Aim

• This funding opportunity aims to:
  • Support talented people, at early and established career stages, from STFC’s communities to lead extended programmes of high-quality, STFC focused public engagement that supports capacity building within the host organisation and relevant networks
  • Make a substantial contribution as a leader of public engagement to the wider community of highly skilled practitioners and networks that are under the STFC umbrella
  • Highlight the achievements of STFC science, technology and facilities, demonstrating the excitement of research and the value of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to the UK
  • Inspire and involve colleagues, students and members of the public with STFC science, technology and facilities

Funding Information

• The FEC of your project can be up to £225,000.
• STFC will fund 80% of the FEC.
• Within the overall £225,000 there is funding available for provision of up to 50% of full time equivalent (FTE) for administration and logistics.
• The duration of this award is a minimum of 24 months and a maximum of 36 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• STFC leadership fellowships in public engagement are open to applicants who can demonstrate a strong track record of leadership in their field and public engagement, appropriate and proportionate to their career stage. This can be either, or:
  • In an STFC-funded area of science and technology
  • As regular user of STFC’s national or international laboratories and facilities
  • The STFC leadership fellowship in public engagement is a single funding scheme that can support individuals at different stages of their careers (early careers and established).
  • All applicants must hold a contract of employment for the duration of the proposed fellowship
• List of different types of research organisation that are eligible for UK Research and Innovation funding including:
  • Higher education providers
  • Research institutes
  • Public sector research establishments
  • NHS bodies
  • Independent research organisations
  • Catapult centres

Ineligibility Criteria

• This funding opportunity is not available to anyone:
  • Outside of STFC’s academic communities
  • Not based at an eligible organisation within the UK

Assessment Criteria

• They will assess your application using the following process:
  • Panel
    • They will invite a panel of experts to use the evidence presented in the application, to assess the quality of your application and rank it alongside other applications. After which, the panel will make a recommendation on whether or not to invite applicants to interview.
  • Interview
    • For shortlisted applications, an expert interview panel will conduct interviews with applicants after which the panel will make a funding recommendation.
    • They expect interviews to be held between 26 January 2026 and 6 February 2026.
    • STFC will make the final funding decision.
  • Timescale
    • They aim to complete the assessment process within six months of receiving your application.
  • Feedback
    • They will give feedback with the outcome of your application.

For more information, visit UK Research and Innovation.