TheWellcome Trustis offering a prestigious funding opportunity for early-career researchers from a wide range of disciplines, supporting them in developing their research identity and implementing innovative projects that contribute to advancing our understanding of life, health, and human well-being.
Fellowship Details
Funding Institution
Wellcome Trust
Type of Funding
Full funding that includes the researcher’s salary and up to£400,000to cover research expenses.
Duration of Funding
Usually5 years(shorter for some disciplines; may be extended for part-time study).
Key Dates
- Application Deadline:30 September 2025, 15:00 BST.
- Shortlisting Stage:December 2025.
- Candidate Interviews:10–12 March 2026.
Who Can Apply?
- Early-career researchers who have completed appropriate research training for their discipline.
- Applicants holding aPhD or equivalent(must have passed the viva by the deadline).
- Or those withat least 4 years of research experienceif they don’t hold a PhD (especially in humanities and social sciences).
- Postdoctoral experience mustnot exceed 3 yearsat the time of application, unless due to extenuating circumstances (e.g., part-time work, career breaks, COVID-19).
- Applicants must have a solid understanding of research methodologies and show evidence of their ability to design, execute, and analyze research projects.
Who Cannot Apply?
- Individuals with afully funded permanent positionfor the duration of the fellowship (unless based in a low- or middle-income country).
- Those who have already applied for this fellowship and areawaiting a decision.
- Applicants who have received or accepted acomparable fellowship.
- Applicants intending totransfer the funding to mainland China.
What Does the Fellowship Cover?
- Researcher’s salary
- Up to£400,000in research costs
- Additional support includes:
- Overheads
- Travel allowances
- Accessibility support (e.g., assistive technology)
- Visa-related costs
- Also covers:
- Mobility and relocation expenses
- Participation in conferences
- Materials and equipment
- Training
- Community engagement activities
Application Evaluation Criteria
1. Research Proposal (50% of evaluation)
- Bold, innovative, and brings genuine knowledge advancement or significant development in research tools, methods, or concepts.
- High quality, well-structured, and evidence-based.
2. Skills and Experience (25%)
- Quality of previous research outputs.
- Research and methodological skills.
- Plan for developing leadership and management abilities.
3. Research Environment (25%)
- Level of support from the host institution.
- Contribution to apositive and inclusive research culture.
What Types of Research Are Funded?
Wellcome Trust placesno narrow restrictionson the nature of supported research. The Discovery Research Fellowships are intended to back novel ideas that can make transformative contributions to our understanding of human life, health, and well-being.
Research topics may vary in discipline and methodology but must focus onbasic/discovery research.
Examples of eligible research areas:
- Fundamental biological processes that explain how life works.
- Human health and disease complexity, including clinical and population-based studies.
- Disease burden and risk factors that open new avenues of knowledge.
- Development of methods, tools, or techniques that enhance health research.
- Understanding the values and priorities of communities affected by disease or health disparities.
- Social, cultural, political, and economic dimensions of health and illness.
What Types of Research Are Not Funded?
While the fellowship supports a wide range of topics, some areas areexcluded, including:
- Large-scale clinical trials or public health interventionsintended solely to develop a treatment/product or implement it at scale.
- Development of tools or technologiesused directly in diagnosis or treatmentunless primarily serving a health research purpose.
- Research onnon-human diseasesthat cannot be transmitted to humans or don’t serve as human disease models.
- Projectsfocused only on resource or database creationwithout being part of a broader research question.
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Eligible Academic Fields:
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
- Clinical sciences and health-related professions
- Experimental medicine
- Epidemiology, Public and Population Health
- Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Bioethics
Research can be conducted in labs, clinics, or field settings, whether experimental, theoretical, or observational.Interdisciplinary projects that provide creative solutions to complex challenges are especially welcome.
How to Apply?
- Registeron Wellcome's funding platform.
- Complete the application form(a filled-out sample form is availableHerefor reference).
- Upload the following documents:
- Letter of support from your current supervisor
- Letter from clinical training supervisor (if applicable)
- Letter from the finance officer if requesting additional costs
Note:Applications must be submittedbefore 15:00 BST on the deadline day. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Application Process
- Eligibility check and alignment with the fellowship's goals.
- Review by a subject-specific advisory committee.
- External peer review by field experts.
- Final interview (in London or online).
- Decision by Wellcome Trust’s Board.
Additional Notes
- This fellowshipcannot be renewed.
- If the fellow later secures a permanent contract including salary, the remaining salary portion may be reallocated to research costs.
- Fellowship recipients areeligible to apply for the UK Global Talent Visa.