Are you an early-career researcher with a vision to lead your own research group at one of the world’s top universities? If you’re preparing to apply for a senior research fellowship with a submission deadline after March 2026, then the Group Leader Research Fellowship 2025 at the University of Oxford’s Department of Zoology could be your next big opportunity.
This call for Expressions of Interest is open to international applicants from all academic backgrounds related to Zoology and aligned research themes. The department welcomes candidates who want to apply for external fellowship schemes and start their independent research journey within Oxford’s vibrant scientific ecosystem.
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity is designed for early-career researchers planning to apply for highly competitive external fellowships such as:
- NERC Independent Research Fellowship
- ERC Starting or Consolidator Grant
- The Wellcome Trust Career Development Awards
- Royal Society University Research Fellowship
- Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship
- Branco-Weiss Fellowship
Applicants should have innovative research ideas and demonstrate the potential to build and lead their own research group. Fellows can specialize in any of the department’s key research themes: Behavior and Neuroscience, Ecology and Conservation Science, Evolution, or Health and Evolutionary Medicine.
What the Fellowship Offers?
By joining the Department of Zoology at Oxford, selected fellows receive extensive institutional support that includes:
- Guidance for preparing a strong external fellowship application
- Mentorship from leading Oxford faculty
- Support for setting up your lab and recruiting staff
- Access to training, seminars, and networking events
- Ongoing career development support from the School of Biological Sciences.
Oxford’s Department of Zoology has an outstanding record of helping its research fellows secure long-term academic roles at top global universities and institutes.
Apply: https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/news/group-leader-research-fellowship-sponsorship-scheme-now-open-0
The last date to submit your Expression of Interest for the Group Leader Research Fellowship 2025 at the University of Oxford is Monday, 10 November 2025 by 17:00 GMT. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by Monday, 8 December 2025, and invited to visit the department and deliver a seminar during the week beginning 12 January 2026.