Opportunity status:
Open
Funders:
Funding type:
Fellowship
Total fund:
£6,000,000
Publication date:
4 June 2025
Opening date:
4 June 2025 9:00am UK time
Closing date:
1 October 2025 4:00pm UK time
Last updated: 17 June 2025 -
Apply for an STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (ERF) to work on an independent research project. Projects must be within the remit of STFC’s core science programme.
You must:
* be an early career researcher
* hold a PhD qualification or have relevant experience and clear leadership potential
* be hosted by an eligible UK research organisation with a STFC ERF quota
You must not hold a tenured academic post or academic position at lecturer level.
We will fund your application at 80% of its full economic cost. The host research organisation must agree to find the rest.
The fellowship will last up to five years.
Who can apply
To lead a project, you must be based at an eligible organisation. .
Who is eligible to apply
Ernest Rutherford Fellowships are intended for early career researchers who do not hold a tenured academic position at lecturer level. You are not eligible if you currently hold an academic position at lecturer level or the equivalent in institutions other than universities. If you secure an academic position at lecturer level prior to the offer of a fellowship, you will be ineligible to hold the fellowship.
You must hold a PhD or have relevant experience at the time of applying for an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship.
Years of experience
We do not define eligibility for Ernest Rutherford fellowships in terms of a minimum number of years of experience. Instead, you should read the assessment criteria to determine if you have the skills, knowledge and experience to apply for an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship.
Eligible institutions
Fellowships may be held at an eligible UK research organisation with an STFC ERF quota.
ERF departmental quota
You are advised to contact your proposed host department as early as possible and certainly well ahead of the deadline for submission of applications.
Departments may have internal processes to select which candidates to support and the deadlines for these may be several weeks in advance of the STFC closing date. Departments should not expect you to accept an offer to be hosted before 18 July 2025.
We set a strict limit on the number of applications that each department may submit. Therefore, it may not be possible for a host to support all interested applicants.
See the list of departments, contacts and internal deadlines (PDF, 203KB).
Any departments who exceed their limit will be required to withdraw the excess applications. It is therefore very important that you seek assurance from your proposed host department that your application can be accommodated within its limit.
Fellowship applications associated with the Cockcroft or John Adams institutes are made through the relevant partner institution but are counted against the Cockcroft or John Adams Institute limits and should be flagged in their application.
Fellowship applications associated with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre are counted against the University of Edinburgh School of Physics and Astronomy limit.
Inclusive selection process
Host organisations must provide a statement describing the inclusive process they have used to select their chosen candidates by completing an online survey by 1 October 2025. Submission of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) statement is mandatory for departments submitting an ERF application.
The intention of this survey is to better understand the process by which departments are selecting candidates and to identify examples of best practice. The statement should describe the process used to identify potential candidates. It should not include personal details of potential candidates nor any details that may enable them to be identified.
Applications submitted by host organisations will be assessed by the STFC Education, Training and Careers Committee.
A list of the questions that will be on the survey can be found in the ‘Additional information’ section.
Choice of organisation
We recognise that mobility is not the only means to acquire the skills and experiences necessary to build a research career. We also recognise the need for having a fixed institution to provide unique facilities or opportunities, and other circumstances where moving would be unsuitable, such as domestic arrangements.
To demonstrate a commitment to the development of ERFs, we expect you to have agreed with the Head of Department of the host institution their support, and evidence this in the appropriate ‘Host organisation support’ section of the application.
Resubmissions
You can apply to the 2025 fellowship round if you were previously unsuccessful with the same, modified or a different fellowship application providing that you still meet the eligibility criteria. If you are resubmitting the same project, you should ensure that any feedback previously given by the panel has been addressed. We reserve the right to reject an application if the panel’s comments have not been addressed.
Unsuccessful research grant applications submitted to other schemes are not eligible to be resubmitted to the STFC Fellowship scheme unless the work proposed is substantially different in terms of objectives or work to be carried out.
Please note the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) submission policy is under review and we may not accept uninvited resubmissions in future opportunities.
