MOBILITY Fellow

Organisation/Company The University of Birmingham Research Field Agricultural sciences Biological sciences Chemistry Engineering Ethics in health sciences Pharmacological sciences Medical sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Positions Postdoc Positions Final date to receive applications 18 Dec 2026 - 17:00 (Europe/London) Country United Kingdom Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe – COFUND Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

The University of Birmingham has secured European Research Council funding to launch the MOBILITY Fellowship, a competitive pump-priming scheme for exceptional early career researchers. This fellowship supports postdoctoral researchers in building the track record, skills, and preliminary data needed to compete successfully for prestigious independent funding — such as NIHR Postdoctoral Awards, ERC Starting Grants, UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships, and Wellcome/MRC Career Development Awards.

The fellowship provides salary support for up to five years alongside a research budget and is open to both internal and external candidates. Fellows are expected to apply for an independent fellowship within the first 36 months of appointment. Where an independent fellowship is secured, the Fellow will transfer to it as soon as practicable, at which point the MOBILITY contract will conclude.

Fellows will be embedded in a high-quality research environment within a STEM discipline and supported by a senior academic mentor.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and advance an independent research programme, with mentorship as appropriate
• Lead or contribute significantly to research funding bids and fellowship applications
• Collect, analyse, and interpret research data using methods appropriate to the discipline
• Publish research outputs and present findings at seminars, conferences, and as posters
• Contribute to the development of new models, techniques, and methods
• Provide guidance to postgraduate students and support staff where relevant
• Contribute to departmental research activities and associated administration
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, acting as a role model within the research community

Person specification

• PhD in a relevant STEM discipline
• Demonstrable competitive track record in research, including publications, awards, or other esteem indicators commensurate with career stage
• A research proposal in active development, suitable for submission to a major funding body within the first year of appointment
• Clear strategy for using the fellowship to strengthen competitiveness for independent external funding (e.g. completing outputs, gaining complementary skills, or generating preliminary data)
• High-level analytical capability and ability to interpret complex data
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write for both academic and funding audiences
• Fluency in techniques and methods relevant to the research area, with the ability to contribute to their development
• Ability to manage own workload, meet deadlines, and coordinate effectively with colleagues
• Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 and a commitment to fair and inclusive practice in day-to-day work

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working