Starting your own group

This is a list of fellowships suitable for British developmental biologists looking to start their own group in and outside the UK. This list will be updated as Brexit unfolds and new eligibility requirements arise. Uniquely, developmental biologists, successful for a given award, have kindly agreed to act as advisors for the application process. Please only contact them for questions that aren’t answered on the funding body’s website. If you have been successful with one of the fellowships below and want to help grow our supportive community, please

If you have been successful with one of the fellowships below and want to help grow our supportive community, please contact us. Similarly, please let us know if we have missed an award that you feel would be suitable.

Establishing a group within the UK – institution-specific

Name Eligibility Length of fellowship Institution Advisor
Next Generation Fellowships Within 5 years of PhD 3 years University of Cambridge Amanda Sferruz-Perri
Internally funded research fellowships Within 8 years of PhD 3 years University of Nottingham

Establishing a group within the UK – national

Name Eligibility Length of fellowship Advisor(s)
Sir Henry Dale Fellowships No more than 7 years postdoc experience 5 years Ben Steventon
Research Fellowships – The Leverhulme Trust Post PhD 3-12 months
Research Leadership Award – The Leverhume Trust Post PhD 4-5 years
Human Frontiers Science Program Young Investigators Grant Collaboration between groups. All leaders within 5 years of establishing group 3 years
British Heart Foundation – Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellowships 3 – 6 years postdoc 5 years
MRC Career Development Award PhD holder (normally) no limit on years as a postdoc 5 years Kristian Franze
Royal Society University Research Fellowship 3 – 8 years postdoc 5 years
Cancer Research UK Career Development 3 – 8 years postdoc 6 years Rita Sousa-Nunes
RD Lawrence Fellowship 3 -6 years postdoc Up to 5 years
Research Project Grants – The Leverhume Trust Group leader (to be, early or established) at UK university 5 years
The Lister Institute Research Prize Fellowship 3 < 10 years postdoc One-off cash prize Erica Watson

Establishing a group outside the UK

Name Eligibility Country Length of fellowship Advisor
Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation – Sofja Kovalevskaja Award 6 years postdoc. Lived last 12 months outside Germany Germany 5 years
Human Frontiers Science Program Young Investigators Grant Collaboration between groups. All leaders within 5 years of establishing group Must collaborate across counties 3 years
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