Home » Research » Research Fellowships

Research Fellowships

Each year, the college holds competitions for Research Fellowships, both Stipendiary and non-Stipendiary. These support gifted young researchers for four years; generally Research Fellows are appointed within two years of the award of a doctorate.

The Fellowships give young researchers an opportunity to establish their career before moving on to become fully independent researchers. Research Fellows have freedom to carry out their chosen research projects within the academic environment of the College and the University departments.

Stipendiary Research Fellowships

Usually, Research Fellows are appointed by the College Research Committee following interviews in mid-January, with a start date in October of that year. For January appointments, advertisements will appear in late July/early August with closing dates in September. Shortlisted candidates will be informed in the first part of December. We invite candidates to attend interviews in person. 

Benefits

Research Fellows are members of the Governing Body, with full privileges of Fellows. The Fellowship is a research post and is meant to allow Research Fellows to freely pursue and focus on their research, but they are encourage 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. Research Fellows join a lively research community, made up of Fellows, Research Fellows and College Research Associates and are expected to participate fully in college life and activities. In addition to a competitive stipend and additional accommodation allowance, privileges include free meals in College (breakfast, lunch and dinner on all days that the servery is open as well as high table dinners) and the possibility of an office and accommodation in College properties. 

Eligibility

The King's College Research Fellowships are aimed at people who are at the beginning of their academic career. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in a relevant area of work and has completed or will be completing shortly an outstanding doctoral these.  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 Fellowships. Applications are welcome from graduates of any university and from international as well as UK applicants. 

Non-stipendiary Research Fellowships

The college also usually appoints one or two non-stipendiary Research Fellows, one in Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences & Engineering and one in Biological & Medical Sciences. Advertisements appear in March/April and close for applications in late April/mid-May. Long-listed candidates with be notified in mid-May and asked to submit further material. Short-listed candidates will then hear in early July for interviews in mid-July. Their appointment starts in October of that year. 

Eligibility

Non-stipendiary Research Fellows will need to have already secured external funding for the time of their fellowship and provide a letter from their head of department to confirm that this is in place when applying. 

Any questions can be directed to the Research Coordinator at research@kings.cam.ac.uk in the first instance. 

Competitions will appear below when they open. Competitions that have recently closed will be visible for some time after the deadline below for reference. 

 

 

Open Roles: Academic Positions and Fellowships

 

 

Current Research Fellows

Current Research

There are over 100 Fellows at King's. They carry out a huge variety of research,...

Research News

new_year_honours_2025

King’s Members recognised in 2025 New Year Honours

Eleanor Sharpston KC and Ruth Cairnie have been awarded damehoods, Professor Ashley Moffett has...

img017_byjeanlucbenazet_lr

King’s academics leading in battery technology development

Zhuangnan Li and Ismail Sami founded Molyon, the start-up hoping to develop next-generation lithium-sulfur...

20231010-0088

Welcoming new members of the Fellowship

Three new Official Fellows, three new Research Fellows, five Bye-Fellows and two Visiting Fellows...

Follow us on Instagram

View more