Who is not eligible to apply
The following are not eligible to apply. You should not apply if you hold, or have ever held:
* a permanent position at lecturer level (or the equivalent in an institution other than a university) that includes setting up a group and conducting your own research
* an equivalent competitive fellowship that allows you to establish an independent research group, and therefore independent researcher status
* a tenured academic post
If you are unsure of your eligibility status, please email to confirm before you apply.
Other funding
You should not be in receipt of duplicate funding for the same or similar application from more than one funding agency. Details of similar applications that have been submitted to other funding agencies must be added in the ‘Other funding support’ section of the application. You must advise us if a successful funding decision is made by the other funding agency.
Applicants who have applied for the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships can also apply for an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship but cannot hold two fellowships which fund their working time simultaneously.
International applicants
Fellowships are open to applicants of any nationality. Where applicable, you will need to comply with 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 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.
In line with the highly prestigious nature of the award, 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.
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.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are 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 during the application and assessment process.
Applications are welcome from those seeking to resume a research career, following a period of absence from active research of, normally, at least one year. The break may have been due, for example, to long term illness, injury or disability, family or caring responsibilities, parental leave, personal reasons, working in non‐academic employment.
If this applies to you then you could consider applying for the .
You should make clear any substantive periods of absence from research within your application. This can be included under ‘Additions’ in the ‘Applicant capability to deliver’ section. Further details on the nature of the absence and how it has affected track record, productivity and career progression may be provided if desired. Information provided will be used only to make appropriate adjustments when assessing an individual’s track record, productivity, and career progression.
Full or part time
Fellowships can be held either on a full‐time or a part‐time basis by applicants wishing to combine their fellowship with caring responsibilities.
A part‐time award can be held at 50% or above of full‐time equivalent. A part‐time fellow may not hold another part‐time position in conjunction with the fellowship. The period of award for fellowships held on a part‐time basis will be extended on a pro rata basis.
What we're looking for
Scope
The aim of an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship is to support future scientific leaders to establish a strong, independent research programme.
The project must afford scope for original work and align to STFC strategic objectives and core business areas:
* astronomy, solar and planetary science
* particle physics
* particle astrophysics
* nuclear physics
* accelerator science
* computational science
* quantum technologies
If you are unsure if your research falls under STFC’s remit, please email ahead of the application process.
The role of the fellow will be to undertake their own research programme.
Duration
The duration of this award is five years.
Projects must start by 31 March 2027.
Funding available
Fellowship applications are costed on the basis of full economic cost (FEC). If a fellowship is awarded, STFC will provide funding at 80% of the FEC requested.
The host institution must agree to fund the balance of FEC for the application from other resources. Universities and other higher education organisations use the transparent approach to costing (TRAC) methodology to calculate FEC.
For further information about FEC, see the .
What we will fund
Ernest Rutherford Fellowships provide funds to cover your salary, the costs of personal travel and some minor equipment costs. These will have been awarded under the ‘Directly incurred costs’ heading. Fellows who have returned from a career break may also use funds applied for retraining and updating their skills where this has been justified in the context of the proposed research project.
You may request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project however, your host organisation must provide funding for any costs associated with reasonable adjustment as part of your employment.
Salary
Your salary will have been agreed with your proposed host institution prior to submitting an application. The agreed salary should be in accordance with the institution’s standard recruitment and employment practices. The appointment level on the institution’s salary scale should be justified in the application. The salary costs requested should include employer’s national insurance and superannuation contributions.
Salary increments over the period of the fellowship should be taken into account, but not anticipated future pay awards. We will award funds on the basis of the agreed salary scales at the time of announcement, with provision for future years increase on the basis of standard UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) indexation rates. Once announced the grant will not normally be increased to take account of different indexation rates.
Travel
Personal travel is taken to include necessary collaborative visits and fieldwork, and attendance at one conference workshop or symposium during each year of the fellowship. This excludes fieldwork and visits that form part of the work of a research group with which you may be associated.
