Returning from a Career Break: Fellowship Opportunities

To support talented researchers returning from a career break of at least 6 months, BHF is opening Early Career Research, Future Leader and Senior Research Fellowship schemes to career re-entry applicants.

Eligible applicants can apply for the following fellowship schemes:

• Discovery Research Early Career Fellowship
• Discovery Research Future Leaders Fellowship
• Discovery Research Senior Fellowship
• Clinical Future Leaders Fellowship
• Clinical Senior Research Fellowship

Entry requirements

• Applicants should be successful postdoctoral researchers coming from a career break of a minimum of 6 months.
  • Applications can be made during the career break or following return to work. If applications are made after returning to work, they should typically be made within 6 months, and no later than 12 months.
• All career breaks will be accounted for when assessing eligibility and competitiveness for the individual fellowship scheme.
  
  • For clinician scientists, a period of full-time clinical work does not quality as a career break and these applicants should apply through the standard route.
    

• Existing entry requirements for each fellowship scheme apply.
  • Time-based eligibility criteria for fellowship schemes do not include career breaks.

Application information

• All sections of the online application form must be completed, as outlined on the individual fellowship scheme pages.
• Applicants must indicate they are returning from a career break within the application form and provide the following details:
  • A description of the career break including the reason and duration. 
    • This information will assist the Fellowships Committee in accurately assessing the application by providing context and enabling fair benchmarking against applications from  individuals without a career break.
    • Applicants may include as much detail as they wish; however, more comprehensive information will help guide the Committee’s evaluation more effectively.
  • Details on the remaining length (if any) of their academic contract.
  • A summary of research experience and relevant outputs prior to the break, and if applicable, since returning.
  • A statement outlining their motivation to return to cardiovascular research, why the fellowship is the best vehicle to return to academia and how the fellowship will support their re-entry.

Please note, BHF also partners with the Daphne Jackson Trust to provide part-time career returner Fellowships after a career break of two years or more. Further information can be found at both BHF and Daphne Jackson Trust.