The Sir Robert Boyd Fellowship

The Sir Robert Boyd Fellowship will be awarded, approximately once every 3 years, to an excellent early career researcher working in biomedicine/health research. We have a special (but not exclusive) interest in the health and illness of older people. By the terms of the Trust endowment we cannot fund research exclusively focused on children.

The primary aim of the Fellowship is to support a postdoctoral researcher in the transition to becoming an independent scientist. Its secondary aim, notwithstanding the requirement for excellence, is to enable the progression of early career researchers from black, Asian or other minority ethnic backgrounds who are generally under-represented in biomedicine/health research.

Following the success of a first fellowship award in 2021/2022 we are now inviting applications for a new award in 2024/25. The deadline for applications is Friday 1st November 2024. The value of the award is for up to £110k per annum for three years. Potential applicants are encouraged to read carefully the criteria and eligibility information and to use the application form below. Informal enquiries should be made using this form.

1. The Fellowship is open to researchers who are working, or who propose to work, in their first postdoctoral position at a University in the North West of England.
2. Only one application is allowed from each University and it is expected that each participating institution will run their own internal competition to select the applicant. As part of the application process, the University will be required to provide a summary of this internal competition and how their applicant was selected. Applications will be from the researcher, sponsored by the host University.
3. Fellowships will provide funding for up to £330,000 over 3 years and this may cover any justified cost required to perform the proposed research. This could include salary support of the proposed fellow, funding for a technician, research assistant or PhD student to work with the fellow, research consumable costs etc.
4. Ideally, but not necessarily, the fellow will be working in an area of research need relevant to older people and which is relatively underfunded (e.g. cancer and cardiovascular research would have a lower priority for the Trust).
5. Awards will be made on the basis of three main criteria:
   • a. the potential of the applicant to be a first class independent scientist as judged on the basis of their prior academic achievements (e.g. publications and awards bearing in mind the early career stage of the applicant);
   • b. the track record of the host research group/laboratory in conducting excellent research and in nurturing early career researchers; and the training programme that will be provided for the applicant and any additional research staff;
   • c. the excellence of the proposed research project and its potential to make a measurable impact in the proposed field of work.

1. Applications will be assessed by an ad hoc panel of Trustees of the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust and, if required, other relevant experts.
2. Applicants whose applications pass the eligibility and quality threshold will be invited for interview with the selection panel in early January 2025.
3. Final decision will be made on the basis of:
   • a. Quality of applicant and his/her/their potential to become a leader in the chosen field;
   • b. Quality of the host research group, environment and proposed training programme;
   • c. Quality of proposal and its potential for impact on research and practice in the chosen field;
   • d. Where two applications score equally on criteria a., b. and c. preference will be given to an applicant from a black, Asian or other minority ethnic background.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 1st November 2024.

Note: Click 'Save Application' at any stage to save your application and receive a link via email to continue later.