New round of Future Leaders Fellowships announced – UK Research and Innovation

20/09/2019

Future Leaders Fellows from founds one and two meet Universities Minister Chris Skidmore at their first cohort day

Top researchers and innovators from across the country will receive a portion of a £78 million cash boost as part of UK Research and Innovation’s Future Leaders Fellowships. The investment will propel the next generation of researchers as they lead cutting-edge projects; from developing rapid diagnostic methods to identify antibiotic resistance in infections, to increasing the value of archaeology to society, to miniaturising the latest microscopy technologies.

Future Leaders Fellowships are helping universities and businesses in the UK recruit, train and retain the world’s best researchers and innovators, regardless of their background. They can apply for up to £1.2 million over four years, with the ability to extend to up to seven years.

Applications for round four of the Futures Leaders Fellowships are now open and UKRI is particularly encouraging applications hosted by, or collaborating with, businesses.

Also announcing the award of £20m to Research England’s University Enterprise Zones, Universities Minister Chris Skidmore said “Delivering on our research and innovation ambitions means putting people first, whether they are just starting out in their career or are leading major projects in academia or industry.

“These inspirational Future Leaders Fellows will generate the ideas of the future, helping to shape science and research for the 21st century. But to realise the full potential of these discoveries, their ideas need to be taken out of the lab and turned into real products and services, where they can actually change people’s lives for the better.

“That’s why we are creating 20 new University Enterprise Zones, helping local start-ups to co-locate in universities to build the businesses of the future – all inspired by university research.”

Professor Sir Mark Walport, UK Research and Innovation’s Chief Executive, said: “The Future Leaders Fellowships will enable the most promising researchers and innovators to become leaders in their fields, working on subjects as diverse as climate change, dementia and quantum computing.

“UKRI is committed to creating modern research and innovation careers and our Future Leaders Fellowships aim to support and retain the most talented people, including those with flexible career paths.”

78 fellows are receiving a slice of the funding, including Josh, Sadie and Izzy.

Izzy Jayasinghe from the University of Leeds is miniaturising some of the latest microscopy technologies.

Sadie Watson from Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) is measuring, maximising and transforming public benefit from UK government infrastructure investment in archaeology

Joshua Quick from the University of Birmingham is developing a rapid, accurate, point-of-care platform for the detection and prevention of antimicrobial resistance

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