Imperial College Research Fellowship

The Imperial College Research Fellowship (ICRF) scheme is designed for outstanding early career researchers seeking an opportunity to focus on research and establish scientific independence.

🏫 About Imperial College Research Fellowships

Imperial College London is offering an exciting opportunity for early career researchers to develop independent research programs as part of the Imperial College Research Fellowship (ICRF) scheme. The program aims to recruit the best talent from diverse backgrounds worldwide, across all research fields active at Imperial.

Key Details:

• Date Published: June 26, 2025
• Application Deadline: August 18, 2025
• Category: Fellowship
• Opportunity Location: United Kingdom

Key Dates:

• Closing Date for Applications: Monday, August 18, 2025 (23:59 BST)
• Review Period: September to December 2025
• Start Date for Fellowships: Between August 1, 2026, and December 1, 2026

🎁 Benefits of Imperial College Research Fellowships

As an ICRF Fellow, you will receive a four-year fellowship that includes:

• Competitive Salary: £48,056 - £56,345 per annum
• Research and Travel Costs Contribution: Up to £45,000
• Personal Mentoring Support: From a senior Imperial academic staff member (sponsor)
• Career Support and Development Opportunities: Through the College's Early Career Researcher Institute
• Research Independence: Full responsibility for setting and directing your research agenda, with no obligatory teaching
• Flexibility: Up to 12 months visiting other research institutions and/or industry, including overseas

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. PhD Qualification: Applicants must hold a PhD.
2. Early Career Stage: Candidates should be at the early stages of their research career and demonstrate potential for research independence.
3. Post-PhD Experience: A maximum of 4 years post-PhD research experience (calculated from the PhD defense date to the application deadline).
   • Extensions to this period may be considered for:
     • Career breaks (e.g., parental or sickness leave)
     • Discipline hopping
     • Career changes outside of research
4. Research Base: Fellowships must be based at Imperial College London (any campus) or at fieldwork locations.
5. Mobility: Fellows may spend up to 12 months visiting other research institutions or industry, with a maximum of 6 months at any one institution.

📝 Application Process

Step 1: Contact Proposed Sponsor and Host Department

• Contact your proposed sponsor and host department as early as possible to discuss your intention to apply.
• Obtain information about departmental deadlines and processes.
• Departmental approval is required for all applications.

Step 2: Prepare and Submit Application

• Submit your application via the Imperial Jobs website (ref: NAT01920).
• Required forms include:
  • Research Proposal and Budget (Word, required)
  • Imperial Sponsor Details (Word, required)
• Optional forms:
  • Additional Publications List (Word)
  • Francis Crick Institute Co-sponsor Details (Word)
  • Research Collaborator Letters of Support

Signatures:

• Signatures from the applicant, Head of Department, and Sponsor are required.
• Electronic or original signatures are accepted (typed signatures are not).

Step 3: Confidential Reference Letters

• Two confidential reference letters are mandatory:
  • One from the applicant's current institution (if Imperial, it must be from someone other than the proposed sponsor or host Head of Department).
  • The second from a referee who can comment on the applicant's research abilities.
• Reference letters must be submitted directly by referees to the ICRF Office at researchfellowships@imperial.ac.uk by 23:59 (BST) on August 18, 2025.

📌 Additional Information

Application Deadline:

August 18, 2025

Start Date for Fellowships:

Between August 1, 2026, and December 1, 2026

For more details, visit the Imperial College Research Fellowships page.

To apply, visit the Imperial Jobs website.

📧 Contact Information

For inquiries, please email: researchfellowships@imperial.ac.uk

• A competitive salary (£48,056 - £56,345 per annum)
• A contribution toward research and travel costs (up to £45,000)
• Personal mentoring support from a senior Imperial member of academic staff (sponsor)
• Focused career support, training courses and development opportunities from the College's Early Career Researcher Institute
• The chance to take full responsibility for setting and directing your own research agenda and career trajectory, with no obligatory teaching, and with the possibility of spending up to twelve months visiting other research institutions and/or in industry