Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship — Fellowship

The Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship supports early-career scientists who need flexible working because of ongoing personal circumstances. The Royal Society funds fellows to establish independent natural-science research careers at eligible UK universities or research institutions.

The fellowship can be held full-time or part-time and combines research funding with professional development, networking and engagement opportunities. Funding for years six to eight depends on satisfactory progress at a mid-fellowship review.

Benefits & funding

Up to £1.87 million may be requested over eight years.
Eligible costs include a contribution to the fellow’s salary, indirect and estate costs, research equipment and expenses, travel, and research-assistance costs.
The award may support a new four-year PhD studentship and justified relocation and visa costs for the applicant and dependants.
Up to £8,000 may be requested for public engagement and a further £8,000 for training and professional development.
Flexible arrangements include part-time working, relevant family or sick leave, and support for childcare costs linked to conferences, research visits or invited talks.

Eligibility

Applicants must have completed a PhD and have no more than six years of actual research experience since it by the round deadline; career breaks and part-time research are taken into account.
Applicants must have an ongoing need for flexible support because of personal circumstances by the fellowship start.
Applicants must not hold a permanent or proleptic post at a university or not-for-profit research organisation.
Applicants must not hold or previously have held an equivalent UK fellowship that established an independent research group and independent-researcher status.
All nationalities are eligible, and no prior UK residence is required; the fellowship must be based at an eligible UK host organisation.
Proposed work must fall within the Royal Society’s natural-sciences remit, including biological and biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics; clinical or interventional human research, social sciences and humanities are not supported.

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Education required
PhD
Experience required
≤ 6 yrs

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Application process

1
Confirm eligibility and identify an eligible UK host organisation.
2
Discuss the proposal, facilities, support and full eight-year budget with the host department and research office.
3
Complete and submit the application through Flexi-Grant®.
4
Ensure the Head of Department, nominated referee and host Research Office complete their required contributions before the deadline.
5
Eligible applications undergo panel review, independent peer review and shortlisting; shortlisted candidates attend an interview at the Royal Society.

Program timeline

Most recent completed round opened.
Sep 2, 2025
Most recent completed round closed at 15:00 UK time.
Oct 28, 2025
Decisions for the completed round were due by this date.
Jul 31, 2026
Next round opens.
Sep 3, 2026
Next round closes.
Oct 29, 2026
Decisions for the next round are due by this date.
Jul 31, 2027