Early-career research fellowships in the Faculty of Health
The University of Sheffield’s Faculty of Health invites applications from ambitious researchers seeking externally funded research fellowships to support their transition to the next stage of their career.
Why Sheffield?
We welcome candidates whose research interests align with those of colleagues across the Faculty of Health academic schools and interdisciplinary research institutes and centres.
Across our Faculty, we conduct world-leading and impactful research, spanning from discovery biology through to major public health interventions and the translation of new knowledge into innovation for patients.
Our three academic schools possess a range of state-of-the-art facilities, centres and laboratories, along with strong links to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Learn more about working and living in Sheffield, as a city. There are also benefits of working at the University of Sheffield.
Research areas
Follow the links below to look at research opportunities in the different schools that make up the Faculty of Health.
School of Allied Health Professions, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery
School of Medicine and Population Health
Support for fellowship applications and successful fellows
We are committed to supporting researchers by enhancing their experience at the University and contributing to their career development. During the fellowship application process and following the award of a fellowship, the Faculty of Health provides the following support:
Mentoring
All applicants and successful fellows will have a dedicated mentor to guide them through the application process and their career.
Career training and professional development
The University offers a comprehensive training and career progression package to support wider professional development.
Learn about the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers
College of Fellows
Successful fellows can join our College of Fellows, an independent body that provides a collective voice and fosters a supportive community for fellows.
Faculty of Health Fellows’ College
Progression to open-ended research position for selected fellowships
For selected fellowship schemes, the funder may require the host School to commit to providing a route to an open-ended research position on completion of the fellowship (in line with organisational employment policies and practices). It is essential that you contact the relevant School Director of Research and Innovation or School contact to discuss this requirement as soon as possible as you will need Head of Division or Head of School support to proceed.
Fellowship schemes and funders
The Faculty of Health are supporting early career fellowship applications to the following externally funded schemes, subject to fit with School research priorities. We expect that most fellowship proposals will take at least 6 months to fully develop so there is considerable time commitment involved. For some fellowship schemes, a competitive institutional selection process is required, due to a funder-imposed limitation on the number of applications the university can submit.
- ERC Starting Grant
Overview: Provides long term funding for outstanding early-career researchers to deliver ambitious, creative, and original research that goes beyond the state of the art to deliver a step change in the field
Duration: 5 years
Frequency: Annual. Deadline usually in October.
- ERC Consolidator Grant
Overview: Supports established Principal Investigators to advance ground breaking research and consolidate their independent teams. The scheme funds ‘ambitious, creative, and original research’ that goes beyond the state of the art to deliver a step change in the field
Duration: 5 years
Frequency: Annual. Deadline usually in January.
- MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship
Overview: Provides funding for registered healthcare professionals to establish themselves as independent investigators.
Duration: 5 years
Frequency: Three times per year. Application rounds usually close every January, April and September.
- MRC Career Development Fellowship
Overview: Supports postdoctoral researchers to make the transition to independent researcher by developing leadership in their own specialist area of research and establishing their own research team.
Duration: 5 years
Frequency: Two opportunities to apply each year, with closing dates usually in April and September.
- Wellcome Early Career Award
Overview: Provides funding for early-career researchers who are ready to develop their research identity. Through innovative projects, they will deliver shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme.
Duration: 5 years
Frequency: Three times a year - Deadlines in February, May, September
Schemes requiring additional host institution commitment
- NIHR Postdoctoral Award
Overview: Salaried time to undertake funded postdoctoral research and a bespoke training and development programme.
Duration: Between 2-5 years
Frequency: Twice per year with deadlines in July and December.
Host institution commitment: Expectation that host organisation provides significant additional support for Awards of more than 3 years e.g. additional research assistants or PhD students. NIHR funding committees will score the ongoing commitment provided by the host e.g., the potential of an ongoing post which includes research.
- Wellcome Career Development Award
Overview: Provides funding for mid-career researchers who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing.
Duration: Usually 8 years
Frequency: Three times a year - Deadlines in March, November and July
Host institution commitment: Expectation that host organisation provides you with a permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract by the end of the award.
- NIHR Clinical Future Leaders Fellowship
Overview: Salaried time for senior postdoctoral clinical academics to undertake funded research and a bespoke training and leadership development programme.
Duration: 7 years
Frequency: Once per year with a deadline in January.
Host institution commitment: Contributing to tapered salary costs throughout the fellowship, committing to the provision of an open-ended UK based independent research or innovation position, to be taken up during or upon the completion of the fellowship (in-line with organisational employment policies and practices)
Institutional selection process deadline: 8 December 2025, 12 noon. See here for selection process details. (Next internal selection process expected to open in early Autumn 2026).
- UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship
Overview: Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF)’s are personal awards to support fellows to develop as impactful and influential research or innovation leaders.
Duration: 7 years
Frequency: Once per year with a deadline in June.
Host institution commitment: A salary tapering requirement and commitment to providing an open-ended UK based independent research or innovation position, to be taken up during or upon the completion of the fellowship (in line with organisational employment policies and practices)
Institutional selection process deadline: 23 January 2026, 12 noon. See here for selection process details. (Next internal selection process expected to open in late Autumn 2026).
How to apply for a fellowship
Check the scheme guidance thoroughly, ensure you meet the eligibility criteria and make sure you are aware of any institutional selection processes.
Contact a host academic, research group, centre or institute lead to gain support for your fellowship proposal. The host academic/research lead will act as your sponsor and must be willing to support you throughout the application process.
Complete the expression of interest form linked below and send it to the relevant School contact (along with a two-page CV). The School will then make a decision whether to support the application based on the strength of the applicant, proposed project and fit to School research strategies.
If approved to proceed, the applicant will be added to the Faculty of Health fellowships pipeline, appropriate research support will be allocated, and a timeline for submission to the funding scheme will be agreed.
Expression of interest form
View the expression of interest form
