The Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship 2027 is now open to early-career researchers seeking to establish an independent research career in the natural sciences.
The fellowship provides researchers with the opportunity to develop their own research programmes and research groups while benefiting from a flexible working arrangement designed for applicants with ongoing personal circumstances requiring additional flexibility.
For the 2027 round, the fellowship offers up to £1,907,400 in funding over a maximum of eight years. The scheme is intended to support researchers at an early stage of their postdoctoral careers who have a clear vision for independent research.
The Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship is offered by the Royal Society as a career-development opportunity for outstanding early-career researchers.
The fellowship is designed to provide a first step towards an independent research career based on excellent research ideas. In addition to financial support, fellows can access career development, mentoring and engagement opportunities and become part of a wider community of research fellows.
A central feature of the fellowship is its flexibility. The scheme recognises that some researchers may need part-time working arrangements or extended periods of leave because of personal circumstances.
What Does the Fellowship Offer?
Successful fellows can receive funding of up to £1,907,400 over eight years.
The fellowship provides:
- Up to eight years of research funding
- Maximum funding of £1,907,400
- Support to develop an independent research programme
- Opportunity to establish and lead a research group
- Flexible working arrangements
- Support for part-time working where required
- Flexibility for extended leave periods related to health or caring responsibilities
- Career development opportunities
- Mentoring and engagement activities
- Access to a community of research fellows
- Opportunities to develop professional networks
The fellowship gives researchers the freedom to pursue innovative research questions within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences.
Who Is the Fellowship For?
The Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship is aimed at early-career researchers who have a clear research vision and are ready to develop an independent research career.
An important feature of the programme is its focus on researchers who have an ongoing need for flexible support due to personal circumstances.
The Royal Society gives examples such as being a primary carer or having a clinically diagnosed health condition that creates a need for flexibility.
Applicants should ensure that they can demonstrate the relevant need for flexible support in addition to meeting the standard eligibility requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants may be eligible if they meet the following requirements:
- They have completed a PhD or have no more than six years of actual research experience since their PhD by the application deadline
- Career breaks are taken into account when assessing research experience
- They do not hold a permanent university or not-for-profit organisation position, including a proleptic position
- They do not currently hold, and have not previously held, an equivalent fellowship that permits them to become an independent group leader
- Their research falls within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences
- They have an ongoing need for flexible support because of personal circumstances
Applicants should carefully review the official scheme notes because additional eligibility conditions may apply.
Research Areas Supported
The fellowship supports research falling within the natural sciences covered by the Royal Society.
The Society provides a detailed list of subject groups and research areas within its remit. Researchers should confirm that their proposed research fits within the supported disciplines before preparing an application.
Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate a strong research vision and a clear plan for developing an independent research programme.
Flexible Working Support
Flexibility is a defining feature of the Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship.
The scheme is intended for researchers whose personal circumstances create an ongoing need for flexible support. This may include circumstances involving caring responsibilities or a clinically diagnosed health condition.
Fellows can benefit from arrangements that accommodate part-time working or extended periods of leave where appropriate.
This flexibility is intended to help researchers continue developing their academic careers while managing circumstances that affect their working arrangements.
Career Development and Mentoring
Beyond research funding, Dorothy Hodgkin Fellows can access tailored career development, mentoring and engagement opportunities.
The Royal Society also provides a community through which fellows can connect with other researchers, share experiences and develop professional networks.
The fellowship is therefore structured not only around research funding but also around longer-term career development and progression towards research leadership.
Application Timeline
The 2027 Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship opened on 3 September 2026.
Applications are submitted through the Royal Society’s Flexi-Grant system, and applicants should review the scheme notes and funding guidance before completing their application.
The Royal Society states that decisions for the 2027 round are expected by 31 July 2027.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship 2027 is 29 October 2026.
Researchers should ensure that their applications are completed and submitted before the closing date. Applicants should also allow sufficient time to review the eligibility requirements and prepare a strong research proposal and supporting materials.
How to Apply
Eligible researchers should apply through the Royal Society’s online Flexi-Grant application system.
Before applying, candidates should read the Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship scheme notes and the Royal Society Funding Guidance carefully. This will help applicants understand the eligibility conditions, funding rules and requirements for the application.
Researchers should also confirm that their proposed research falls within the Royal Society’s natural sciences remit.
Have You Applied?
The Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship 2027 offers early-career researchers an opportunity to build an independent research career while receiving substantial long-term funding and flexible support.
With funding of up to £1,907,400 over eight years, the fellowship is intended for researchers developing innovative research programmes and preparing to lead independent research groups.
Researchers considering the opportunity should verify the complete eligibility criteria, flexibility requirements, supported research areas and application requirements before submitting their applications.
