BBSRC Fellowships scheme is sponsored by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). This scheme invests in researchers seeking to conduct their own independent research within a host laboratory and gain leadership skills. It supports excellent investigator-led research across the breadth of BBSRC's scientific remit.

2025 BBSRC Fellowships scheme – UKRI Funding opportunity: 2025 BBSRC Fellowships scheme Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 4 February 2025 9:00am UK time 7 May 2025 4:00pm UK time Last updated: 7 April 2025 - see all updates Apply for funding to carry out independent research within a host laboratory and gain leadership skills.

You must demonstrate appropriate and relevant research, technical or innovation experience. You are not eligible to apply if you hold or have held a post or position at lecturer level (or equivalent in an institution other than a university). You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding.

There is no limit on the value of the grant. BBSRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost. Your fellowship will last three years.

You can work full time or part time (pro rata). Before applying for funding, check the Eligibility of your organisation . For full details, visit Eligibility as an individual .

This funding opportunity is open to early career researchers and research technical professionals wishing to carry out independent research within a host laboratory. Applicants on an upward trajectory to pursuing working independently and developing research leadership are encouraged to apply. You should be able to demonstrate appropriate and relevant research or innovation experience.

This could be through: recent completion of a PhD or other higher qualification relevant employment within a research or innovation environment You do not need to hold, or be studying for, a PhD in order to apply. We also welcome applications from research technical professionals. You must also be able to evidence reasonable scientific and technical skills and competencies, in line with the ambitions of the Fellowships scheme.

If you are currently studying for a PhD, you are only eligible if you are expecting to have passed your PhD viva before 30 November 2025. There is no limit on the number of years postdoctoral or work experience. Holders of postdoctoral training fellowships such as the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions can apply.

Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin fellows and Daphne Jackson Trust fellows who meet all eligibility requirements may also apply. Applicants that have been included on applications as a researcher co-lead (previously known as a researcher co-investigator) are eligible to apply, provided they still meet all eligibility criteria. You may only submit one application for a BBSRC Fellowship scheme each year.

This funding opportunity was renamed in 2024, it was formerly known as the ‘BBSRC Discovery Fellowships’. This is the only BBSRC Fellowships opportunity open in 2025.

Who is not eligible to apply You should not apply if you hold, or have ever held: a position at lecturer level (or the equivalent in an institution other than a university), unless this is a teaching-only lectureship an equivalent competitive fellowship that allows you to establish an independent research group, and therefore independent researcher status In addition, you should not have been offered such an appointment before taking up a BBSRC Fellowship.

This applies to both fixed-term and permanent positions, and includes positions held at overseas institutions. If you hold a fellowship where you are eligible to supervise PhD students or submit research grants as a project lead, we consider that equivalent to a lectureship. As a result, you are not eligible to apply.

Examples of these fellowships include, but are not limited to: Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Dale fellowships Medical Research Council career development awards Natural Environment Research Council independent research fellowships If you have previously applied for BBSRC grant funding as a project lead or project co-lead, you are also not eligible to apply. Prospective applicants unsure of their eligibility status should email postdoc.

fellowships@bbsrc. ukri. org to confirm before they apply.

We welcome applicants of all nationalities subject to the fellowship being hosted in the UK. All successful applicants who require a visa to work in the UK are eligible to be considered under the Global Talent visa route. This replaces the previous Tier 1 (exceptional talent) route.

In line with the highly prestigious nature of the award, this visa route is designed for international researchers who bring new ideas and perspectives, enriching the UK’s research and innovation workforce. This visa route also enables the holder to be both adaptable and flexible during their research in the UK. Find out more about the Global Talent visa .

The grant of any visa is always subject to the standard Home Office general grounds for refusal of a visa. UKRI can provide additional guidance about the evidence required to complete the visa application process under the Global Talent visa. Please contact globaltalentvisa@ukri.

org for further details. You can apply to subsequent fellowship rounds 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 committee has been addressed.

Unsuccessful research grant applications submitted to other schemes are not eligible to be resubmitted to the BBSRC Fellowship scheme unless the work proposed is substantially different in terms of objectives or work to be carried out. Please see the BBSRC policy on resubmissions and revised submissions for further details.

