Research Fellowships

A scientist working with a microscope

Newnham College is proud to offer a number of Research Fellowships for outstanding female researchers early in their careers.

Our Fellowships offer an opportunity to carry out independent research in a stimulating and supportive academic community, to meet established researchers across a range of disciplines, and to take part in the life of Newnham College.

Stipends, for those without financial support from other sources is Point 41 on the University Scale - £36,024 for 2023-24 (pay award pending). The stipends are on a three point scale and rise each year to the next point on that scale.

Note that applicants who have taken time out of research for professional or family reasons will not be at a disadvantage.

For further details, see below.

Meet our current Junior Research Fellows

Eligibility

Our Research Fellowships are intended for outstanding female researchers early in their careers. The Fellowships offer an opportunity to carry out independent research in a stimulating and supportive academic environment.

Applications will be accepted from any female graduate of a university within or outside the United Kingdom. Where a candidate is appointed who requires a visa in order to work in the UK, the appointment will be conditional upon the candidate successfully obtaining the necessary visa.

All candidates should note that these Research Fellowships are extremely competitive.
Successful candidates are expected to be either graduate students whose doctoral degrees are complete or very near completion, or post-doctoral researchers who have recently completed their PhD degrees.

Both selection panels use the concept of “research age” in judging how long a candidate has been active in research, so that time out of research for professional or family reasons will not be a disadvantage.

These appointments comply with legislation on sex discrimination, relying on the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 22, and Article 3 of the College Charter. Newnham College admits only those who are formally recognised as female on a birth certificate or gender recognition certificate. This means women graduates and Assigned Female At Birth non-binary graduates identified as such on a birth certificate are eligible to apply for Newnham’s Research Fellowships, as are transwomen graduates with a gender recognition certificate. 

Fellowship Details

Research Fellows are appointed for a period of three years, although many leave sooner if they are successful in gaining faculty appointments in Cambridge or elsewhere.

During their tenure JRFs have no other duties other than to pursue their research, but are encouraged to consider undertaking a small amount of College teaching, or other activities such as mentoring Newnham postgraduates, assisting with Newnham admissions interviewing, or pastoral tutoring of Newnham students. They are members of the College Governing Body, and may serve on other College committees.

The Fellowships carry a competitive stipend. Accommodation in a college set or flat may be available to rent.

Fellowships may also be awarded on a non-stipendiary basis to women who hold another post-doctoral appointment in the University or in a recognised University Partner Institution (UPI).

Funds are available to support research costs, such as conference travel. All Research Fellows are also entitled to a one-off sum of up to £10K towards the cost of running an approved Newnham-based research event, such as a conference, workshop or seminar series.

The Science, Mathematics, Engineering or Psychology Fellowship

The Sciences Research Fellowship is offered in any field of Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or Psychology.

Applications for the 2025 Fellowship have closed. Applications for the 2026 Fellowship will open in late August 2025, and the successful candidate will enter into their Fellowship on 1 October 2026.  

 

The Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Research Fellowship

The Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Research Fellowship subjects are offered on a three-year rotation, with the subjects as listed below. Newnham research students in the whole field of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences may apply in any year, regardless of the rotational listing. 

Applications for the 2025 Fellowship have closed. 

Applications for the 2026 Fellowship will open in late August 2025, and the successful candidate will enter into their Fellowship on 1 October 2026.

2026: Architecture, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, History of Art, Human Social and Political Sciences (including Archaeology, Anthropology, Politics and International Studies, Social Sciences). The successful candidate will enter into their Fellowship on 1 October 2026.

2027: Classics, Geography, History and Philosophy of Science, Modern and Medieval Languages (including Theoretical and Applied Linguistics), Music, Philosophy. The successful candidate will enter into their Fellowship on 1 October 2027.

2028: Business & Management, Divinity, Economics, English (including Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic), Education, History, Land Economy, Law. The successful candidate will enter into their Fellowship on 1 October 2028.

The Newby Trust Research Fellowship

The Newby Trust Research Fellowship is a stipendiary fellowship, for the following subjects only: Archaeology, Classics, the Creative and Performing Arts, English Language, English Literature, History (ancient, medieval and modern), Modern Languages and Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Visual Arts and Media.

This Fellowship is shared with Clare College and is offered every three years, by each College in turn. The current appointment, starting 1st October 2022, was made by Newnham College.