Imperial Research Fellowship at Imperial College London 2026-2027

Applications are now open for the Imperial Research Fellowship (IRF) 2026–2027. This prestigious 4-year fellowship supports outstanding early-career researchers who want to establish their own independent research programme at one of the world’s top universities. It is open to researchers from all academic fields active at Imperial College London. The programme is fully funded (includes competitive salary + research support). There is no application fee. International applicants from any country are welcome. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Degree Level: Postdoc Fellowship
• Host Country: United Kingdom
• Host Institution: Imperial College London
• Fellowship Duration: 4 years
• Application Deadline: Thursday 23 July 2026 (23:59 BST)
• Open to: UK and all international applicants
• Application Fee: None
• Funding Type: Fully funded (salary + research support)

What This Fellowship Offers:

• 4 years of protected research time with no obligatory teaching or administrative duties
• A competitive salary (currently £49,017 – £57,472 per year, depending on experience)
• Up to £45,000 in total research and travel support
• Dedicated mentoring from a senior Imperial academic
• Freedom to pursue your own original research ideas
• Opportunity to build your own research group and international profile
• Access to world-class facilities and networks at Imperial College London

Also Check: PhD, Postdoc, and Academic Positions at University of Copenhagen, Denmark 2026

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must have been awarded your PhD within 5 years of the fellowship start date (extensions possible for career breaks)
• You should not hold a lectureship or intermediate fellowship
• You must secure a senior Imperial academic as your sponsor (mandatory)
• Open to applicants of all nationalities and backgrounds
• Imperial especially encourages applications from underrepresented groups

Also Check: PhD and Postdoc Positions at Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands

Programs / Fields Available

The fellowship is open to all research areas active at Imperial College London. Main fields include:

• Engineering
• Medicine (Clinical and Non-Clinical)
• Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Life Sciences)
• Business and Management
• Artificial Intelligence in Science (special theme)
• Multi-disciplinary and Interdisciplinary projects

Also Check: Fully Funded PhD and Postdoc Positions at ETH Zurich, Switzerland

How to Apply:

1. Find a sponsor – Contact a senior, permanent academic at Imperial who can support your research (this is mandatory).
2. Read the full Information for Applicants on the official Imperial website.
3. Prepare your research proposal and application documents.
4. Check if the department has an earlier internal deadline.
5. Submit your application online through the Imperial Jobs website before 23 July 2026 (23:59 BST).
6. Applications without a confirmed sponsor will not be considered.

Also Check: C4LaNd Research Training Group – Fully Funded PhD and PostDoc Opportunities