Apply now for Career Development Fellowship Program (United Kingdom)

The Royal Society’s Career Development Fellowship (CDF) is a four-year postdoctoral research fellowship offering research funding and a structured programme of mentoring, training, and networking. It is designed to support the retention in STEM of early career researchers from underrepresented backgrounds, with the scheme currently piloted for researchers from Black heritage. The application deadline is 18 November 2026 (status shown as open on the source page). The Career Development Fellowship (CDF) is intended to help retain talented early career researchers from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. The fellowship supports award holders to conduct high-quality, curiosity-led research in the UK while also providing mentoring, training, and networking to support career development. The scheme is described as a pilot with researchers from Black heritage. If successful, the pilot may be broadened to researchers from other underrepresented groups (as stated in the source).

The fellowship aims to:

The Royal Society also states it embeds equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles into its grant-making processes and reviews policies and processes regularly.

Funds can cover:

The scheme includes a bespoke programme of: The source also notes flexibility to accommodate personal circumstances, including: In addition, Royal Society Research Fellows may access further career development and engagement opportunities, including training on leadership and science communication/public engagement, and activities coordinated by science policy and schools engagement teams (details referenced as available on the Royal Society opportunities page). This scheme is for applicants who meet all of the following criteria (as stated): The source advises applicants to read the scheme notes for further information on eligibility and to ensure they meet all requirements before applying. The fellowship supports research within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, including (but not limited to): The source states that The Royal Society and Alzheimer’s Society Career Development Fellowship funds an applicant carrying out research directly relevant to dementia, excluding clinical and interventional studies on humans. (Additional priority areas beyond the above are not specified in the provided text.) The Career Development Fellowship is positioned as a targeted, early-career postdoctoral route to help researchers from Black heritage backgrounds establish and sustain research careers in the UK. In addition to funding for research costs and salary-related support, the scheme includes a structured programme of mentoring, training, and networking intended to support long-term career development in STEM. The pilot design also reflects the Royal Society’s stated focus on improving equity and representation across the academic pipeline. The source states that you will apply through the Royal Society’s application and grant management system, Flexi-Grant®. The source references a general overview page titled “Application and assessment process” for selection steps. Specific steps beyond “apply on Flexi-Grant®” are not included in the provided text. The source states that assessment is overseen by the Career Development Fellowship panel, and shortlisted applicants will be invited to an in-person interview at the Royal Society to demonstrate the importance and scientific validity of their work. What is the Career Development Fellowship (CDF)? It is a four-year postdoctoral research fellowship by the Royal Society that provides research funding plus a programme of mentoring, training, and networking to support early career researchers in establishing research careers in the UK. Who can apply? Applicants must self-identify as being from Black heritage (including mixed Black background) and meet additional criteria including UK connection (UK national or UK education/UK postdoctoral position), PhD status with less than 24 months postdoctoral experience, and research within the Royal Society’s natural sciences remit. Where must the research be conducted? The source states that eligible applicants are those who wish to conduct their research in the UK. How much funding can applicants request? Applicants can apply for up to £703,800 over four years. The source also states relocation and visa costs for the Fellow and dependants can be requested in addition to the total grant cap. What does the fellowship funding cover? The source specifies salary and associated on-costs (80%), directly allocated costs (80%), research expenses (100%), and additional relocation/visa costs (as described). When is the deadline to apply? The deadline shown on the source page is 18 November 2026. The deadline time and time zone are not specified in the provided text. How are applications assessed? Assessment is overseen by the Career Development Fellowship panel. Shortlisted applicants are invited to an in-person interview at the Royal Society to demonstrate the importance and scientific validity of their work. Review the Career Development Fellowship scheme notes and Royal Society Funding Guidance referenced on the opportunity page to confirm eligibility, funding rules, and any scheme-specific requirements. Then prepare your application in Flexi-Grant® and ensure it is submitted by 18 November 2026 following the official application and assessment process described by the Royal Society. For more information, visit The Royal Society.