Fellowship Accelerator: From Idea to Application

• Are you a postdoctoral researcher at Leeds?
• Are you considering applying for an externally funded research fellowship in the next 12 months?
• Have you checked that you're eligible for the scheme/s that you're interested in?
• Have you explored our Fellowship Sways: 'Is it a Fellowship or a Standard Research Grant?' and 'Are you ready for a Fellowship?'

You don't need to have an application ready - you don't even need to have spoken to the University about applying for a fellowship yet. However, you do need to have a research idea, and be committed to developing that idea over the next few months.

We'll be running this programme once in the 2026/27 academic year. The next cohort will begin in Autumn 2026, and will run on the following dates:

• Session 1: 8 October, 9:30am-4:30pm
• Session 2: 22 October, 10am-1pm
• Session 3: 5 November, 10am-1pm
• Session 4: 19 November, 10am-1pm
• Session 5: 3 December, 10am-1pm
• Session 6: 14 January, 10am-1pm
• Session 7: 28 January, 10am-1pm
• Session 8: 11 February, 9:30am-1pm

Throughout the programme, you'll be motivated, supported and encouraged by tutors on the course and your peers. Cohorts will work together to consider the '3Ps of Fellowships':

Project/Programme

• Developing your initial idea
• Communicating your idea effectively
• Responsible Research and Impact
• EDI and research culture

Person

• Demonstrating your track record
• Research leadership
• Continuing professional development
• Research culture

Place

• Finding the best place for you
• Negotiating to get the support you need

In addition, the programme features insights from current Fellows at Leeds, who share their own experiences of applying for a Fellowship.

Fellowship Accelerator culminates in a 5-minute presentation to your peers and colleagues, giving you the chance to pitch your idea and demonstrate how you fulfil the 3Ps. The pitch is designed to mirror the kinds of presentations often required during Fellowship interviews, and gives you a chance to get feedback on your ideas at an early stage in the process.

All attendees will also have access to 1:1s with Dr Taryn Bell, Researcher Development Advisor, to discuss their proposal in more depth.

Fellowship Accelerator is an intensive programme, requiring genuine commitment from attendees.

However, this programme will also save you time. By taking the time, once a fortnight, to work on the different elements of a Fellowship supported by experts from across the University, you'll:

• Quickly develop the skills and knowledge necessary to write a really exciting proposal
• Get a chance to put into practice what you've learned
• Think more deeply about your ideas
• Get feedback at an early stage.

At a minimum, you will spend 6 hours per month working on the programme (if you just attend the sessions), though we would encourage you to invest additional time working on your ideas inbetween workshops, to make the most of this opportunity.

Fellowship Accelerator is not a funding programme. The aim of the programme is to help you develop your ideas, in preparation for Leeds' internal selection processes.

As part of this, we'll support you to have further discussions with your Head of School or Director of Research & Innovation.

We ran an information session on 21 May - if you missed it, you can access the recording below:

If that doesn't answer your question, contact Taryn Bell for more information.