Early independence: BBSRC fellowships: full stage (Fellowship)
UK Research and Innovation, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Award
Up to £9m
Total fund Up to £9m
Deadline
Closes 23 September 2026
Where
UK-wide
Summary
Apply for a BBSRC fellowship to further your career through an independent research project. You must: be an early career researcher hold a PhD qualification (or equivalent experience) be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding
Who can apply
You can only apply for this funding opportunity if you submitted an application to ‘OPP1203: Early independence: BBSRC fellowships: outline’ funding opportunity and have been shortlisted by your research office. This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible . Who is eligible to apply This fellowship is open to applicants who hold a doctorate or who can evidence equivalent research experience and are aiming to establish their own research niche and demonstrate independence. You must: evidence skills, experience, career development and productivity across past appointments have your own research plans that do not significantly overlap with those of others have the support of an eligible UK organisation This fellowship is open to a diversity of research and innovation staff, including researchers, innovators, research technical professionals and research software engineers, who can meet the aims of the funding opportunity. We value intellectual, methodological and technical career paths and there are no time-bound eligibility criteria, for example years of postdoctoral experience. You do not need to hold, or be studying for, a PhD in order to apply. However, if you are currently studying for a PhD, you are only eligible if you are expecting to have submitted your PhD thesis before the BBSRC fellowship interview with the condition of having been awarded the PhD by your fellowship project start date. 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 funding opportunity open in 2026. Who is not eligible to apply You are not eligible to apply if: you have applied for another UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) career transition fellowship of any category, and your award is being assessed you have been awarded, hold, or have previously held another UKRI career transition fellowship of the same category (professional doctorate fellowship, early independence fellowship, future leaders fellowship (FLF)), and you are continuing to work in the same discipline and / or sector as the previous award you have been awarded another UKRI early independence fellowship or FLF you have part of the fellowship project under consideration as a grant application with any organisation and your application is being assessed you have secured grants as a project lead that include support for and leading of research staff such as postdoctoral research associates, as this would indicate you have already established your own research niche and independenc you hold or have held a fellowship where you are eligible to supervise PhD students as first supervisor, or are able to submit research applications as a project lead If you are unsure of your eligibility status, then email postdoc.fellowships@bbsrc.ukri.org to confirm before you apply. International researchers Fellowships are open to applicants of any nationality, with the condition that your fellowship must be based in the UK at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding. Where applicable, you will need to comply with the UK visas and immigration requirements and hold a work permit prior to taking up the fellowship. Work permits are a matter for direct negotiation between the institution, the UK Visas and Immigration department and the Home Office. All successful applicants who require a visa to work in the UK will be eligible to be considered under the Global Talent visa route. This visa route is designed for people who are internationally recognised as world leaders or potential world leading talent in the fields of science and the arts and enables the holder to be both adaptable and flexible during their research in the UK. The grant of any visa is always subject to the standard Home Office general grounds for refusal of a visa. UKRI is able to provide additional guidance regarding the appropriate evidence required to complete the visa application process under the Global Talent visa route. If you have queries around the Global Talent visa, please contact globalmobility@ukri.org Applications are welcome from candidates who intend to use the fellowship as a means of re‐establishing themselves in the UK following a period overseas, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the fellowship. Part-time fellowships 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. It is possible to change from part time to full time, or full time to part time at any point during the lifetime of the award but with an expectation of a min 0.5 FTE. Fellows must ensure that any other employment or commitments do not conflict with the fellowship or compromise the time and effort required to deliver it. A part-time fellow should not normally hold an additional part-time appointment alongside the fellowship. 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. Resubmissions Resubmissions of identical fellowship applications across UKRI are not permitted. However, you may submit revised applications that clearly address feedback from previous assessment. Applicants to the 2025 BBSRC Fellowships Scheme that did not receive feedback on their applications may submit an otherwise unaltered project.
Full details
Apply for this Early Independence Fellowship to support you to establish your own research niche, and conduct independent research within a host laboratory. You must hold a doctorate or evidence equivalent research experience and be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding. Applicants must have submitted an outline application and have been shortlisted by their research office to apply. There is no limit on the value of the grant. Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC). Your fellowship will last three years. You can work full time or part time (pro rata). This is the full stage of the funding opportunity, and we are implementing institutional caps. You are advised to read all of the guidance provided and only applications previously submitted to the outline stage will be accepted.