"EPSRC Postdoctoral Pathway Fellowship"

The role

The EPSRC Postdoctoral Pathway supports EPSRC-funded PhD graduates who are excited about taking the first steps towards research independence with a two-year Fellowship. The scheme offers the opportunity to launch a research career at the University of Bristol, where we are known for our high-quality research and innovation.

Postdoctoral Pathway Fellows will propose their own bespoke programme to conduct innovative research at the frontiers of Science and Engineering.

Project proposals are invited across the full range of topics in the EPSRC research portfolio.

Successful applicants will have the chance to take their research to the next level, whether by delivering high-impact original research, or by exploiting new interdisciplinary research opportunities. The Prize should not be viewed as an opportunity to complete PhD work.

What will you be doing?

Successful applicants will receive funding for up to 2 years.

Benefits include:

• Work within world-class research groups at the University of Bristol
• In addition to a Project Sponsor (a Bristol academic staff member supporting your project proposal), you will have access to an academic mentor for advice on research and career development
• Access to personal and professional development opportunities.

Postdoctoral Pathway Fellows will be recruited at Grade J on the University of Bristol salary scale and receive a grant of £5,000 for research costs.

You should apply if

This scheme is designed to support Early Career Researchers who are nearing completion of their PhD or have recently completed it.

Eligibility criteria:

• All applicants must have received PhD studentship support from EPSRC (stipend and/or fees) or training award, for example CDT or ICASE studentship
• Applicants must not hold a permanent academic position
• Applicants must have submitted their PhD thesis before the post begins and meet either of the following two requirements:
• Applicants who have recently completed their PhD they must have had their viva on or after 1st November 2024 (12 months prior to the application deadline)
• Applicants who are near completion of their PhD must intend to submit their doctoral thesis on or before 31st January 2026 (within 3 months of the application deadline). If they do not submit their thesis by this date, the award offer will be withdrawn. Applicants who are yet to submit must include a statement of support from their PhD supervisor confirming their expected submission timeline.

Additional information

To apply for this role please download and complete the attached documents (as specified in the Application Guidance). Alongside completing the other sections of the application, the additional documents should be uploaded to the Qualification Upload section of the application form.

Please see the Application Guidance for more details. Please contact doctoral-prize@bristol.ac.uk with any queries.

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Sunday 2nd November 2025.

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.