The Ecology <https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sbs/research/clusters/ecology/>,
Evolution <https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sbs/research/clusters/evolution/>,
and Ecophysiology
<https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sbs/research/clusters/ecophysiology/>
Research Clusters within the School of Biological Sciences
<https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sbs/>, University of Aberdeen <http://abdn.ac.uk/>
(Scotland) are pleased to offer an Early Career Recruitment Bursary. We
are specifically looking to attract talented early career researchers
(ECRs) to enable travel for development of competitive fellowship
applications. The University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495, is among
the top 1% of oldest Universities worldwide, boasting excellence in
environmental research and a location rich in cultural heritage and
natural beauty.

What we are offering: We are offering bursaries to facilitate travel of
ECRs to Aberdeen for a period of 1-3 weeks, to facilitate co-development
of competitive fellowship proposals in collaboration with our existing
researchers. We will support return travel and subsistence costs and
invite applicants to submit a fully costed budget.

Application due date: 15 March 2026 for priority consideration;
consideration will continue on a rolling basis afterwards.

Eligibility: You must be eligible for a target fellowship opportunity
that you have identified and plan to pursue in Aberdeen. Potential
fellowship opportunities include but are not limited to: NERC IRF
<https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/developing-people-and-skills/nerc/nerc-fellowships/>,
Royal Society URF <https://royalsociety.org/grants/university-research/>,
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships
<https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/calls/msca-postdoctoral-fellowships-2026>,
among numerous other potential funders to be discussed with potential
hosts (see below). You must furthermore be eligible to travel to the UK
and to arrange any required visas prior to your visit. We can provide
guidance on accommodation options and costs in Aberdeen.

Application process: Prior to submitting an application, you should reach
out to at least one member of staff within the Ecology and Evolution
or Ecophysiology Research Cluster (full list of eligible hosts can be
found: here <https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sbs/research/clusters/ecology/>
and here <https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sbs/research/clusters/ecophysiology/>)
to establish a potential collaboration idea. You must then submit (1)
your fellowship idea in writing (approximately 1 page), (2) an indicative
budget for travel and subsistence, and (3) a copy of your CV, as email
attachments in word or pdf format to the cluster chair, Prof Lesley
Lancaster (lesleylancaster@abdn.ac.uk) on or before the deadline, using
the subject heading "Cluster Bursary" when you submit.

Outcomes: We envisage supporting 2-4 bursaries this financial year subject
to the availability of funding and the extent of interest. Outcomes
will be communicated by the last week in March, and the planned travel
must take place before June 30, 2026. Applications for later visits or
which are received after the deadline will continue to be considered on
a rolling basis, as future budgeting allows.

Informal inquiries can be directed to any eligible host (please follow
links above) or to lesleylancaster@abdn.ac.uk.

The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland,
No SC013683.

Tha Oilthigh Obar Dheathain na charthannas clàraichte ann an Alba,
Àir. SC013683.

"Fisher, David" <david.fisher@abdn.ac.uk>

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