Kathleen Lonsdale Research Fellowship

Supporting Early-career Researchers

The ICAM Kathleen Lonsdale Research Fellowship offers a first step to build an independent research career for exceptional scientists and engineers who have a current need for flexible or special support.

This fellowship honours the legacy of Dame Kathleen Lonsdale, a trailblazing crystallographer and a prominent figure in the history of science. As one of the first women to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and the first female tenured professor at University College London, her contributions continue to inspire future generations of scientists. Listen to this clip from the BBC Woman’s Hour archive of Professor Dame Kathleen Lonsdale.

ICAM Kathleen Lonsdale Research Fellows are chosen based on the scientific merit of their research and how it fits ICAM’s vision to enable the effective application of advanced materials for the transition to net zero.

Successful ICAM Kathleen Lonsdale Research Fellows who are about to start their first year are eligible to apply for an ICAM Research Grant of circa £100k, as well as being encouraged and supported to apply for external research funding.

There is currently no active application round for the Kathleen Lonsdale Research Fellowship.

Who is Eligible

Candidates can apply to this scheme if they:

• Have a PhD in a relevant subject, including Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Materials Science or related disciplines;
• Are of any nationality and will be conducting their research in one of the ICAM universities: The University of Manchester, Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge in the UK or the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US.
• Can demonstrate excellence in science and in particular in one of the relevant subjects
• Are at an early stage of their research career. Career breaks and time spent outside the research environment will be taken into consideration.
• Are in current need for flexible support due to personal circumstances at the time of application and for the duration of the fellowship.