The Faculty of Science and Technology’s Research Career Development Group (RCaD) held their first Research Fellowship Masterclass, featuring a range of engaging speakers for early-career researchers, and aimed to equip them with the skills to successfully apply and obtain research fellowships.

The workshop was hosted by RCaD joint chairs Dr Luis Pinho (Chemistry), Dr Abigail Frith (Chemistry), Dr Janine Morley (LEC) and Dr Xiaoyun Chen (Psychology) on the 22^nd May and invited researchers from across the Faculty to attend and gain insights into the application process for a variety of research fellowships. The day saw an array of speakers present on the topic of research fellowships, beginning with Professor Roger Pickup – based in Biological Life Sciences – presenting an introduction to independent fellowships, taking the attendees through the important stages of applying for such fellowships, as well as shedding light into the processes undertaken by the panel members responsible for awarding these fellowships.

Professor Pickup was followed by Professor Jan Grabowski, who provided an insight into a reviewer’s perspective on fellowship applications, with an emphasis on the importance of showcasing leadership and development goals in being successful in accessing research fellowships. Several researchers from across the Faculty – including Dr Cecilia Leal of LEC, Dr Michael Thompson from Physics and Dr Alice Milne from Psychology - then provided some examples of their experiences in applying for a range of different fellowships from funders such as the Wellcome Trust, The Royal Academy of Engineering, and the UKRI. Afterwards, several post-doctorates were given the opportunity to practice their pitches for fellowship applications, with feedback provided by their peers. The final session was delivered by Philip Lewis and Mary English of the Research Development Team, providing advice to attendees when it comes to budgeting future research proposals, and what should be factored in when costing out applications.

The workshop was very well attended, with over 40 early-career researchers spanning the Faculty’s disciplines in attendance. On the success of the event, organiser and RCaD co-chair Dr Xiaoyun Chen commented: "The event was designed to offer insights into fellowship applications from multiple angles: experienced panel members and reviewers, previously successful applicants and prospective 'pitchers', as well as practical advice on costings and finances. We're pleased that it was so well-attended and hope that others found it as useful and interesting as we did. Thank you to everyone who contributed."

Attendee Dr Cássio Alencar Nunes added: “I found the event very interesting and helpful. I'm planning to submit an application for the Royal Society University Research fellowship this year and it was very useful to understand better the process. Knowing how other people worked on their application and their different perspectives helps me to clear and organise my thoughts. In addition, I think it was very helpful to talk with experienced panel members and reviewers to understand what the funders are usually looking for.”