Wellcome Trust, a UK based funder, has announced its Early-Career Awards scheme providing funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The call is open for organizations based in UK, Republic of Ireland, Low- or middle-income countries (apart from India and mainland China). The level of funding is a Salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses for duration of 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and longer if held on a part-time basis.

The scheme targets early-career researchers and applicants must be ready to design, plan and deliver their own innovative research project that aims to advance understanding in their field and develop methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research.

The research can be in any discipline including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), experimental medicine, humanities and social science, clinical/allied health sciences, and public health – as long as it has the potential to improve human life, health and wellbeing, and aligns with the funding remit.

To qualify for consideration, one must have completed a PhD or at least four years' equivalent research experience for example, in the humanities and social sciences. One may also have some postdoctoral experience in their proposed field of study, but generally no more than three years.

The deadline for new applications is 26 October 2021, 17:00 BST while shortlisting will be on February 2022 and the interviews shall be held on April 2022. Final funding decisions will be made by the Discovery Research Decision Board who will send an email notification of the funding decision soon after the decision has been made. Written feedback will be provided to all unsuccessful applicants at each decision point, including the reasons for a decision.

If one is awarded this grant, they are guaranteed an endorsement of a Global Talent visa application, in addition, if the host organization is in the UK and one has team members who will spend at least 50% of their working time contributing to the award, they may be eligible to apply for a Global Talent visa through the endorsed funder route.

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Article by Virginia Wanjiru

Link to the call: https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/early-career-awards