Independent Early Career Fellowships
The Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB) offers a dynamic and collaborative research environment for early career researchers who are looking to establish their independent career. Fellows will benefit from our world-class infrastructure and facilities as well as our mentoring programme.
The dynamic and inclusive environment at MIB makes it a fantastic place to start an independent career in cross-disciplinary research and innovation. We are committed to supporting talented early career researchers to secure competitive independent fellowships from UKRI, the Wellcome Trust, the Royal Society, ERC and others.
Sarah Lovelock / Fellowship Committee Chair
We are looking to support talented early career researchers with a proven track record of research who are ready to start their independent research career. Prospective candidates will be matched with a suitable home department and will receive support from our MIB Fellowship Committee with all aspects of a fellowship application. Support will include identification of suitable internal and external fellowship schemes, advice on the development of your scientific research proposal, resource planning & costings, and interview preparation.
Why The Manchester Institute of Biotechnology?
The MIB is a world-leading interdisciplinary research centre that was awarded the 2019 Queen’s Anniversary Prize for our pioneering research in industrial biotechnology. Our research spans fundamental bioscience discoveries through to commercial impact and realization of real-world applications. The institute is home to major strategic funding initiatives as well as strong partnerships with industry and philanthropic foundations. We have a proven track record in supporting the development of early career researchers who have secured competitive independent fellowships and gone on to lead highly successful academic research groups.
Application process
Internal and external candidates that would like to apply for an independent research fellowship hosted in the MIB should apply through our ‘Expression of Interest’ calls that will be held twice a year in November and May.
The deadline for submission to the next expression of interest round is 22nd November at 4pm. You should apply to this call if you would like to be considered for fellowships including the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, Wellcome Career Development Award, MRC Career Development Award, the University of Manchester Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellowship or the Dean’s Prize.
Please send an up-to-date CV including a full publication list and a 2-page research proposal to sarah.lovelock@manchester.ac.uk. The research proposal should include:
- Research objectives
- A detailed research program (e.g. work packages) and an indication of timescales
- Potential impacts of the proposed research
- Long-term independent research vision and strategy
Applications will be evaluated based on scientific merit and alignment to our strategic research missions: 1) Advance fundamental bioscience and technology development; 2) Deliver sustainable bio-based chemicals and materials for clean growth; 3) Establish new biotechnologies for production and delivery of advanced therapeutics; and 4) Engineer biological solutions for environmental protection.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview where they will be asked to give a 5-minute presentation.
We are strongly committed to promoting equality and diversity in higher education and we strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented groups to apply. We also welcome applications from those returning from a career break. The university is supportive of flexible working arrangements, has family-friendly policies, and provides support to allow staff to achieve a good work-life balance. The University will actively foster a culture of inclusion and diversity and will seek to achieve true equality of opportunity for all members of its community.