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NERC independent research fellowships

Independent-level fellowships

The internal Oxford Physics selection process for the 2026 round of this fellowship is OPEN

Summary

Internal Oxford Physics EOI deadline: 14 April 2026, 12:00 UK time
Funder deadline: 16 June 2026,  (Royal Society Flexi-Grant portal), 16:00 UK time

  • Five-year fellowship to support early-career researchers seeking to establish an independent research career.
  • Open to scientists working within the NERC remit.
  • Covers the fellow’s salary and research costs
  • Applicants must have submitted their PhD thesis by the time of interview and must not hold, or have held a permanent academic post or independent fellowship.
  • All queries: fellowships@physics.ox.ac.uk

Overview

The NERC Independent Research Fellowship (IRF) enables outstanding early-career environmental scientists to develop their research vision and leadership potential. The scheme supports individuals who demonstrate the ability to deliver independent, world-class research aligned with NERC’s remit, which spans the atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere, terrestrial and freshwater environments, and Earth observation science.

The fellowship provides five years of funding, including the fellow’s salary, research expenses, and travel costs. The 2026 call guidance has been published and is available here:  https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/early-independence-nerc-independent-research-fellowship-2026/

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • have submitted their PhD thesis before the fellowship interview (normally held in ~February-March of the year following submission);
  • not hold, or have held a permanent academic position* at the time of application;
  • no hold, or have held an independent fellowship* at the time of application;
  • propose research that clearly falls within the NERC remit; and
  • be able to demonstrate research leadership potential and the ability to deliver an independent programme of environmental research.

Applications are open to candidates of any nationality.

*If you are unsure about whether a previous or current role meets these criteria, please contact the Oxford Physics fellowships team (fellowships@physics.ox.ac.uk)

Applicants requiring support from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) must complete a pre-award operations support planning questionnaire as outlined in NERC guidance.

Key dates and deadlines (2026 round)

  • 14 April 2026, 12:00 UK time – Oxford Physics internal EOI deadline (see below)
  • ~ 21 April 2026 – Results of internal sub-department sift announced
  • 9 June 2026 – Internal approval deadline. Final application and costing must be submitted for internal approval by this date
  • 16 June 2026, 16:00 UK time – Application funder deadline via TFS (https://funding-service.ukri.org/signIn) 

Oxford Physics EOI submission

Submit your EOI to fellowships@physics.ox.ac.uk, copying your Oxford Physics sponsor. Your submission must include:

  • Completed Oxford Physics NERC IRF EOI form (Word template*);
  • One supporting document (max 2 pages, PDF) containing your academic CV and outputs list;
  • Sponsor copied into the submission email.  Applications without a sponsor cc’d will not be considered.

*If you require the EOI form in an alternative format, please contact the Fellowships team directly (fellowships@physics.ox.ac.uk) 

Oxford Physics NERC IRF EOI Form 2026

Additional information

Sponsor - Applicants must secure an Oxford Physics academic sponsor in advance. The sponsor must be copied into your EOI submission email . If you require help identifying a potential sponsor, contact fellowships@physics.ox.ac.uk. 

EOI assessment - NERC does not cap  the number of applications Oxford Physics may support. EOIs are therefore simply reviewed for quality and for alignment with the funding scheme. 

EOIs are reviewed by the appropriate sub-department against a simplified version of NERC IRF criteria, as described on the Oxford Physics EOI form. In summary, reviewers will consider:

  • Research excellence, originality, and importance within or beyond the field;
  • Potential to advance current understanding or generate new knowledge;
  • Timeliness and relevance within the environmental sciences context;
  • Potential for world-leading impact on research, society, economy, or environment;
  • Applicant’s capability and experience (relative to career stage) to deliver the work, including leadership potential and contribution to a positive research culture.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Oxford Physics supports flexible working and recognises that career paths are not linear. Applicants are encouraged to highlight contextual factors such as career breaks, caring responsibilities, or health-related circumstances in the EOI contextual information section. Alternatively, details can be shared confidentially with the Research Facilitation Team at fellowships@physics.ox.ac.uk.

The department particularly welcomes EOIs from individuals from underrepresented groups in physics. If you have difficulty securing a sponsor or require specific support or accommodations during the process, please contact the Fellowships Facilitation Team (in confidence if required).

For more information, visit our ED&I webpage.