ED&I fellowships, prizes and/or awards
Various fellowship schemes exist for early career researchers who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances, such as caring responsibilities or health issues:
Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship: This 5-year fellowship offers a recognised first step into an independent research career for outstanding postdoctoral scientists who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances. This can include parental responsibilities, caring responsibilities, clinically diagnosed health issues or other personal circumstances that create a need for a flexible working pattern. Research must be within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences and you must have no more than six years' postdoctoral research experience may apply.
Deadline: November 2021
L'Oréal UK and Ireland Fellowships For Women In Science: This scheme aims to promote, enhance and encourage the contribution of women pursuing their research careers in the UK or Ireland. Candidates must identify as female postdoctoral level researchers with no more than 10 years' active full-time equivalent postdoctoral experience (discounting career breaks, but including teaching experience and/or time spent in industry). Five fellowships, worth £15,000, are awarded annually.
Deadline: March 2022
Daphne Jackson Fellowships: This scheme offers researchers the opportunity to return to a research career after a break of two or more years for a family, health or caring reason. The Fellowships are usually for 2- or 3-years (depending on the sponsorship arrangement) at 0.5 FTE (full-time equivalent).
Various grants and/or awards exist to support and/or help promote women in science:
British Federation of Women Graduates Scholarships: This scheme is awarded to female 3rd Year Ph.D. students of any nationality studying at a UK University. The amounts offered in awards range upwards from £1000 with the average award being around £3000 and the maximum being £6000. The number of awards made each year depends on the funds available and on the quality of the applications but six to ten awards are usually given
Deadline: February 2022
Funds for Women Graduates: An educational charity that awards award grants to assist with the living expenses of women postgraduate students, typically in the final year of work towards a PhD or equivalent degree. This includes Foundation Grants (up to £6,000) and Emergency Grants (up to £2,500)
Deadline: March 2022 (Foundation Grants) October 2021 & May 2022 (Emergency Grants)
Rosaline Franklin Award - Royal Society: The Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award is awarded annually for an outstanding contribution to any area of STEM. The recipient of the award is expected to spend a proportion of the grant on implementing a project to raise the profile of women in STEM in their host institution and/or field of expertise in the UK. There are no restrictions on the age of nominees, though it is anticipated that the award will be made to an individual with 6 – 20 years post PhD, with a maximum of 20 years post PhD or equivalent by the closing date of the round. Nominations are welcomed for both men and women.
Deadline: November 2021