Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF)

Round 10 - 2025

The UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships aim to support early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential in universities, businesses and research institutes to make the transition to or establish independence.

The Future Leaders Fellowship scheme is for applicants of outstanding potential. Applicants will need to demonstrate the “added value” UKRI’s investment will have on their career and how the funding will enable them to become a leader within their field.

TIMELINE FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

• Candidate Expressions of Interest deadline: 13^th January 2025 12:00
• UKRI Full application deadline: 18^th June 2025

This is a highly competitive scheme. In order to administer the scheme in a timely manner, UKRI have introduced a cap to the number of applications each institution can submit. Under this cap, the University of Reading can submit up to 4 applications. Therefore, to identify the strongest applications, there will be an internal selection process.

We would like to receive expressions of interest from areas across the University for this scheme and would like to encourage Schools to also think about looking externally for suitable candidates. Any potential candidates should complete the expression of interest proforma, which is available from Research Development Managers (RDMs). Please contact the RDM directly or, if an external candidate, via their UoR contact/mentor. RDMs can discuss with candidates about their proposal and any support that they will need in developing their EoI.

Support for the application must be obtained from the Head of School, for both internal and external candidates. Completed applications should be sent to fellowships@reading.ac.uk by noon on Monday 13^th January 2025.

The EOIs will be reviewed by an internal panel consisting of Associate PVCs for Research and senior academics with experience of Fellowship funding panels. The EoIs will be assessed using the same assessment criteria as those used by the FLF panels. The strongest candidates will be selected to proceed with a full application. Feedback will be provided to all candidates. Here is a PDF version of the Future Leaders Fellowships Round 10 (2025) information.

Resubmissions from previous FLF applicants

UKRI does not permit the resubmission of an unchanged proposal. However, previously unsuccessful applicants can apply to subsequent FLF calls providing the proposal addresses feedback from reviewers and the interview panel (where applicable).

Anyone who wishes to resubmit an FLF application will be required to go through the University’s EoI process as described above. In addition, they should provide a summary (no more than one page) highlighting how their revised application will address feedback from reviewers.

EDI data

UKRI need to collect EDI data. All candidates who apply to the internal EoI process will be contacted with details on how to provide these data.

SCHEME AIMS   

The scheme aims to:

• develop, retain, attract and sustain research and innovation talent in the UK
• foster new research and innovation career paths including those at the academic/business and interdisciplinary boundaries, and facilitate movement of people between sectors
• provide sustained funding and resources for the best early career researchers and innovators
• provide long-term, flexible funding to tackle difficult and novel challenges, and support adventurous, ambitious programmes.

These Fellowships support applicants from diverse career paths, including those returning from a career break or following time in other roles and UKRI also encourages applications from those wishing to work part-time in order to combine the fellowship with personal responsibilities. This scheme also supports those coming to the UK from abroad, with applicants eligible for a Global Talent visa under the ‘exceptional promise’ category.

Funding provided includes the fellow's salary and justified research, staff and training costs. The FLFs follow a 4(+3) model, funding is for up to 4 years with the option to apply to renew for up to 3 additional years during the last year of the fellowship. Salary support for the fellow has to be provided from year 3 of the project (as the UKRI contribution tapers down during the lifetime of the project) and the fellow has to be offered an open ended contract during or at the end of the fellowship (therefore School financial support will be required). The pre-announcement for round 10 is announced and can be found here.

UKRI Community Engagement Events

UKRI have previously held community engagement events to give an overview of the scheme and answer some of the most commonly asked questions. You can access the recording of a webinar for academic applicants here.