Entries open for Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships 2025 (United Kingdom)

The Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship (DHF) programme aims to support the next generation of research leaders undertaking cutting edge research by offering a recognised first step into an independent research career for outstanding scientists who have a current need for flexible support (e.g. need to work part-time).

Objectives

• The objectives of the DHF programme are to enable outstanding early career scientists, with the potential to become leaders in their field, to:
  • Work flexibly from the outset and during the tenure of their fellowship, e.g. on a part-time basis or converting from full-time to part-time and back again to help match work and other commitments
  • Build an independent research career at a UK university or research institution
  • Gain the freedom, time and long-term flexible support to pursue high-quality and innovative lines of scientific research
  • Develop as research leaders by offering tailored high-quality professional development, networking and engagement opportunities.

Subject Covered

• Research must be within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, which includes but is not limited to biological research, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics.
• Submissions from clinically qualified scientists may be considered. The Society does not support clinical or interventional research on humans at the individual or group level, social sciences, or humanities, unless otherwise stated.

Funding Information

• Applicants are permitted to apply for up to £1.87M. This is a maximum value over eight years (i.e. the total contribution requested from the Society may not exceed £1.87M).
• It is expected that a minimum of £30,000 of research costs per annum will be requested within the total award
  value of £1.87M.
• Fellowships are expected to commence between 1 October 2025 and 1 January 2026

Eligibility Criteria

• This scheme is open to:
  • Applicants at an early stage of their research career, who have either completed their PhD or have no more than six years of actual research experience since their PhD (i.e. date on which the PhD thesis was accepted in its final form and approved by the board of graduate studies) by the closing date of the round. Career breaks and part-time working are taken into consideration (see below for more details).
  • Applicants who can demonstrate a need for flexible support due to personal circumstances which is current by the start of their Fellowship. This can, but not exclusively, include: parental caring responsibilities (e.g. raising children or being the primary career for ageing or seriously ill family members) and or clinically diagnosed health conditions. Please note that the need for flexibility must comprise an ongoing rather than potential situation; as such, they would expect that any caring responsibilities would impact an applicant’s general daily routine in order to justify any flexible working arrangements offered by this Fellowship. Further clarification on these eligibility requirements can be obtained from the Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships Team.
• Host Organisation Eligibility
  • Fellowships must be held in a UK Higher Education Institute (HEI), a UK Research Council-supported Research Institute (RCI), a not-for-profit research institute (IRO), or a Public Sector Research Establishment (PSRE).
  • Candidates are not required to move host organisations for the proposed fellowship; however, those wishing to remain at their current organisation should clearly explain their planned route to independence and reasons for staying.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Hold a permanent post (including a proleptic position) in a university or not-for-profit research organisation.
• Hold or previously have held an equivalent fellowship within the UK to establish an independent research group and therefore independent researcher status (such as but not limited to being the recipient of a nationally competitive research fellowship of 5 or more years which can be held at any UK host organisation and provides funding for your salary and your research costs staff costs). For example, UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, STFC Rutherford Fellowship, NERC Independent Research Fellowship, EPSRC Early Career Fellowship, Sir Henry Dale Fellowship or BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship.

Assessment Criteria

• The scientific track record of the applicant commensurate with research experience: past achievements, research career to date, publication record, likely contribution to research field, future potential to become a research leader.
• The scientific merit, originality, significance and quality of the proposed research project and likelihood of achieving goals.
• The suitability of host organisation including appropriate expertise equipment and research environment as well as support for career development.

For more information, visit The Royal Society.