Postdoctoral fellowship opportunities

Our research covers a broad range of key subjects in pure and applied mathematics. The various activities are consolidated into seven research groups which reflect the School’s key strengths: Algebra and Number Theory, Combinatorics, Complex Systems and Networks, Dynamical Systems and Statistical Physics, Geometry and Analysis, Probability and Applications, Statistics and Data Science. If your profile and interests match our activities, we would be very interested to hear from you.

Most of the opportunities are open to candidates of any nationality, but specific rules and regulations with respect to career stage (e.g. minimum or maximum number of years post-PhD) may apply.

What we offer

We are an ATHENA Swan Bronze award holder. With over 65 academic staff passionate about their mathematics, the School of Mathematical Sciences is an exciting place to be for those who share our love of mathematical discovery. We currently host a number of Fellows at different stages of career development. In addition to advice and administrative support during the application process, we provide a highly supportive work environment in which to develop your career; all Fellows are supported by a dedicated academic mentor during their time in the School, and have access to a range of workshops and training courses organised by the Queen Mary Academy.

Timescales

To allow time both for preparation and proper costing of the proposal, the process must start several weeks before the deadline. All proposals will be critically reviewed internally by two members of academic staff as part of the submission process.

To apply

To start the process please contact the member of academic staff that is undertaking research in your area of interest as early as possible and discuss the opportunity of applying for a fellowship mentored by them. Alternatively, you may contact the Deputy Director of Research, Dr Adrian Baule who will be able to suggest potential mentors. For administrative support please contact maths-research@qmul.ac.uk. 

Deadlines

Each scheme has a different deadline, so please check the relevant links below to know the deadline that applies to you.

Many major schemes require internal institutional selection or demand-management; individuals should contact us maths-research@qmul.ac.uk at least 2 months (where possible) before the funder’s deadline to ensure adequate preparation and internal support.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

• UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) — long-term fellowship (4 + 3 years) for early-career researchers / innovators transitioning to independence.
  [UKRI FLF scheme page]
• Next round: opens 2 February 2026, closes 16 June 2026. UK Research and Innovation
• Internal demand-management common; start internal EOI at least 2-3 months before external deadline.
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) — Mathematical Sciences Fellowships (Postdoctoral, Open / Open-Plus)
  [EPSRC Fellowships page]
• Note: Open Call - contact us early.
• UKRI Daphne Jackson Fellowship Supports researchers returning after career breaks via tailored, often part-time fellowships that integrate retraining.

Expected deadline: Rolling, dependent on host availability.

Internal demand-management: Host support required in advance

• Ernest Rutherford Fellowship. Early Career researcher not appointed with Institution, supporting independent research.

Expected deadline: Opens in June - Closes in October.

Internal demand-management: Host support required in advance

 

The Royal Society

• Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF) — up to 8 years, for outstanding early-career researchers aiming for independence.
  [Royal Society URF scheme page]
• Next call: opens Spring, closes expected in September
• Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship (DHF) — up to 8 years, for early-career researchers needing flexible working.
  [Call dates listing page]
• Next call: Opens September - Deadline October
• Royal Society Industry Fellowship — for academics ↔ industry exchanges (6 mo–2 yrs).
  [Call dates listing page]
• Call cycles vary; check regularly.
• Royal Society Career Development Fellowship (CDF) — 4-year postdoc-level fellowship aiming to support early-career researchers from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM.
  [CDF scheme page]
• Next call: Opens September - Deadline November
• Funding: up to ~£690 000 over four years (salary + research + training/mentoring support).
• Internal demand-management / host-institution sponsorship mandatory.
• Newton International Fellowship (NIF) — 2-year fellowship for non-UK early-career researchers to work in the UK.
  [Newton Fellowship scheme page]
• Next call: Opens January - Deadline March.

The Leverhulme Trust

• Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship — 3-year support for promising early-career researchers without a permanent post. Institution required to contribute for part of the costs
  [Leverhulme homepage]
• Next call: Opens January - Deadline February.
• Host co-funding usually mandatory — begin institutional discussions early.

European / International

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA PF) — 1–2 year (or longer, depending on type) fellowship supporting mobility and international research careers.
  [MSCA PF official page]
• Next call: Opens May - Deadline September.
• Internal host checks often required; internal deadlines frequently 4–6 weeks before the EU deadline.

There are other UK opportunities for postdoctoral research funding at Queen Mary. These include:

• Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Fellowships, 3-year fellowships, for early career researchers; subject to annual renewal. (Deadline expected in January)
• LMS Early Career Fellowships , between 3 and 6 months to support early career mathematicians in the transition between PhD and a postdoctoral position (Deadline expected in January)
• Grace Chisholm Young Fellowships Supporting early-career women mathematicians in achieving independent research roles.

Expected deadline: Varies by administering mathematical society.

Internal demand-management: Often based on internal nomination or departmental support.

 Additional Reminders:

• For all schemes, internal demand-management or host-institution nomination is frequently required, especially for high-visibility/high-value fellowships (e.g. URF, CDF, FLF).
• Contact us maths-research@qmul.ac.uk at least 2 months before the funder’s external deadline to allow time for internal EoI, supervisor identification, budgeting, and drafting.