Research Fellow

Overview

Key skills:

• A Higher Degree (PhD/DPhil/MD) in a relevant field
• Drive to lead and conduct research
• High level subject expertise and research experience
• Good record of published research
• Well-developed communication skills, able to write reports, papers, and funding proposals
• Driven and self-motivated; able to work independently and under pressure

Typical job titles: Research Fellow, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, [named scheme] Research Fellow

A Research Fellow is a position where you get to lead research, in some cases for the first time. Research Fellows propose their own research project and have to secure funding to undertake it, acting as a Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator for that project. This could be the entire role or it could also include work in another research group too.

It is one of the ways you progress in a university research career from being a postdoctoral researcher who works within a research group. Research Fellows differ from lecturers and many other mid-career positions in universities because the primary role is to conduct research and commitments to teaching or administration are limited.

There is a wide range of titles for these posts, partly dependent on who is funding them. Although most will be employed by a university, an external funder may ultimately pay for this to happen. The Royal Society’s University Research Fellowship scheme is an example, but many other funders, including Research Councils and other Academies, offer similar schemes. It is also possible for a Research Fellow to be funded by the university or research institution itself.

There is also a range in seniority of Research Fellow positions, ranging from Junior Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow to Principal Research Fellow (and occasionally even Professorial Research Fellow). What is common is that the researcher is funded mainly to undertake research.