If you are associated with an STFC research grant, you must ensure that any travel connected with the research project for which the grant was given is claimed from that source.
You should estimate in your application all personal travel and subsistence funds required during the lifetime of the fellowship. Travel and subsistence costs are expected to be around £2,200 each year. If there are exceptional circumstances for applying for additional funding in excess of the guidance levels. Please give justification in your application.
Other costs
You may request minor equipment and consumables up to a total of £5,000 for the duration of the fellowship under ‘Directly incurred other costs’.
At the end of the fellowship, any resources purchased will belong to the institution. If there are exceptional reasons for applying for more than the guideline level, then justification of these costs should be included in your application.
We do not fund mentoring time and this cost should not be included in the funding costs. Laptops may be costed where a new member of staff (for example, a fellow) who is employed purely for the grant will require this, or where a higher specification is required for the completion of specific grant related activities such as data modelling or enhanced graphics.
These costs should be applied for under ‘Directly incurred other costs’.
Relocation and visas
If you are moving to the UK from overseas to take up an award, you may request relocation and visa costs including Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and Certificate of Sponsorship.
These costs should be applied for under the ‘Directly incurred other costs’ heading on the proforma and are in addition to the £5,000 under ‘Other costs’.
We will award relocation costs up to a maximum of £1,200 if moving from Europe or £3,000 if moving from outside of Europe.
Directly incurred costs
Costs that are explicitly identifiable as arising from the conduct of a project are charged as the cash value actually spent and are supported by an auditable record. Ernest Rutherford Fellowships provide funds to cover your salary, the costs of personal travel and some minor equipment costs.
These should be requested under the ‘Directly incurred costs’ heading. If you are returning from a career break you may also apply for funds for retraining and updating your skills where this can be justified in the context of the proposed research project.
Directly allocated costs
Estates costs include building and premises costs, basic services and utilities and appear under the ‘Directly allocated costs’ heading. Estates costs are calculated by the research organisation on application.
Pooled technician costs can also be claimed under ‘Other directly allocated’ costs.
Indirect costs
Indirect costs include the costs of administration, such as personnel, finance, library and some departmental services. Like estate costs, indirect costs will be calculated by the research organisation and a single figure will be entered on the application.
Read about funding available in the .
What we will not fund
We will not provide funding in research grants for any publication costs associated with peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers. UKRI provides direct funding to research organisations for this purpose. Fellows that were awarded publication costs associated with research outputs other than journal articles and conference papers, such as books, monographs, critical editions, catalogues and so on may, however, claim these as a ‘Directly incurred other cost’.
The Ernest Rutherford Fellowship is for an independent research project. You cannot apply for costs to fund postdoctoral research assistants (PDRAs) or PhD students.
Supporting skills and talent
We encourage you to follow the principles of the and the .
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)
UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.
As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.
See, including where you can find additional support.
How to apply
We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.
The fellow is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.
Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.
To apply
Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.
1. Confirm you are the fellow.
2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email
Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.
3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.
Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.
When including images, you must:
* provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)
* insert each new image on a new line
* use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application may be rejected if you include:
* sentences or paragraphs of text
* tables
* excessive quantities of images
A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.
For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:
* * *
References
References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.
Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:
* references are easily identifiable by the assessors
* references are formatted as appropriate to your research
* persistent identifiers are used where possible
General use of hyperlinks
Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.
For more information see our .
Deadline
STFC must receive your application by 1 October 2025 at 4:00pm UK time.
You will not be able to apply after this time.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.
Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.
Personal data
Processing personal data
STFC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our .
Sensitive information
If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email
Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].
Typical examples of confidential information include:
* individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
* declaration of interest
* additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
* conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
* the application is an invited resubmission
For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read .
Publication of outcomes
STFC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at .
If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the .
Summary
Word limit: 550
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:
* opinion-formers
* policymakers
* the public
* the wider research community
Guidance for writing a summary
Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:
* context
* the challenge the project addresses
* aims and objectives
* potential applications and benefits
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
* fellow
Only list one individual as fellow.
UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.