Are you an early career researcher with a groundbreaking engineering idea? Are you looking for a career development opportunity in a supportive research community that will help unlock your research and leadership potential? Then a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship based at the University of Bath could be for you!

Each year, the Academy provides Research Fellowships (RAEng RFs) to promising early career researchers, assisting them in becoming future leaders and ambassadors in engineering. The scheme's objectives are:

  • supporting the best early career researchers in establishing their independence and international reputation
  • providing long-term support enabling the pursuit of an ambitious programme of engineering research and impact
  • developing ambassadors for RAEng and advocates for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines

Professor Chris Bowen, Associate Dean for Research, Faculty of Engineering and Design at the University of Bath, says:

The University of Bath provides a supportive and innovative environment for completing your Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship. 92% of our research is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021). Join our thriving research community committed to gender equality, representation, progression, and success for all.

Who can apply

RAEng welcomes applications from all early career researchers worldwide who have been awarded their PhD in the last four years working within RAEng’s subject remit. Eligible applicants from the following groups that are currently significantly under-represented in UK engineering research are encouraged to apply:

  • women
  • black people, including those with any mixed ethnicity with Black ethnic background(s)
  • disabled people

More information on eligibility can be found in the RAEng Scheme Guidance (2025 version). We expect the 2026 guidance to be published in the Spring.

Applicants wanting to base their fellowship at Bath can either be already based at the university or can be from outside of the university.

How to apply

RAEng allows organisations hosting these fellowships to support a maximum of four applications to this scheme annually. Therefore, we hold an annual selection process to identify our candidates. To participate in this year’s candidate selection process, please complete the steps below:

  1. Read the RAEng RF scheme guidance to get a feel for what this scheme funds and to confirm if you are eligible to apply. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please contact RAEng at research@raeng.org.uk directly to obtain written confirmation.
  2. Find out more about what Bath can offer you as a host by visiting the University of Bath webpages.
  3. Consider whether you have the time to commit to developing a high-quality application to this scheme (see RAEng timeline below). If selected as a Bath candidate for the Research Fellowships scheme, you will need to fully participate and commit significant time to developing your application (e.g., drafting sections, responding to feedback, finalising content, securing partner letters of support). Please speak with your line manager, if applicable, to confirm their support for this time commitment.
  4. Identify and contact the relevant Head of the Department (HoD, see contacts below) where you wish your fellowship to be hosted to discuss your fellowship proposal to confirm it is competitive and a good fit for the Department. Obtain written confirmation (e.g. an email) from the HoD stating that the department is willing to host the fellowship if the RAEng application is successful.
  5. Please complete our Candidate Selection Form (CSF) by 1pm on Wednesday 25 March 2026. The form asks for detailed information about your project and track record, so please allow plenty of time to complete it.
  6. Please submit your mandatory supporting documents – in the form of a CV (formatting and content requirements are detailed in Section 1 of the CSF) and your HoD approval confirmation email to Dr Lotta Croft (email: cc2976@bath.ac.uk) before the CSF submission deadline.

Head of Department Contacts

We expect most applicants will be hosted by one of our Departments in the Faculty of Engineering and Design (FED). If you are planning to be hosted by a Department not in FED, you must contact Dr Lotta Croft before you submit your CSF application.

Candidate Selection Criteria

  • fit with Bath University and Faculty research strengths
  • candidate track record and leadership/ambassador potential
  • research idea, novelty and timeliness
  • social impact of the proposed research

Selected candidates must pass interim and final peer reviews before submitting their full application to RAEng to ensure proposal quality.

Key Dates

The completed CSF, mandatory supporting documents (CV and HoD approval email) and eligibility confirmation from RAEng (if sought by you) must be submitted by 1pm on Wednesday 25 March 2026 (UK time). Submissions after this time/date will not be considered.

If your CSF application is successful, you'll develop your RAEng Stage One application with support from mentors, peer reviewers, and colleagues from our Research and Impact Services (RIS) team.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their CSF application by early May at the latest.

The RAEng Application Process and Timeline

RAEng are refreshing their process and timeline for 2026, and we understand that the confirmed details will be published in the Spring. Based on the information we’ve received from them so far, we expect the application process to run from May to December and involve two stages: an Expression of Interest likely due for submission in late June, followed by an Invite-only Full Application submission in early December.

Please note that this is our best understanding at the moment and some details may change once RAEng finalise their guidance. We recommend keeping an eye on the RAEng Research Fellowships webpages for the latest updates.

Further Information

Please see the RAEng Research Fellowships Webpages (the 2026 call is not open yet, but you can view last year’s guidance.)

Enquiries

Need clarification on anything in this announcement? Reach out to Process Lead Dr Lotta Croft, Research Development Manager for the Faculty of Engineering and Design at the University of Bath. Email: cc2967@bath.ac.uk.