Here you will find a curated selection of fellowships, grants, awards and career development schemes designed to support ECRs in building their research careers, developing independence and expanding their professional networks.
Explore the opportunities below to identify funding that best matches your career stage and aspirations.
Updated as of August 2026
The European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) works to facilitate top-level life-sciences research in Europe through supporting talented researchers, stimulating scientific exchange and advancing policies for a world-class European research environment. As part of its commitment to the development of early career molecular life scientists, EMBO funds Postdoctoral Fellowships which assist postdoctoral research visits to laboratories throughout Europe and the world for a period of up to two years. Research proposals must be within EMBO’s scientific scope, and as international exchange is a key feature of this scheme, all Fellowships must involve movement between countries.
To be eligible applicants should:
Hold a doctorate degree or equivalent before the start of the Fellowship but not necessarily at the time of application. For applicants who already hold a PhD, it must only have been obtained during the two years prior to the date the application is submitted.
Have at least one first author publication (research paper) accepted in press or published in an international peer reviewed journal at the time of application. Not already have spent more than six months at the receiving institute at the time the application is submitted.
Applications accepted throughout the year (next cutoff date – hard deadline: Friday 22 January 2027, 14:00 CET)
Funding covers: The stipend of the applicant. It does not cover bench fees, overheads, funds for consumables or any other financial benefits to the host supervisor or the receiving institute.
More Information: https://www.embo.org/funding/fellowships-grants-and-career-support/postdoctoral-fellowships/eligibility/
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships will be open to excellent researchers of any nationality.
European Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality who wish to engage in R&I projects by either coming to Europe from any country in the world or moving within Europe. The standard duration of these fellowships must be between 12 and 24 months.
Opening date: 7 April 2027, 0:00 CEST
Deadline: 8 September 2027, 17:00 CEST
More Information: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/funding/msca-postdoctoral-fellowships-2027
Are you a talented early-career scientist who has already produced excellent supervised work, is ready to work independently and shows potential to be a research leader? Researchers of any nationality with 0-10 years of experience since completion of PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal can apply.
Deadline: 14 October 2026
Funding amount: Starting Grants may be awarded up to €1.5 million for a period of 5 years (pro rata for projects of shorter duration).
More Information: https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/starting-grant
You can apply to this scheme if you are an early-career researcher and you are ready to design, plan and deliver your own innovative research project that aims to advance understanding in your field and/or develop methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research.
During the award, you are expected to:
* expand your technical skills and/or your experience of different research methodologies or frameworks
* build a collaborative network with other researchers in your field
* develop your people management skills
* advance your understanding of how to complete research responsibly and promote a positive and inclusive culture.
Apply anytime- Applications are accepted year-round. Wellcome is moving away from fixed application deadlines and introducing a continuous application process, allowing researchers to submit applications at any time throughout the year. Applications will be reviewed through three shortlisting rounds each year, taking place in February, June and September.
Funding amount: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.
More Information: https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/wellcome-early-career-awards
Apply for funding to take the next step towards becoming an independent researcher. Doing exciting and ambitious research in the remit of the Medical Research Council (MRC). To drive important insights into causes and mechanisms of disease and help accelerate diagnosis, advance treatment and prevent human illness.
You must have the skills and experience to ‘transition to independence’ and the support of an eligible host research organisation
Deadline: Open - no closing date
Funding amount: There is no limit to the funding you can apply for. MRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC) and 100% of exceptions. Funding is available for up to five years, for up to 50% of your salary.
More Information: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/mrc-new-investigator-research-grant-applicant-led/
Apply for funding to support excellent new investigator-led research across the breadth of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) scientific remit. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding. This scheme is designed to assist newly employed university lecturers, researchers (at a level equivalent to lecturer) in research council institutes, and fellows (at a level equivalent to lecturer) to secure their first major element of research support funding. Researchers who have been project co-leads (previously co-investigators) on successful grant applications are eligible to apply for a new investigator award.
Deadline: Open-no closing date
Budget: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £2 million. BBSRC will fund 80% of the FEC. Funding is available for up to five years.
More Information: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/bbsrc-new-investigator-award-applicant-led-mode/
The ERC Consolidator Grant 2027 supports outstanding researchers who are consolidating their scientific independence by establishing or strengthening their own research team and pursuing ambitious, high-risk/high-gain frontier research. A key change for the 2027 call is the expansion of the eligibility window to 5–15 years after PhD defence (as of 1 January 2027), providing greater flexibility for researchers with diverse career paths.
