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Fellowships

The Pirbright Institute is a world-leading centre for research and surveillance to prevent virus diseases of livestock and virus transmission from animals to humans.

The Fellowship Scheme at Pirbright provides an opportunity for outstanding early-stage scientists to develop their own research programme, within the remit of the Institute’s Science Strategy. Success for the Fellow will depend on their career aspirations and opportunities to transition into the next stage of their career. 

Our Fellowship Scheme: 

  • Employs early career scientists, who have a strong track record of already driving their own research and are ready to lead an independent research programme 
  • Offers a valuable opportunity for scientists to develop themselves and their research programmes within a scientifically focused and supportive environment
  • Supports the transition from postdoctoral scientist to principal investigator (PI)/Group Leader, and will prepare Fellows for opportunities at the level of independent PI at Pirbright or beyond
  • Emphasises a balanced approach of carrying out excellent science while building experience in leading and managing groups in a positive and supportive way
  • Provides access to The Pirbright Institute's unique, state of the art facilities, and a supportive, scientifically thriving, and vibrant environment to enable you to carry out research on viral pathogens and their mammalian, avian or insect hosts
  • Provides tailored management and career development, in addition to internal and external mentoring in a variety of areas

Please visit the current vacanies page to see all vacancies at The Pirbright Institute.

For more information about our Fellowships, including requirements, funding, how to apply, facilities, support and more, please download The Pirbright Institute Fellowship Scheme Handbook.

If you would like to discuss how your scientific ideas might fit with possible openings, please email the Head of Research an Innovation, Dr Louise Barton. We welcome informal enquiries at any time. 

The Institute is also open to discussions with prospective employees who wish to apply for externally funded fellowships based at The Pirbright Institute. See the External Fellowships tab for more information.

The Pirbright Institute is keen to act as a host/sponsoring organisation for externally funded fellowship applications to grant giving bodies, where the science falls within the remit of the Institute.

For enquires about supporting a Fellowship application, such as the BBSRC Discovery Fellowship, the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, please email the Head of Research and Innovation, Dr Louise Barton, in the first instance. 

Details of your research plans, along with an up to date CV will then be requested and the Institute’s Science Committee will provide a decision (and feedback as necessary) on whether the Institute will sponsor an application. Discussions can then take place about the specific support that can be provided as part of the application, as appropriate.

For support with a career re-entry fellowship, please see the Daphne Jackson Fellowships information below.

Daphne Jackson Fellowships

The Daphne Jackson Trust provides flexible and part-time funded Fellowships to return talented STEM professionals back to work after a career break of two or more years taken for family, caring or health reasons. Visit the Daphne Jackson Trust website to find out more about the Trust.

As part of the strong equality, diversity and inclusion culture at the Institute, we are highly supportive of this scheme and keen to host Daphne Jackson Fellows. For an informal discussion about the opportunities available at Pirbright and how we could support your application for a Daphne Jackson Fellowship, please contact  our HR department.

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