Current research opportunities
Find out about our current research roles and how to apply
Why King’s?
A Shared Community of Research Excellence
We know that innovative and groundbreaking research happens when scholars are given the intellectual freedom to pursue their work and a vibrant, interdisciplinary community to support and inspire them.
While the funding mechanisms for our Research Fellowships (Stipendiary and Non-Stipendiary) and our College Research Associateships (CRAs) differ, every researcher elected to King’s becomes a member of a 500-year-old academic tradition.
The Collegiate Advantage
The faculties and laboratories at the University of Cambridge provide world-class specialist facilities, but colleges provide the broader intellectual context, acting as an academic home for our scholars. Our community at King’s College deliberately bridges disciplinary divides. Whether in the Senior Combination Room (SCR), over lunch in our beautiful hall or during High Table, researchers from a broad variety of disciplines share ideas daily, often sparking collaborations that reshape research trajectories.
Finding Your Pathway at King's
To suit the differing career stages and funding structures of early-career researchers, we offer three distinct avenues of affiliation with King’s College.
Competitions will appear on this page when they open.
Stipendiary Research Fellowships
Who is it for?
For early careers scholars at the beginning of their independent careers who require full institutional funding. Candidates must not have undertaken more than 2 years postdoctoral work or work outside of academia by the 1 October of the year of their appointment to the Research Fellowship.
The Benefits
This role provides complete research independence and the stability of a four-year contract, giving you time to complete major, definitive projects and to establish a distinct scholarly trajectory. This pathway provides a competitive stipend, a dedicated annual research allowance, and access to College facilities, office space, library and housing. As a Research Fellow you have the opportunity to apply for College funding to host your own academic workshops or small-scale conferences within our historic precincts. You are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to undertake a small amount of University and/or College teaching and to take part in the College's Outreach and Widening Participation activities. Crucially, Research Fellows are full members of the College’s Governing Body, gaining direct experience in institutional governance.
The selection timeline
The selection process usually begins in late July/mid-August when advertisements are published, with applications closing in late September/early October.
Assessment procedures vary by discipline:
- For STEM competitions: All candidates are asked to submit work samples alongside their initial application, though only samples of longlisted candidates are forwarded to expert readers.
- For Arts, Humanities, and Social Science competitions: After longlisting, only those selected for the second stage will be requested to submit work samples.
These materials are then evaluated by expert readers, whose specialist reports help to inform the final shortlisting process. Shortlisted candidates are notified in early December and are invited to attend interviews in person in mid-January. Successful candidates are appointed by the College Research Committee following these interviews, with the Fellowship formally commencing in October of that year.
Non-Stipendiary Research Fellowships
Who is it for?
For early-career scholars who have already secured external funding (e.g., British Academy, Wellcome, or Leverhulme Trusts) and are employed in a post-doctoral role at Cambridge University.
The Benefits
While your salary is covered externally, King's provides the collegiate home base that grants lack. Non-Stipendiary Research Fellows enjoy the same status, rights, and privileges as our Stipendiary Fellows, including a vote on the Governing Body, full dining rights, access to College office spaces and housing, and a research allowance.
The selection timeline
The selection process begins in March or April when advertisements are published, with applications closing in late April or mid-May. Candidates are required to submit work samples alongside their initial application. Following an initial longlisting stage in May, the samples of selected candidates are forwarded to expert readers. These materials are evaluated, and the resulting specialist reports help to inform the shortlisting process. Shortlisted candidates are contacted in early July and invited to attend interviews in mid-July. Successful candidates are appointed by the College Research Committee following these interviews, with the Fellowship formally commencing in October of that year. The College typically appoints one non-stipendiary Research Fellow each year, alternating between the Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences & Engineering, and the Biological & Medical Sciences.
Meet our current Research Fellows
College Research Associateships (CRA)
Who is it for?
For researchers employed in post-doctoral research positions within the University of Cambridge. There are no conditions of research age or subject attached to these positions, but candidates would normally be early in their research careers. Applications are welcome from both individual researchers and small collaborative groups of up to three people. To be eligible, applicants must hold secured research funding for at least two years at the time their appointment begins. Appointments are made for an initial two-year term, with the potential for renewal for a further two years.
The Benefits
A CRA provides the essential collegiate connection during your time in Cambridge, offering a supportive and interdisciplinary collegiate home away from the lab or faculty desk. CRAs have access to the Senior Combination Room (SCR), including the right to lunch and dine in College with one High Table dinner and two lunches per week free of charge. This gives you the space for informal collaborations with senior scholars, alongside an allowance for research expenses through the Research Committee. Crucially, CRAs are fully integrated into our academic community, enjoying all the social and intellectual advantages of collegiate life.
The selection timeline
The selection process begins in late April when advertisements are published, with applications closing in early June. Candidates are not required to submit work samples. Instead, applicants must submit a distinct plan for academic activities linked to their research that they intend to undertake within King’s. This could involve collaborating with King’s Fellows or doctoral students, utilizing the College archives or research facilities, or drafting a specific article or publication.
Shortlisted candidates are invited for interview in mid-July, with successful appointments formally commencing in October.
Meet our current CRAs
