Are you a young researcher hoping to head your own team at one of the best universities in the world? The Group Leader Research Fellowship 2025 at the University of Oxford’s Department of Zoology might be your next big chance if you’re getting ready to apply for a senior research fellowship with a submission deadline after March 2026.

International applicants with any academic background in zoology or related research topics are welcome to submit an Expression of Interest. The department welcomes applicants who wish to begin their independent research journey within Oxford’s thriving scientific ecosystem and apply for external fellowship schemes.

Who Needs to Apply?

Early-career researchers who intend to apply for extremely competitive external fellowships like these are the target audience for this opportunity.

• NERC Independent Research Fellowship
• ERC Starting or Consolidator Grant
• The Welcome Trust Career Development Awards
• Royal Society University Research Fellowship
• Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship
• Branco-Weiss Fellowship

Applicants should have innovative research ideas and demonstrate the potential to build and lead their own research group. Fellows can specialize in any of the department’s key research themes: behavior and Neuroscience, Ecology and conservation science, evolution, or Health and evolutionary medicine.

What Does the Fellowship Provide?

Selected fellows who join Oxford’s Department of Zoology are provided with a wealth of institutional support, which includes:

• Guidance for preparing a strong external fellowship application
• Mentorship from leading Oxford faculty
• Support for setting up your lab and recruiting staff
• Access to training, seminars, and networking events

Oxford’s Department of Zoology has an outstanding record of helping its research fellows secure long-term academic roles at top global universities and institutes.

Apply : https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/news/group-leader-research-fellowship-sponsorship-scheme-now-open-0

Deadline

The last date to submit your Expression of Interest for the Group Leader Research Fellowship 2025 at the University of Oxford is Monday, 10 November 2025 by 17:00 GMT. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by Monday, 8 December 2025, and invited to visit the department and deliver a seminar during the week beginning 12 January 2026.