Early Career Research Fellowship

In line with our research strategy, BHF will be championing more ambitious research projects across our funding schemes. The Immediate Postdoctoral Basic Science Research Fellowship and Advanced Training Award schemes will be replaced with the new Early Career Research Fellowship.

Applications for the scheme will open on 30 October 2025.

The Early Career Research Fellowship (ECRF) is aimed to fund exceptional early career researchers. This scheme will provide candidates a platform to broaden their research horizons and start developing their own distinct research leadership.

The program is open to applicants with a background in cardiovascular research as well as those transitioning from other disciplines or industry, during the last year of their PhD or up to 4 years from the date of their PhD award letter. This scheme is also open to career re-entry and international applicants. Eligible candidates can apply for an award of up to 4 years, or an equivalent duration for part-time work.

This fellowship scheme is open to all non-clinician scientists working on a cardiovascular research project including, but not limited to, bench-based discovery scientists, epidemiologists, data scientists, geneticists, engineers, behavioural scientists and researchers from other relevant disciplines. Clinician scientists are encouraged to apply to the equivalent clinical scheme. This alignment reflects efforts to unify with the current national funder curriculum.

Get to know some BHF-funded researchers here to read more about their lives, career inspirations and research interests.

Entry requirements

Candidates should be in the final year of their PhD studies or have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience from the date of their PhD award.
Candidates must be able to show, by publications or otherwise, evidence of exceptional research ability.
Candidates must propose a project which has a strong cardiovascular research theme.
The Fellowship does not have to be conducted in a different institution to where the PhD was carried out. The aim of this Fellowship is to provide newly qualified postdoctoral researchers a platform to broaden their research horizons and develop their own distinct research leadership. If this will be possible in the same research environment, applicants should demonstrate how they will achieve this goal in their application.

Eligible candidates also include:

Scientists returning from industry
Scientists returning to academia after a career break of more than 6 months
International candidates planning to come to the UK through the accelerated endorsement of the UK Global Talent visa

Early career researchers new to cardiovascular research are also eligible to apply:

Applicants should have a strong support network in place to aid their transition into cardiovascular research. Details of this support should be included in letters from academic advisors, mentors and collaborators.

Grant overview

Up to 4 years duration without extension.
It is strongly encouraged that up to 1.5 years of the award are spent overseas or in a second UK institution.
In the established UK-based host institution, the candidate must have the support of a named senior investigator who will guarantee access to space and resources and provide scientific guidance for the duration of their Fellowship. This individual should be named on the application form as the ‘Primary Academic Advisor’ and provide an appropriate letter of support as part of the application. A ‘Secondary Academic Advisor’ can also be named in the host institution, if a secondary institution is not involved. This individual should also provide an appropriate letter of support.
- The host institution must demonstrate strong evidence of sustained research excellence in the cardiovascular field. This includes a significant critical mass of expertise in the field and necessary infrastructure to effectively support the applicant in successfully undertaking their research project.
A secondary institution (either overseas or a second UK institution) can also be named. If so, the candidate must additionally have the support of a named senior investigator (Secondary Academic Advisor) who will guarantee access to space and resources and provide scientific guidance for the duration of the stay. This individual should provide an appropriate letter of support as part of the application.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to name up to two mentors who can provide independent advice on career and professional development. The mentor(s) may be based in the host institution if external to the applicant’s group, although an individual based in a different organisation to ensure impartial support may be preferred. If more than one mentor is named, at least one must be in a different institution to the applicant. A letter of support from the nominated mentor(s) must be included with the application.

Researchers new to cardiovascular research must indicate they are entering cardiovascular research from an alternative discipline within the application form and provide the following details:
- a summary of research experience in their current field, including any relevant outputs
- a statement explaining their motivation to transition to cardiovascular research and how the fellowship will support this.

The Fellowship may be taken up on a part-time employment basis (at least 0.5 FTE), where appropriate, following discussion and agreement with us and the employing institution. For more information read our flexible working policies page.

Award may include

Salary of applicant.
Salary of a part time research technician or research assistant (up to 2 years full time or up to 4 years part time) to support the fellow in the practical aspects of delivering the proposal. The request for a supporting post will need to be fully justified.
Research consumables directly attributable to the project. Consumables will not be provided overseas as facilities should be provided by the host department.
Research equipment essential for the project. Equipment will not be provided overseas as facilities must be provided by the host department.
Training fund (up to £3,000 per award) to provide financial support for the fellow’s research and development needs (such as workshops, training or coaching).
Travel fund (up to £4,000 per award) to present research at or attend scientific meetings relevant to the grant.
Contribution to expenses directly related to caring responsibilities incurred as a result of fellowship activities such as attending conferences, training, or collaborator visits (up to £800 per award).

For overseas visits of up to 6 months:

One return economy fare for the fellow only
A justified subsistence allowance.

For overseas visits of more than 6 months:

One return economy fare for the Fellow, their partner and up to 2 dependent children
Where there isn't a public provision of healthcare (for example, the USA), BHF will contribute towards healthcare insurance. Full details must be provided in the application.
Housing contribution of up to £3,000.

How to apply

Potential applicants for this award are strongly encouraged to contact the BHF Fellowships team for an informal discussion about their application before applying. Please send an email to [email protected] attaching a full CV and brief project description (no more than 1 side of A4). Please also provide an estimate of the anticipated cost of the grant you will be applying for.

The online application form must be completed by the proposed Fellow.
Read the information on how to apply
Log in to the online application form.
Complete all the sections of the online application form.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed.

Case for Support

You will be asked to attach a single PDF document to your online application form containing the following information:

For resubmissions, include an unedited copy of the original feedback followed by a detailed response, limited to 3 sides of A4, explaining how the revised application has changed from the original submission
Title of the proposed research
Abstract of the proposed investigation in 200 words or less
Background to the project and pilot data
Original hypothesis
Experimental details and design of proposed investigation
Power calculations
Expected value of results
List of references relevant to the proposed project
Appendices should be a maximum of 3 sides of A4 containing only tables or figures essential to the understanding of the application. A Gantt chart should be included. Research papers whether published, in press or in preparation may not be attached (although hyperlinks can be provided).

Sections 2-8 must not exceed 6 A4 sides. The PDF file size must not exceed 20MB.

Please ensure Arial font size 12 is used. If this font size is not used, the application will be rejected prior to formal consideration.

Additional document uploads required on Case for Support page of the application form:

Full CV of the candidate including list of publications and academic email address
Letter(s) of support from senior investigator(s) named as Fellowship Academic Advisor(s)
If a second institution or overseas visit is proposed, include a letter of support from a senior investigator (Secondary Academic Advisor) who will provide access to space, resources and scientific guidance for the duration of the stay. Please also ensure that the purpose of the visit is explained clearly, in terms of the duration, the research to be carried out and any training that will be acquired.
Letter of support from the Head of Department where the Fellowship will be based

Additional document uploads that will be requested within pages on the application form:

Supporting letters from collaborators
Supporting letter from named mentor(s)
Intellectual property agreements where relevant
Valid copy of ethical approval if relevant
Quotes obtained for any requested equipment with a value of £5,000 or more

When to apply

The next deadline for applications is 1 April 2026. By this date, your application must be fully submitted to BHF after being approved by your Head of Department and Administrative Authority.

Decision process

Receipt will be acknowledged within 24 hours, and we will advise you when you can expect the result. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed and a decision on this will be reached by the Fellowships Committee after it has considered external subject matter expert reviews. The following flowchart shows the application journey.

Independent expert review

To help applicants better understand how their proposals are assessed, please see BHF independent review guidelines and blank review form.

Apply for research grants