Applications now open for 2023/24
The EPSRC Doctoral Fellowship scheme allows universities to recruit and retain the very best newly qualified doctoral PhD students, and to help them launch careers in research.
The University of Cambridge EPSRC DTP has funding for up to two fellowships and applications are invited from anyone who meets the following eligibility criteria:
- you have been supported by recent EPSRC PhD funding*;
- you have the right to work in the UK;
- a University of Cambridge PI has been identified;
- the doctoral thesis must have been submitted (and viva ideally completed) before the Doctoral Fellowship commences
- you should be in the top 10-15% of EPSRC-funded students in your PhD host department;
*Any student who has received a recent EPSRC studentship at a UK institution is eligible to apply. This includes: CDT (both CDT grant funded and Incorporated), DTP, I-CASE, and NPIF-funded DTP. Those funded by other Research Councils or other funders are not eligible, including students aligned to EPSRC CDTs funded from non-EPSRC sources. Whilst it is not specified by EPSRC what constitutes recent funding, we would expect no longer than a year to have passed since the end of the funding period (when stipend payments stopped) to the start of the fellowship.
Applicants should propose a project that falls within an EPSRC theme, and has the support of a Cambridge academic who is willing to be the Fellowship PI. Early discussions with potential PIs are encouraged.
Please note that proposed projects should not be an extension of the PhD, but will constitute a new and discrete body of work which will increase the impact of the PhD work.
Appointments will be made at Research Associate Grade 7, spine point 41 (current rate £34,308) and are available for a maximum of two years in duration.
Application Process
Applicants must submit the following documents by 11.59pm on Friday 9 June 2023
- Completed and Fully Signed Application Form
- CV
- Completed CHRIS6 Form
- Reference from the PhD Supervisor (using the template provided
- Second Academic Reference (using the template provided
- Copy of EPSRC Funding Offer letter (external candidates only)
Completed applications must be submitted to the fellowship host department, however you are welcome to submit documents 3, 4 and 5 directly to spsgraded@admin.cam.ac.uk which will be collated by a member of the School of the Physical Sciences office and will be reviewed by the interview panel only.
All data is retained in line with GDPR requirements.
To assist with the application process and to ensure that all documents are submitted correctly, please refer to the following document:
Assessment and Interview
Applications will be considered by the Directors of Education in the Schools of the Physical Sciences and Technology. Short-listed candidates will be invited to a brief (normally 15-20 minutes) interview during which they will provide a five minute presentation about their proposed project and answer questions from the panel. Note that this panel may include people who are non-specialist or who do not have a science background and interviewees will be expected to explain their projects accordingly.
Interviews are scheduled to be held on Thursday 6 July in person.
The criteria used to select successful candidates will be as follows:
- Application meets the eligibility criteria and conditions of the award
- Track record of the application which will cover:
- research conducted as part of the PhD
- other opportunities the applicant has taken up such as researcher development training, teaching, public engagements, knowledge transfer etc.
- Quality of the proposed project plan, including novelty, methodology and planning
- Potential of the applicant to show independence and leadership ability
- Fellowship fits with declared career goals of the applicant
- Appropriateness of the resources requested and the support indicated from the proposed Fellowship PI and host department
Whilst there is potential for any department to host a doctoral fellow, within the remit of an EPSRC theme, the following are our key departments and the links below may be helpful in identifying potential PIs.
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Computer Science and Technology
Materials Science and Metallurgy
Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics