Royal Society Career Development Postdoctoral Fellowship in Physics at Imperial College London for Black Heritage Researchers Imperial College London in United Kingdom

The Department of Physics at Imperial College London is inviting Expressions of Interest for the Royal Society Career Development Fellowship, a prestigious four-year postdoctoral opportunity designed to support early-career researchers from Black heritage backgrounds. This fellowship aims to foster diversity and inclusion in STEM by providing substantial funding and professional development to help fellows establish independent research careers in the UK.

Applicants must self-identify as being from a Black heritage background, including mixed Black backgrounds, and must either be UK nationals, have completed part of their education in the UK, or have held a postdoctoral position in the UK. Candidates must have a PhD (or expect to have one by the fellowship start date) and less than 24 months of postdoctoral experience. The research must fall within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, with a focus on physics, but can also include interdisciplinary areas such as materials science, astronomy, and environmental science, as reflected in Imperial’s diverse research communities.

The fellowship provides up to £690,000 over four years, covering salary, research expenses, and relocation/visa costs. Additional benefits include a tailored programme of mentoring, training, and networking, as well as flexibility for personal circumstances such as part-time work, parental leave, and support for childcare during conferences or research visits. Both UK and non-UK domiciled researchers are eligible, and those requiring a visa can apply for a Global Talent Visa.

Imperial Physics encourages applicants to explore its five research communities—Light, Matter, Physics of Particles, Physics of the Universe, and Space, Plasma and Climate—to identify the best fit for their research interests. Early informal conversations with potential sponsors are encouraged. Applicants must secure the agreement of an academic staff member to act as their sponsor and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form, along with a CV and publication list, to the department’s fellowships team. The internal EOI deadline is 6 August 2026, with further departmental and funder deadlines following.

Imperial College London is committed to fostering a welcoming, collaborative, and inclusive environment for all researchers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. The department offers comprehensive support throughout the application process and values feedback from applicants to improve future fellowship opportunities.

For more information, visit the Department of Physics’ research communities and fellowships webpages, or consult the Royal Society’s official fellowship page. Key links and contact details are provided in the announcement.