SULSA wish to award outstanding Postdoctoral Researchers whose work shows excellent potential to make an impact in the field of life sciences.

This prize allows exceptional Postdoctoral Researchers to raise their profile in Scotland and have a prestigious award on their CV.  It includes a fully funded tour (worth £1,000) of three Scottish universities where the awardee will deliver a seminar and meet with staff to raise their profile around Scotland and develop their independent networks. In addition, the awardee will receive £1,000 of flexible funding to be used at their discretion for attending conferences, buying consumables, attending training courses, visiting collaborators, etc.

Eligibility

• This call is open to the following SULSA members only: University of Aberdeen, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University, Heriot-Watt University, University of the Highlands and Islands, James Hutton Institute, Robert Gordon University, University of St Andrews, University of Strathclyde, University of the West of Scotland. Please refer to our SULSA Funding Eligibility Key at the end of this document to confirm you are eligible for this call.
• Applicants must be a Postdoctoral Researcher in the life sciences and hold a PhD.
• This award is not suitable for researchers who are already setting up their own independent research group.
• Their contract must be valid for the duration of the funding (12 months). A letter from your PI/Line Manager stating your contract is likely to be extended will be accepted
• Applicants can self-nominate.
• It is expected that applicants will be within approximately two years of applying for their first independent position, however we will accept applications from Postdoctoral Researchers at all levels.

Funding Information and Conditions

• Your visits must be completed within 12 months of being awarded, or (if less) the duration of your contract at your host institution.
• You must have your application signed by your PI to demonstrate their support.
• You must include a copy of your CV with your application.
• Visits should be to external universities in Scotland and not within your own institution.

Judging Criteria

• Research Vision
• Scientific merit and potential
• Publication output and grant funding
• Research impact such as public engagement, policy work, knowledge exchange, etc

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present a 3-minute thesis style presentation online to our judging panel. You must be available to present on w/c 17th May 2027 (your allocated slot will be confirmed after shortlisted candidates have been selected). If you are unable to attend, you cannot be considered.

Key Dates

• Call Opens: Monday 8th March 2027
• Application Deadline: Monday 12th April 2027
• PostDoc Prize Virtual Presentations: w/c 17th May 2027
• Applicants Awarded: w/c 24th May 2027
• PostDoc Prize University Tour: to take place before 31st May 2028

Submitting Your Application
Applicants must submit their application (merged into a single PDF) to jill.inkster@glasgow.ac.uk at SULSA by 5pm on Monday 12th April 2027.

Notification of Outcome
Shortlisted applicants will be notified of the outcome via email by early May and invited to present at our PostDoc Prize virtual presentations w/c 17th May 2027.

Organisation of Tour
If successful, you will manage the organisation and logistics of your seminar tour. SULSA will be available to help with introductions where required.

Payment of Funds
If successful, funds will be transferred to your Institution and must be spent by 31st May 2028.

Awardee Reporting
You must provide the SULSA administration with project updates and outcomes when requested for reporting purposes. You will receive a survey to complete 3-months post-project completion and 1-year post-project completion.

If this project leads to a published article, or leverages grant funding, please contact the SULSA administration to make them aware.

Download a copy of the Postdoctoral Prize Guidelines

Who is eligible to apply for this funding?
This call is open for Postdoctoral researchers/fellows only. It is expected that applicants will be within approximately two years of applying for their first independent position, however we will accept applications from Postdoctoral Researchers at all levels. This is a prestigious prize and only postdoctoral researchers with a exceptional track record and research vision will be considered for shortlisting.

This call is open to the following SULSA members only: University of Aberdeen, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University, Heriot-Watt University, University of the Highlands and Islands, James Hutton Institute, Robert Gordon University, University of St Andrews, University of Strathclyde, University of the West of Scotland.

The applicant’s contract must be valid for the duration of the funding and the application form must be signed by their PI/line manager. If your contract is due to expire throughout the duration of the project but you are likely to receive bridge funding or follow-on funding, you must include a letter signed by your PI/Line manager stating this with your application.

I am a postdoctoral researcher and have been awarded a fellowship, am I eligible?
Yes, you can still apply once that fellowship is for postdoctoral research and not funding to support the establishment of your independent research group. If you have received funding for, or are already in the process of, establishing your own independent research group then you will not be eligible to apply.

If you have applied for a fellowship/funding to establish your independent research group but have not received notification of the outcome by the application deadline then you may still apply for the Postdoctoral Prize even if the fellowship/funding is awarded before the end of the Postdoctoral Prize funding term.

Can my seminar tour include non-SULSA universities/research institutes?
You may visit any three universities/research institutes in Scotland except your home university/research institute. The tour must be completed within 12-months of being awarded (or the duration of your contract if less than 12-months)

Your seminar visits do not have to be to other life sciences/medical schools. You may deliver a seminar and meet with staff in any discipline once they are relevant to your research vision and career progression.

 What can the funds be used for?
The total value of the award is £2000. The first £1000 should be used to cover subsistence costs for the seminar tour to three different universities/research institutes in Scotland. In addition, the awardee will receive £1,000 of flexible funding to be used at their discretion for attending conferences, buying consumables, attending training courses, visiting collaborators, etc.

This funding call is now closed and will re-open Monday 8th March 2027.

Eligibility Enquiries: Alison.Hughes@glasgow.ac.uk 

All Other Enquiries and Post-Award Communication: Jill.Inkster@glasgow.ac.uk