for institutions, managers and researchers.
- Commit to supporting you in completing the funded activities (for example, by adjusting administrative or teaching requirements, or providing space and resources for a research project).
- Give you ten days a year (pro rata if part-time) to undertake training and continuing professional development (CPD) in line with the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. This should include the responsible conduct of research, research leadership, people management, diversity and inclusion, and promoting a healthy research culture.
- Provide a system of onboarding, embedding and planning for you when you join the organisation and/or start the award.
If your host organisation is a core-funded research organisation, a Wellcome Accelerator Award should not replace or lead to a reduction in existing or planned core support.
Is your project in scope for this scheme?
What your plan can include
The funding is flexible and can be used for research activities or activities adjacent to research. This includes, but is not limited to:
- developing a novel research idea, pilot, proof-of-concept, or scoping study and gathering related preliminary data
- taking up research skills training opportunities or other appropriate courses
- writing and (co-)authoring papers, books, articles or funding applications
- research time at another research institution in the UK or abroad
- secondment opportunities for areas allied to research (for example the pharmaceutical industry or non-governmental organisations)
- planning meetings of collaborative networks or conferences
This is not an exhaustive list of eligible activities. Applicants are encouraged to propose activities they believe will best enable them to reach their next career stage.
If your plan includes research activities, research in any discipline is permitted but must align with Wellcome’s Discovery Research remit.
If your plan includes research-adjacent activities, they must either:
- be related to human life, health and/or wellbeing, for example writing a book or research article about human health, or doing a secondment at a pharmaceutical company, or
- be supporting you to pursue a research career related to human life, health and/or wellbeing, for example attending relevant training that will build the skills you need or make your profile more competitive in this field.
This award is designed to support successful career progression in academia. Please refer to the assessment criteria below for further information on how applications will be assessed.
Research costs we’ll cover
How to apply
Where to apply
You need to apply for this scheme on the Wellcome Funding Platform. Get some tips to help you write your grant application.
Visit funding web page
(https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/wellcome-accelerator-awards)
