ESRC funded postdoctoral fellowships

We are inviting applications for ESRC funded postdoctoral fellowships as part of the South West Doctoral Training Partnership

 
We are inviting applications (expression of interest) for ESRC funded postdoctoral fellowships as part of the South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP).
Fellowships are aimed at providing a development opportunity for social science researchers in the immediate postdoctoral stage of their career, to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills.
The application process begins with an Expression of Interest (EoI). The deadline for expressions of interest to the University of Plymouth is 11:59pm, 24 April 2026. Please send your completed EoI form to the institutional contact: Dr Patricia Kanngiesser.
You will be notified of outcomes from the EoI stage no later than 5 May 2026. Only applications successful at the EoI stage will be invited to submit a full proposal (deadline: 11.59pm, 1 June 2026).
 

Eligibility

To be eligible applicants must:
  • Have completed their PhD at a UK research organisation (RO).
  • The fellowship must be held at an RO that is part of a DTP eligible to participate in this scheme, however applicants may come from anywhere in the world.
  • The fellowship must be aligned to an SWDTP pathway at Plymouth.
  • Have been awarded a PhD or have passed their viva voce with minor amendments by the 1 June 2025 and have been awarded their PhD by the fellowship start date of 1 October 2026.
  • Have no more than 15 months (fulltime equivalent) active postdoctoral experience since passing their viva voce (allowing for career breaks). The period of active post-doctoral experience should be calculated from the viva voce being passed to the application deadline of closing date of 1 June 2026.
  • Must conduct research that is clearly over 50% based in the social sciences.
  • Applicants requiring a visa to work in UK should check they are eligible to apply for a relevant visa.
  • Submit an Expression of Interest to no more than one SWDTP institution.
  • Submit a full application to no more than one ESRC-funded Doctoral Training Partnership.
 
 
If you wish to make an application for this opportunity with Plymouth, please complete the expression of interest form and email it to the institutional contact Dr Patricia Kanngiesser by 11.59pm, 24 April 2026.
For informal enquiries, please also contact patricia.kanngiesser@plymouth.ac.uk.