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Department of Physics and Astronomy

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Fellowship opportunities

Accelerate your research career with an independent fellowship in Physics and Astronomy at Manchester

Why choose The University of Manchester for your fellowship?

We help fellows build long-term careers in Physics or Astronomy. Here, at The University of Manchester you can shape your work with some of the world’s brightest minds, using world-class facilities. You’ll also benefit from our collaborative and supportive culture, designed to nurture your talent.

We're known for our research excellence, and we boast the cutting-edge equipment, communities of experts, and transparent development structures to propel you into a successful research career.

Our support extends to a variety of funding schemes, including grants offered by the Royal Society for university research fellowships.

In advance of the funder deadline, express your interest in applying for a fellowship with our Physics and Astronomy Department.

Expression of Interest

Insights from our researchers: Choosing Manchester for your fellowship

What our current Physics and Astronomy researchers have to say about choosing Manchester for their fellowship, as they share their experience of Manchester's expertise, supportive environment and world-class facilities; and the profound impact that choosing Manchester for their fellowship has had on their career progression.

We support a range of fellowships

The department is looking to support exceptional candidates in fellowship schemes, some which are listed below. If your scheme is not listed, please email the fellowship team.

Postdoctoral

Tenure-track

Established

Expression of interest

To ensure submission of high-quality proposals, the department runs an internal selection process for all major fellowship applications. We need you to reach out early to discuss potential alignment with our funding schemes and department's activity goals.

For schemes with a limited number of applicants per university, submit a brief expression of interest (1-2 pages) for review by academic leads. If guidance is required, reach out to appropriate leads for advice. In some cases, a further sift will occur at faculty or university-wide level.

An internal selection process will holistically assess candidates. Unless mandated by funders, we disregard factors like years since PhD, PhD institution, national origin, number of publications or protected characteristics.

In advance of the funder deadline and as soon as possible, we advise you to email your expression of interest to our fellowship support team.

Email your interest

We lead with world-class facilities

Our Faculty hosts more leading science and engineering facilities on one campus than any other European institution. With £1 billion invested in facilities over the last decade, we offer cutting-edge capabilities across the country.

Introducing our largest radio telescope in the world to potential research fellowships

Jodrell Bank Observatory

We're home to Jodrell Bank, host of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, set to be the largest radio telescope in the world.
Fellowship researchers preparing graphene samples in NGI's cleanroom

National Graphene Institute

Our world-leading, interdisciplinary centre for graphene and 2D materials research provides highly advanced facilities for industry-led production and developments.
Our fellowship students standing together outside Cern Data Centre.

CERN

Our unique CERN-inspired collaboration see our physicists participate in leading experiments at CERN, with access to world-wide range of facilities.
A female fellowship researcher in a white lab coat adjusting wires on a machine

Photon Science Institute

A multidisciplinary where physicists, chemists, engineers, and materials scientists share expertise and experimental facilities in photon science.
Grey circular building with a large round hole in the middle

The University of Manchester at Harwell

Collocated at Diamond Light and in proximity to the UK Research and Innovation. Our specialty is developing equipment for and running experiments in extreme environments.

We'll support you to build your career

We take your development seriously. So seriously that one of our Fellows was awarded a Nobel Prize during their Fellowship. With top rankings in HESA’s staff numbers, you'll find a vibrant community for collaboration and growth.

Join our community of internationally recognised scientists, which include:

  • Professor Sir Andrei Geim and Professor Sir Kostya Novoselov, who isolated Graphene and sparked a global research revolution.
  • Brian Cox, Professor of Particle Physics and Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science.
Two men sitting on a bench outside The University of Manchester

Nobel prize winners

Professor Sir Andrei Geim and Professor Sir Kostya Novoselov lead our academic community.

 
Profile of man smiling

Teaching excellence

Our colleague and recent research fellow Professor Brian Cox.

 

Collaboration drives success

Two key principles - academic freedom and collaboration - are in our DNA. Your peers might be world-leading experts, but at Manchester we’re all equally responsible for building a community that shares research problems and solutions.

Our transformative breakthroughs only come from working together. From creating the UK’s first high-energy proton beam therapy service to being central to the establishment of the Square Kilometre Array, the world’s most significant radio astronomy infrastructure.

We rely on each other to develop our research, and collaboration is at the heart of our success.

"It’s been very noticeable how well my career was supported at Manchester. The promotional opportunities were clear, and the support received by the team felt natural and organic. Manchester trains you to become the best research leader, lecturer and team leader".

Previous Fellow / The University of Manchester

Industry recognition

We’re experts at taking research from lab to market. We’ve built a research and innovation community that supports breakthrough academic investigation, while bridging the gap between fundamental research and the real world of commercialised application - that drives real-world impact and attracts industry investment.

From the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) to our engagement with the Cockcroft Institute for Accelerate Science. Our unique ‘Industry-led, Academic-fed’ model ensures our research bridges the gap between theory and application.

Four fellowship researchers working in a lab

The GEIC

 

Further Questions? Get in touch

We support individuals at all career stages, ensuring equality of opportunity and providing advice with fellowship schemes, funding applications, childcare or other responsibilities.

Email Fellowship support team