Opening: 24 September 2026
Deadline: 12 January 2027
Budget: The grant provides up to €2 million for five years (with up to an additional €1 million in justified cases) and is open to researchers of any nationality hosted by an eligible institution in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
More Information: https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/consolidator-grant
Apply for funding to support excellent investigator-led research across the breadth of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) scientific remit. The scheme supports a wide range of activities, including research projects, technology development, equipment and infrastructure, research networks, and training initiatives such as summer schools. Research areas may include plants, microbes, animals and humans, as well as tools and technologies underpinning biological research. Multidisciplinary proposals are encouraged, provided the primary focus remains within the BBSRC remit.
Deadline: Open - no closing date
Budget: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £2 million. BBSRC will fund 80% of the FEC. Funding is available for up to five years
More Information: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/bbsrc-standard-research-grant-applicant-led-mode/
Apply for funding to support exciting and ambitious research in the remit of the Medical Research Council (MRC). To drive important insights into causes and mechanisms of disease and help accelerate diagnosis, advance treatment and prevent human illness.
You can involve more than one research group or organisation in the project.
Deadline: Open - no closing date
Budget: There is no limit to the funding you can apply for, it should be appropriate to the project.
MRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC) and 100% of exceptions. Funding is available for up to five years.
More Information: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/mrc-research-grant-applicant-led/
Apply for funding to support exciting and ambitious partnerships in the remit of the Medical Research Council (MRC). Partnerships are novel collaborative activities between researchers, to transform our understanding of causes and mechanisms of disease and help accelerate diagnosis, advance treatment and prevent human illness.
Deadline: Open - no closing date
Budget: There is no limit to the funding you can apply for, it should be appropriate to the project. MRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC) and 100% of exceptions. Funding is available for up to five years.
More Information:https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/mrc-partnership-grant-applicant-led/
Apply for funding to investigate the causes, progression and treatment of human disease.
Your project must:
* focus on a mechanistic hypothesis
* include an experimental intervention or challenge in humans
Deadline: 7th October 2026
Budget: There is no limit to the amount of funding you can apply for or the length of your project. MRC will fund 80% of your project’s full economic cost.
More Information: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/mrc-research-grant-applicant-led/
The Alzheimer’s Research UK Project Award supports ambitious, hypothesis-driven dementia research led by established researchers. The scheme funds projects that build on strong preliminary data to advance understanding of dementia, including disease mechanisms, diagnosis and prevention, with the aim of delivering meaningful research outcomes. Funding can also include an integrated PhD studentship where appropriate.
Deadline: 21st Oct 2026
Budget: Up to £500,000 over up to four years
More Information: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/grants/project-award/
Flexible funding to support outstanding early-career researchers within the biomedical sciences field.
Deadline: Opens in July- Closes in September
Award: Each prize is worth £300,000
More Information:https://lister-institute.org.uk/research-prizes/how-to-apply/
The Eppendorf Award for Young European Investigators recognises outstanding early-career scientists making significant contributions to biomedical research in Europe using molecular and cell biology approaches, including innovative analytical methods. Established in 1995, the award is presented in partnership with the scientific journal Nature. The winner receives a €20,000 prize, along with international recognition through Nature’s print, online and podcast coverage. The award also includes a prize ceremony at the EMBL Advanced Training Centre in Heidelberg, Germany, with travel and accommodation provided. Up to two additional finalists may also be selected each year.
More Information: https://www.eppendorf.com/us-en/company-careers/scientific-awards/eppendorf-award-for-young-european-investigators/
Application period will open on October 1, 2026.
The winner receives a €20,000 prize
You can apply for a Wellcome Career Development Award if you are a mid-career researcher and you are ready to lead a substantial and innovative research programme. You must aim to make a key contribution to your field by generating significant shifts in understanding and by developing methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research.
During the award:
* Develop your research capabilities and leadership skills
* Support others to undertake research responsibly and promote a positive and inclusive culture
* Start training the next generation of researchers and develop their research skills and careers.
By the end of the award, you should have achieved international standing in your area of research.
Applications open: 25 August 2026.
Deadline: 17th November 2026
More Information: https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/wellcome-career-development-awards
This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. Your project must:
You can apply for a Wellcome Discovery Award if you are a researcher who wants to pursue bold and creative research ideas. You must aim to make a major contribution to your research field by generating significant shifts in understanding and developing methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research. Wellcome encourages lead applicants to put together diverse teams. You will be expected to actively promote a diverse, inclusive and supportive research environment within your team and across your organisation.
Deadline: Application deadline: 22 September 2026, 15:00 BST.
Budget: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Awards can be up to 8 years
More Information: https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/wellcome-discovery-awards
With thanks to Jayashree Chakraborty, Grants Officer and funding guru at the Babraham Institute, for her help in collating this funding resource for Early Career Researchers.