Applicants for a BBSRC Fellowship are not permitted to simultaneously apply to UKRI Future Leaders fellowships funding opportunity but are permitted to seek support for other projects, from specific research councils or other funders’ opportunities, while their BBSRC Fellowship is under consideration.

Applications to UKRI research councils must fit within the specific remit of that council and BBSRC will not accept applications where the same work is currently undergoing peer review by another research council. BBSRC Fellowships may be held full or part-time. We welcome applications from candidates who wish to work on a part-time or flexible basis to combine their responsibilities with a career.

BBSRC Fellowships can be held on a part-time basis down to 0. 5 full-time equivalent (FTE). In all cases, the length of the fellowship must be extended accordingly on a pro rata basis.

For example, a three-year fellowship on a full-time basis would equate to a six year fellowship with the fellow working 0. 5 FTE, but the value of the award would remain the same. Equality, diversity and inclusion We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity 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: support for people with caring responsibilities alternative working patterns UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

The BBSRC Fellowships scheme will provide support for researchers wishing to undertake independent research and gain leadership skills. The scheme will support the transition of early-stage researchers to fully independent research leaders. As such, BBSRC Fellows represent part of our commitment to the supply of highly skilled professional scientists to the UK.

Through our Fellowship scheme, we will invest in researchers who are seeking to conduct their own independent research within a host laboratory. You must provide strong evidence of working towards this goal, demonstrating an upward trajectory to pursuing independent work within a host organisation. You must show high potential to become future research leaders.

This scheme supports excellent investigator-led research across the breadth of our scientific remit.

You can apply to undertake biotechnology or biological research in: developing tools and technology relevant to biological research We also support non-hypothesis driven applications, including: data-driven, discovery led projects technology development projects Where a project is not guided by an explicit hypothesis there should be clearly articulated goals, justification, and potential outcomes of the project.

Investigations within and across scales are supported, from molecules and cells, to tissues, whole organisms, populations, and landscapes. We welcome multidisciplinary applications that cross into other research council areas but expect the primary focus of your work to fall within BBSRC’s remit. We work with other research councils to ensure that applications close to remit boundaries are assessed by the most appropriate lead council.

Please contact postdoc. fellowships@bbsrc. ukri.

org with any queries about the suitability of your application before applying. We have a strong commitment to funding curiosity-led research and advancing excellent bioscience across our portfolio.

You should continue to indicate how a proposal aligns to BBSRC’s research and innovation priorities, where relevant, and you are encouraged to consider the relevance of your proposed work in line with the long-term research and innovation priorities set out in BBSRC’s strategic delivery plan 2022 to 2025 . The duration of this award is three years. Projects must start by 1 July 2026.

There is no limit on the value of the grant. BBSRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC). We aim to award approximately 15 grants with the funds available.

Although there is no upper FEC limit for this award, you are encouraged to justify how the resources requested are reasonable in the context of the proposed research. Please note what we will and will not fund below. Funding can be used to support: Please note that technical support should be solely for delivering any ‘technical’ skills that are required for the project such as microscopy, bioinformatics or computational experts.

You should not include technical support for the delivery of the day-to-day research of the fellowship.

researchers or research staff, including research technicians purchasing of equipment (for example personal computers, laptops, other computing equipment cameras, or hiring of equipment) We place considerable weight in the awarding of fellowships on evidence that you have given full and careful consideration to the choice of institution.

In all cases, the choice of institution should relate to the research environment and scientific infrastructure of the selected institution. There is therefore no expectation for you to move to a new institution provided the choice of institution is justified. We expect host organisations to provide additional commitments to our fellows.

The reviewers and committee are looking for evidence that the host organisation will contribute significant financial support, in-kind support, or both, if an award is made. To demonstrate commitment to the support and development of BBSRC fellows, we require applicants to describe discussions had with their host organisation, and the package of support that has been agreed.

