Future Leaders Fellowship Round 11

Establish your first independent research group at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC) with the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF).

About the Fellowship

The Future Leaders Fellowship offers funding to support ambitious research and innovation across UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s remit. At IGC, we welcome applications from early career researchers and innovators who are seeking to establish an independent research group across a range of disciplines and approaches aligning with our research strengths in the study of genetics and cancer.  

The support will enable each Fellow to tackle ambitious and challenging research and innovation and develop their own careers.

Fellows will benefit from:

  • A scheme that is committed to supporting excellent researchers and innovators regardless of their background. Fellowships can be held on a part-time basis for personal commitments and/or as part of a job share.
  • Networking across their cohort of some of the UK’s most talented researchers and innovators from different disciplines and sectors, putting them at the forefront of modern, interdisciplinary research.
  • A career boost, including time and investment for training and professional development, providing a route to an open-ended contract.

Internal and external potential applicants are encouraged to informally contact IGC Director, Professor Joris Veltman, or IGC theme leads for discussion on whether an application might fit with IGC science and strategy.

All applicants must obtain the backing of a host Institute or School to be eligible for the University’s internal selection process. 

To be hosted at IGC, you will need to complete the following steps:
 

  1. Applicants should complete the CMVM notification of intent form by 22nd January 2026.
     

  2. Applicants should submit outline application documents (details below) to Daniel Toddie-Moore (D.Toddie-Moore@ed.ac.uk) by 22nd January 2026.

     Outline application documents should include:

    a) A 2-page outline briefly summarising:

    Vision and approach - What are you hoping to achieve with and how will you deliver your proposed work?

    Career development - Why is this fellowship the right way to develop your career and how will you use it to benefit others? 

    Note – these are abbreviated versions of the sections for the full application of Round 10 – further details can be found here: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/future-leaders-fellowships-round-10/ (see the ‘how to apply’ drop down menu).

    b) A narrative CV in Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format (1,150 words) following the guidelines for the Applicant capability to deliver section of the Round 10 FLF call detailing why you are the right individual to successfully deliver the proposed work. 

    Guidance can be found at the link above and here: https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/develop-your-application/resume-for-research-and-innovation-r4ri-guidance/

The academic panel will confirm by 13th February whether candidates should prepare a full outline. 


1) Full applications should be submitted to mentor(s) for feedback and final sign off by 23rd February 2026.

Full application format is to be confirmed but will likely follow the that of Round 10: 

  • Summary (550 words)
  • Vision and approach (4 sides A4 + diagrammatic workplan)
  • Applicant capability to deliver (1,650 words)
  • Career development (1000 words)
  • Host organisation support (1000 words)
  • Resources (1000 words)

Your mentor(s) will review and feedback to improve submission to College by 2nd March.

2) Candidates with formal nomination from School/Institute will submit for internal selection by 11am on 16th March 2026 to cmvm.cro@ed.ac.uk.


Applying via another host

If you are considering applying to the scheme via another host, you should contact them now to find out about their demand management process and timeline. If applying via another Institute/School within the University, please be aware that their initial deadline may be different from ours. All UoE deadlines from the College Panel submission onwards are the same.

 

Further details: 

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