The Wellcome Trust is accepting applications to support early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity.
Through innovative projects, they will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme.
Funding Information
A Wellcome Early-Career Award provides a salary for the grantholder and up to £400,000 for research expenses. If you are eligible to request overheads or overseas allowances
The award usually lasts for 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines, such as humanities and social science.
Eligible Countries
UK, Republic of Ireland, Low- or middle-income countries (apart from India and mainland China)
Eligibility Criteria
You can apply to this scheme if you are an early-career researcher and you are ready to design, plan and deliver your own innovative research project that aims to:
advance understanding in your field
develop methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research.
During the award, they expect you to:
expand your technical skills and/or your experience of different research methodologies or frameworks
build a collaborative network with other researchers in your field
develop your people management skills
advance your understanding of how to complete research responsibly and promote a positive and inclusive culture
At the point you submit your application, you must have completed a substantive period of research training relevant to your discipline.
You must have:
completed a PhD (for example, in the life sciences) or an equivalent higher research degree. At the point of application you must have passed your viva examination.
if you have not started a PhD or equivalent degree, at least four years’ equivalent research experience (for example, in the humanities and social sciences)
They consider postdoctoral experience as any periods spent in research after you passed your PhD/higher research degree viva.
You should be able to demonstrate:
a good understanding of research methodology
evidence of project delivery and analysis.
You should not need close supervision to complete your proposed research, although you may need training in new techniques and experimental approaches.
Ineligible
You have an existing tenured (salaried) post for the duration of the award. You can only relinquish an existing tenured (salaried) post to take up an Early-Career Award if your current post is not research-based.
You have made an application to this scheme and you are waiting for a decision.
You hold, or have held, an equivalent award at this career stage. An equivalent award does not include short-term funding.
You cannot apply if you intend to carry out activities that involve the transfer of grant funds into mainland China.