This should provide details of the support the organisation will be providing to the fellow in support of their fellowship in terms of: financial support: state amount and duration equipment (including provision of dedicated equipment or waiver of access charges) staff time or support: state amount and duration training: give titles of specific courses career development support PhD students: state number and duration We recognise that in some instances, this information may be provided by the research office, the technology transfer office (TTO) or equivalent, or a combination of both.

You must also include the following details: a significant person’s name and their position, from the TTO or research office, or both office address or web link Supporting skills and talent We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment .

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 TR&I Principles 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. View further guidance and information about TR&I , including where you can find additional support.

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. Your host organisation will also be able to provide advice and guidance. Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.

Confirm you are the fellow. 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. 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. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.

Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing. 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.

You should: use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words insert each new image onto a new line provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit) ensure files are smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format Watch our research office webinars about the Funding Service .

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see: how applicants use the Funding Service how research offices use the Funding Service how reviewers use the Funding Service Applications should be self-contained, and hyperlinks should only be used to provide links directly to reference information. To ensure the information’s integrity is maintained, where possible, persistent identifiers such as digital object identifiers should be used.

Assessors are not required to access links to carry out assessment or recommend a funding decision. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

References should be included in the appropriate question section of the application and be easily identifiable by the assessors for example (Smith, Research Paper, 2019) You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. 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 policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment . BBSRC must receive your application by 7 May 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.

BBSRC, 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 privacy notice .

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email postdoc. fellowships@bbsrc. ukri.

org 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) 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 UKRI’s privacy notice .

BBSRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at What BBSRC has funded . If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research . 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: the wider research community Guidance for writing a summary Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of: the challenge the project addresses potential applications and benefits List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following: Only list one individual as fellow. Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications .

What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Explain how your proposed work: is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s) has the potential to advance current understanding, or generate new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area of its focus is timely, given current trends, context, and needs impacts world-leading research, society, the economy or the environment References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service. In the Vision section we also expect you to: identify the potential direct or indirect benefits and who the beneficiaries might be How are you going to deliver your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Explain how you have designed your work so that it: is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how you will manage them uses a clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable) summarises the previous work and describes how you will build on and progress this work (if applicable) will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service. Within the Approach section we also expect you to: provide a detailed and comprehensive project plan, including milestones and timelines in the form of a chart or diagram Applicant capability to deliver Why are you the right individual to successfully deliver the proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Evidence of how you have: the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to make best use of the benefits presented by this funding opportunity to develop your career the right balance of skills and aptitude to deliver the proposed work contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community the appropriate team working or leadership skills (appropriate to career stage) You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

Further details are provided in the Funding Service. The word limit for this section is 1,650 words, 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions. Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you have and how this will help to deliver the proposed work.

You can include specific achievements and choose past contributions that best evidence your ability to deliver this work. Complete this section using the following R4RI module headings. You should use each heading once, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI .

You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasize where appropriate the key skills you bring: contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships contributions to the wider research and innovation community contributions to broader research or innovation, users and audiences, and towards wider societal benefit Additions: Provide any further details relevant to your application.

This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them). You should complete this section as a narrative.

Do not format it like a CV. The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles. Why is this fellowship the right way to develop your career and how will you use it to benefit others?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Ensure that you have identified: career development goals appropriate to the fellowship funding opportunity how the fellowship will provide a feasible and appropriate trajectory for your personal development and to achieve your stated career development goals (as appropriate to your career stage and field) how you will instigate positive change in the wider research and innovation community, for example through Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), advocacy or advisory roles, stakeholder engagement, participation in peer review, influencing policy, public engagement, or outreach Within the Career development section we also expect you to describe: how you will ensure continued research and professional development in those you will be managing on the project, to have a positive research and innovation experience, with opportunities or support to progress their own careers (useful links Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and Technician Commitment ) how the proposed work will provide a feasible and appropriate trajectory for you to acquire additional skills, like research, leadership, communication and management what mentoring arrangements are proposed and how they are appropriate to you Host organisation support How will the host organisation support your fellowship?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Provide a support statement including: evidence detailing how the host will support you, as appropriate for your career development and the vision and approach of the fellowship who you have engaged with in your host organisation (name and role) how your research environment will contribute to the success of the work, in terms of suitability of the host organisation and strategic relevance to the project how the host organisation will ensure your time commitment to the fellowship is protected what development and training opportunities will be provided and how they form a cohesive career development package tailored to your aims and aspirations what financial or practical support, such as access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment, is being provided and how this strengthens your application Within the Host organisation support section we also expect you to describe: evidence of support from the lead of the proposed host research and innovation group (including the project lead, formerly known as principal investigator or fellow) details of the fellowship work to be conducted at another UK or overseas host organisation and how they will support you (if applicable) the negotiations held or other offers considered that informed the decision of the chosen host Resources and cost justification What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular: technical or administrative staff significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences) any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities all facilities and infrastructure costs all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’ Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources.

Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work: are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes maximise potential outcomes and impacts Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI) What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work?

If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why. What the assessors are looking for in your response Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated: the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations how you will manage these considerations You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

If you are collecting or using data you should identify: any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing or storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further reuse of data) formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with Genetic and biological risk Does your proposed research involve any genetic or biological risk?

What the assessors are looking for in your response In respect of animals, plants or microbes, are you proposing to: use genetic modification as an experimental tool, like studying gene function in a genetically modified organism release genetically modified organisms ultimately develop commercial and industrial genetically modified outcomes If yes, provide the name of any required approving body and state if approval is already in place.

If it is not, provide an indicative timeframe for obtaining the required approval. Identify the organism or organisms as a plant, animal or microbe and specify the species and which of the three categories the research relates to. Identify the genetic and biological risks resulting from the proposed research, their implications, and any mitigation you plan on taking.

Assessors will want to know you have considered the risks and their implications to justify that any identified risks do not outweigh any benefits of the proposed research. If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Research involving the use of animals Does your proposed research involve the use of vertebrate animals or other organisms covered by the Animals Scientific Procedures Act?

What the assessors are looking for in your response If you are proposing research that requires using animals, download and complete the Animals Scientific Procedures Act template (DOCX, 74KB) , which contains all the questions relating to research using vertebrate animals or other Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 regulated organisms. Save it as a PDF. The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service. Conducting research with animals overseas Will any of the proposed animal research be conducted overseas?

What the assessors are looking for in your response If you are proposing to conduct overseas research, it must be conducted in accordance with welfare standards consistent with those in the UK, as in Responsibility in the use of animals in bioscience research . Ensure all named applicants in the UK and overseas are aware of this requirement.

If your application proposes animal research to be conducted overseas, you must provide a statement in the text box. Depending on the species involved, you may also need to upload a completed template for each species listed.

Provide a statement to confirm that: all named applicants are aware of the requirements and have agreed to abide by them this overseas research will be conducted in accordance with welfare standards consistent with the principles of UK legislation the expectation set out in Responsibility in the use of animals in bioscience research will be applied and maintained appropriate national and institutional approvals are in place Overseas studies proposing to use non-human primates, cats, dogs, equines or pigs will be assessed during NC3Rs review of research applications.

Provide the required information by completing the template from the question ‘Research involving the use of animals’. For studies involving other species, such as: xenopus laevis and xenopus tropicalis Select, download, and complete the relevant Word checklist or checklists by exploring NC3Rs checklist for the use of animals overseas . Save your completed template as a PDF and upload to the Funding service.

If you use more than one checklist template, save it as a single PDF. The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply. If conducting research with animals overseas does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Research involving human participation Will the project involve the use of human subjects or their personal information? What the assessors are looking for in your response If you are proposing research that requires the involvement of human subjects, provide the name of any required approving body and whether approval is already in place. Justify the number and the diversity of the participants involved, as well as any procedures.

Provide details of any areas of substantial or moderate severity of impact. If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service. Research involving human tissues or biological samples Does your proposed research involve the use of human tissues, or biological samples?

What the assessors are looking for in your response If you are proposing work that involves human tissues or biological samples, provide the name of any required approving body and whether approval is already in place. Justify the use of human tissue or biological samples specifying the nature and quantity of the material