Scientific Fellowship
As part of its Academic Research Initiative, the Colt Foundation invites applications from scientific (non-clinical) post-doctoral researchers intending to pursue a career in occupational and environmental health research, for a five-year fellowship to be co-funded by the Colt Foundation and a host university in the UK.
The award from the Colt Foundation will cover 100% of the full-time salary for a scientific post-doctoral researcher to be employed by a UK university at senior researcher / lecturer level for up to five years. We would allow up to the equivalent of one days teaching a week. The award will in addition provide up to £150K research costs (consumables, travel etc) to support an initial project led by the successful applicant. There will be an expectation that the fellow will apply for further funding to the Colt Foundation or other suitable funders as part of their developing research programme during the fellowship. Where it is agreed with the host university, the fellowship may be extended on a pro rata basis for a holder who wishes to work part-time.
Who is eligible?
The applicant will already have a track record of high-quality research in areas such as health, safety, comfort and well-being of people at work, and the impacts of industrial activities and pollutants on the health of the public more widely. At the start of the fellowship be at least three years, but no more than 10 years FTE, post award of their PhD. They should be aiming to pursue a career in occupational and/or environmental health research, but not yet be operating as an independent researcher.

Application requirements
- An outline of the work planned, and any training to be undertaken, during the period of the fellowship
- The name and contact details of the applicant and of the head of the department in which the fellowship would be undertaken
- The CV of the applicant
- A short statement of no more than one side of A4 regarding the applicant’s long-term career ambitions
- A proposal for an initial research project that would be funded by the Colt Foundation as part of the Fellowship (typically for three years in the first instance), setting out: the relevant scientific background; the question(s) that would be addressed by the research; what data would be collected and how; how those data would be analysed to address the study question(s); any ethical considerations relevant to the research and how they would be managed; the planned timeline for the research; plans for publication; the funding that is requested (up to a maximum of £150K) with justification; and any other support and facilities that would contribute to the research. This proposal should not exceed 3000 words.
- A letter of support from the head of department at the host university, explaining: how the applicant’s research would integrate with that of the department more widely; what facilities and mentorship would be made available to support the applicant if successful; and confirmation that the host university would be willing to employ the applicant at senior researcher / lecturer level over the course of the fellowship.
Mentoring Scheme
The Fellowship will include access to the Colt Foundation Mentor Network. Appropriate mentors, from a selection of previous Colt grant holders, will be available for free on a one-to-one basis for the duration of the award.
Applications should be submitted to the Foundation’s Director, Mrs Tash Heydon by email (tash@coltfoundation.org.uk) or by post. Fellowships are awarded in competition. After initial short-listing, a subset of applicants is invited to interview, on the basis of which, the final selection is made.
Information about deadlines for submission of applications and dates of interviews can be found on the Dates and Events page.