UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship

Summary

 Oxford Physics EOI deadline: 06 January 2026, 23:59 GMT
University of Oxford internal sift: expected February 2026
UKRI funder deadline: expected June 2026

• Prestigious UKRI fellowship supporting exceptional early-career researchers and innovators to establish independence through ambitious, long-term programmes.
• Provides up to 4 years’ funding with a possible 3-year extension (4 + 3 model), covering salary, research expenses, and staff costs.
• Open to all disciplines and sectors across the UKRI remit, including applicants transitioning between academia and industry or returning from career breaks.
• Oxford University is expected to be capped on institutional submissions, requiring a two-stage internal selection (departmental → university).
• All queries: fellowships@physics.ox.ac.uk

Overview

The Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) programme aims to support and retain the most talented early-career researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs working across the UK’s research and innovation landscape. The scheme provides long-term, flexible funding to enable fellows to develop their own independent careers and to deliver bold, original, and ambitious programmes of research or innovation.

Fellows may be based in universities, research organisations, businesses, or other eligible institutions, and the scheme welcomes proposals that span disciplinary or sector boundaries.

Further information is available on the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship webpage. The 2026 (Round 11) has not yet been announced, but additional information is also available on the 2025 call page (Round 10)

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• be early-career researchers or innovators transitioning to or establishing independence, or proposing a major step-change in their work;
• not already hold a fellowship or position that confers full research or innovation independence (e.g. Royal Society URF, EPSRC ERF, etc.);
• propose research or innovation within the UKRI remit (EPSRC, NERC, STFC, MRC, BBSRC, etc.); and
• plan to be based at a UK host organisation for the duration of the award.

There are no restrictions on nationality, and applications are welcomed from candidates currently in academia, industry, or other sectors.

If you have questions about your eligibility, please send a recent CV to fellowships@physics.ox.ac.uk for advice.

Departmental EOI process (2026 round)

Oxford Physics EOI Deadline:  06 January 2026, 23:59 GMT

Interested applicants should email fellowships@physics.ox.ac.uk to register interest and receive updates when the University’s EOI form and guidance are published.

Applicants will be asked to submit:

• the University FLF EOI form (once available - see below for the 2025 Form for reference only);
• name of Oxford Physics sub-department (Astrophysics / ALP / AOPP / CMP / PP / Theory);
• confirmation of support from an Oxford Physics Sponsor .

EOIs will be reviewed first by sub-departmental panels, then by a full Physics panel.
Physics expects to nominate only a small number of candidates (typically 2–3) for the University-wide selection, which will in turn determine Oxford’s final ten institutional nominations to UKRI.

Assessment criteria (for departmental EOI)

Panels will consider the UKRI FLF core criteria:

• Vision and Leadership: originality, ambition, and potential for transformative impact.
• Applicant Excellence: skills, experience, and leadership potential relative to career stage.
• Programme of Work: clarity, feasibility, and strategic alignment with Oxford Physics and UKRI priorities.
• Environment and Support: suitability of the Oxford host environment and commitment to career development.

Applicants should expect to complete elements of the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) (narrative CV) in the 2026 EOI form. Oxford’s R4RI guidance is available to both internal and external candidates and is strongly recommended.

Prospective applicants should discuss plans early with their sponsor and Head of Sub-Department to ensure alignment with departmental and divisional priorities.

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 iwhen submitting their EOI, confidentially if required, 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.