Research Fellowships

Student in labThe College of Medical and Dental Sciences is at the forefront of medical, dental and health research with over 900 researchers and in excess of £320M live research funding.

We are looking to recruit the brightest and the best researchers to develop their academic careers here and help shape our biomedical research, delivering innovative outputs that inspire and engage stakeholders within and beyond academia. To this end, we are creating a support programme for outstanding clinical and non-clinical researchers who wish to apply for independent research fellowships funded by organisations such as the European Union (EU), Research Councils UK (particularly MRC and BBSRC), the Wellcome Trust, other research charities such as Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation and Arthritis Research UK, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

While we have a broad research portfolio, and particularly welcome interdisciplinary approaches, we would expect you to align with our key strengths in the following areas:

 Institutes
The Institute of Applied Health Research Our internationally leading experts help to tackle global societal challenges, from occupational health risks in the UK and Europe to childhood obesity in China. 
The Institute of Cancer Sciences and Genomic We make a unique and powerful contribution to understanding how genetic abnormalities within cancer cells lead to disease. We use this information to design and rigorously assess new and proven cancer treatments.
The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences We are world leaders in several areas of cardiovascular work, including research into the behaviour of platelet cells, white blood cells, atrial fibrillation and angiogenesis.
The Institute of Clinical Sciences Co-ordinating all teaching and student engagement activity, the institute equips students with the skills to deliver outstanding healthcare and carry out life-changing medical research. This is informed by pedagogy and by research in the fields of dentistry, pharmacy and other clinical areas. 
The Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy Birmingham has a very strong history of immunology research going back 30 years, and with one of the greatest concentrations of scientists and doctors in the world is well positioned to make a world-leading contribution.
The Institute of Inflammation and Ageing From basic science to community exercise classes, we cover every aspect of research into and treatment of inflammation-driven illnesses.
The Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research For many years we have led the global field in metabolism research, particularly in endocrinology. We are also at the forefront of systems-level studies of the human metabolome – how our bodies function at a more complex level.
The Institute of Microbiology and Infection With one of the largest groupings of microbiologists in the world, we are at the vanguard of innovative research into combatting antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance.

We have extensive experience and an excellent track record of securing prestigious fellowships, and will be keen to work with outstanding applicants to develop and deliver the best possible applications.  

What does the Fellowship offer?

  • The opportunity to further your research in an extremely well-integrated multi-disciplinary campus, based in a world-class medical research institution
  • Access to cutting-edge research facilities, both biomedical and clinical, as well as a regional population of around 6 million people in the West Midlands enabled by strong relationships with local NHS Trusts
  • Depending on the fellowship awarded, help with start-up costs, moving expenses and priority access to PhD studentships
  • A vibrant working environment where clinicians work closely with basic scientists and where there are opportunities for collaboration and mentoring by world leaders in nationally-badged centres of excellence
  • Birmingham is an attractive city  and one of the top 10 cities in the world, with excellent schools and first class international and local transport links

What our current Fellows say

In this video, Dr Gambus describes her experience as a Birmingham Research Fellow in the College of Medical and Dental Sciences. 

Birmingham Fellows: Dr Aga Gambus

Supporting our Fellowship applicants

Fellowship opportunities exist at all stages of the academic career path, although some are only open to EU citizens. They are prestigious awards that not only cover the fellow’s salary but normally pay for research expenses and travel costs to support a programme of work.    

We will review your CV, eligibility for fellowship schemes, and alignment with our research strengths and where appropriate introduce you to a senior academic mentor who will support you throughout the whole application process.

Eligibility criteria

Applications are welcomed from clinical and non-clinical scientists at all levels.

  • You should have an excellent research track record with publications in high impact journals
  • Your proposed research project should contribute to our key areas of research strengths listed above
  • You should have a clear vision of your research direction
  • You will be expected to show the independence and leadership qualities required to develop an internationally competitive research programme

Please note, it takes at least 4 months to develop a good fellowship application and the time period between the submission of an application and award can be up to 12 months so please contact us as soon as you can.

How to apply or notify us of your interest

If you are interested in finding out more about the College of Medical and Dental Sciences and applying for externally funded fellowships, please complete the enquiry form and send this with a copy of your CV to mdsfellowships@contacts.bham.ac.uk.