Early Independence: NERC Independent Research Fellowship 2026 (Fellowship)
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) (UK Research and Innovation) · United Kingdom
Apply for funding to further your career through an independent research fellowship to conduct investigator-led environmental research within the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) remit. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
16 Jun 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Apply for funding to further your career through an independent research fellowship to conduct investigator-led environmental research within the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) remit. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
See eligibility requirements
Match funding
Not specified
Eligible applicants
Early career researchers and eligible research and innovation staff seeking to undertake independent research, based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding. A PhD is not mandatory if the applicant can demonstrate relevant research or innovation experience and appropriate skills.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
No maximum value limit. (UK Research and Innovation)
Total fund available
£7,250,000 (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding intensity
No minimum or maximum award value. NERC funds 80% of the full economic cost (FEC).
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Investigator-led environmental research within NERC remit. Multidisciplinary research is supported where the primary focus falls within NERC remit. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible expenses
- Directly incurred costs, directly allocated costs, facilities costs, cruise costs, ship-time and marine equipment costs, high-performance computing (where approved), relocation and visa costs where eligible, and other eligible costs under NERC funding rules. (UK Research and Innovation)
Ineligible costs
- PhD studentships or research and innovation associate costs; equipment costing £25,000 or more. Equipment below £25,000 can be requested under directly incurred other costs.
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service. Applications cannot be submitted through Je-S.
Competitiveness
Not scored
Decision timeline
Expert interview panel interviews are expected February to March 2027. NERC makes the final funding decision. Applicants are expected to be notified about interview selection by February 2027 and interviewed applicants about funding decisions by May 2027.
Assessment process
Expert interview panel interviews are expected February to March 2027. NERC makes the final funding decision. Applicants are expected to be notified about interview selection by February 2027 and interviewed applicants about funding decisions by May 2027.
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
Not specified
Assessment criteria
- Vision; Applicant Capability to Deliver; Career Development; Host Organisation Support; Resources and Cost Justification; Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation. (UK Research and Innovation)
Decision risks
Applications that fail eligibility requirements, remit checks or required facility approvals may be rejected. (UK Research and Innovation)
Timeline and partners
Opening date
25 Feb 2026
Project duration
5 years
Project start
15 Aug 2027
Project end
Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-24.
Grant Name
Early Independence: NERC Independent Research Fellowship 2026
Project Start Deadline
Projects must start by 15 August 2027. (UK Research and Innovation)
Individual Eligibility
Applicants must be on an upward trajectory towards independent research leadership and demonstrate they will conduct research independently of senior colleagues. (UK Research and Innovation)
International Applicants
Fellowship must be held at a UK research organisation. Global Talent Visa eligibility is referenced by UKRI. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application Limit
Applicants cannot submit applications to concurrent UKRI fellowships of the same type. (UK Research and Innovation)
Independence Requirement
Applicants must demonstrate independent research questions, scientific vision and leadership distinct from previous supervisors or senior collaborators. (UK Research and Innovation)
High Performance Computing (HPC)
Applications requesting HPC resources must follow NERC High Performance Computing application guidance. (UK Research and Innovation)
Ship-time and Marine Facilities
Applicants requesting NERC ship-time or marine facilities must submit and obtain approval for a Ship-time and Marine Equipment (SME) or Autonomous Deployment Facility (ADF) application before submitting the fellowship application. (UK Research and Innovation)
Part-Time Option
Fellowships may be held part-time on a pro-rata basis. (UK Research and Innovation)
Facilities Requirement
Requests for facilities and resources must comply with NERC facility guidance. Facility requests must be approved where applicable before submission. (UK Research and Innovation)
Data Management Requirement
Applicants must comply with UKRI and NERC data sharing and data management policies. (UK Research and Innovation)
Responsible Research Requirement
Applicants must demonstrate responsible research and innovation where appropriate and comply with UKRI Trusted Research and Innovation principles. (UK Research and Innovation)
Interview Stage
Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview. (UK Research and Innovation)
Generative AI
Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted in accordance with UKRI policy. Reviewers and panel members must not use generative AI to assess applications. (UK Research and Innovation)
Resubmissions
Resubmissions are not permitted. Revised applications addressing previous reviewer feedback are allowed where eligible. (UK Research and Innovation)
Important Notes
The 2026 opportunity is closed. No next opening date has been announced by NERC/UKRI. Fellowships last five years, with NERC funding 80% of FEC. Projects must start by 15 August 2027. (UK Research and Innovation)
Contact Email
fellowships@nerc.ukri.org (UK Research and Innovation)
Official Grant Page
https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/early-independence-nerc-independent-research-fellowship-2026/ (UK Research and Innovation)
Next Opening Date
Not yet announced by NERC/UKRI
International Participation
Applicants of any nationality can apply, provided the fellowship is based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding. Successful applicants requiring a visa can be considered under the Global Talent visa route.
Application deadline in source document
16 June 2026, 4:00 PM UK time
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 16 Jun 2026
- Funding amount
- No maximum value limit. (UK Research and Innovation)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Fellowship
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- See eligibility requirements
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 25 Feb 2026