Image shows Prof Hannah Christensen, a male researcher and Prof Tim Palmer in an office, all smiling as they gaze at a device which is generating a pattern of curved orange lines of light. In the background is a computer screen with a heat map showing contours and coloured in the colours of the rainbow.

NERC independent research fellowships

Independent-level fellowships

The Natural Environment Research Council offers Fellowships in areas including atmospheric and oceanic sciences and earth observation. The Independent Research Fellowship (IRF) scheme is designed to develop scientific leadership among the most promising early-career environmental scientists. 
Applicants must have submitted their PhD thesis by the time the fellowship interview would take place (usually the March following the closing date). Applicants must not have a permanent academic position and the scheme is open to applicants of any nationality.

Funding is offered for 5 years, including applicant's salary, and some research expenses.
Further guidance is available on NERC's webpages. Applications are submitted via TFS.

Deadlines and timescales (2023)

Applications are now closed for 2023 and the next round is expected to be held in Autumn 2024. Please email fellowships@physics.ox.ac.uk to register your interest if you'd like to be notified by email when the next round is announced. The below outlines the internal process from the 2023 call for information. 

Candidates interested to apply with Oxford Physics to the 2023 call are are asked to submit an EOI by 14th August 2023 for approval to apply. 

  • 14th August 2023 - Send one page outline, CV and publications list to Research Facilitators to obtain Departmental approval to apply. CC your Oxford Physics sponsor (an academic based in the department who supports your application) and include the name of your second reader (a second reader based in the department). Please discuss your application with your Oxford Physics sponsor before submission. 
  • 11th September 2023 - Send list of costs to your Research Facilitator for the budget.
  • 18th September 2023 - Send a draft of sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the application to your sponsor, second reader and Research Facilitator for feedback. 
  • 25th September 2023 - Send a draft of the rest of the sections of your application to your application to your Research Facilitator for feedback. 
  • 25th October 2023 - Departmental deadline, budget finalised, application ready for departmental checks
  • 1st November 2023 - Research Services deadline, application submitted on TFS portal
  • 8th November 2023 - Application submitted to NERC by Research Services

Guidance and useful info

Once we know that you intend to apply and you have been selected at EOI stage, we will be able to send you our internal guidance documents.

The interview stage is an important part of the selection process so if you are invited for interview please notify the facilitation team and your local academic contacts as soon as possible so that mock interviews can be arranged in advance of the real interview.