Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

Overview

• Applications are open for the 2026/2027 Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) POST Westminster Fellowship scheme.
• Open to RSC members who are undertaking or have recently finished their PhD studies.
• Apply by 23:59 on 1^st August 2026.

About the scheme

POST and the RSC are offering a 13-week fellowship to members of the RSC who are undertaking or have recently completed their PhD study (“recently completed” applies to people whose PhD funding ended within the six months prior to the application deadline). There is one funded fellowship available.

The successful applicant will be based in the UK Parliament, supporting its use of research evidence. Most fellows assist POST in providing briefing material for parliamentarians on emerging science topics. Work may include:

• Producing a POSTnote or POSTbrief (briefing documents to help inform the work of MPs and Peers) or contributing to a longer briefing report.
• Assisting a select committee in an ongoing inquiry.
• Organising a seminar to inform or disseminate research.

PhD Fellows are encouraged to interact closely with people and activities in the two Houses of Parliament, including Select committees, MPs and Peers, their support services, ‘All-Party Parliamentary Group’ meetings and the very wide range of other activities at the Palace of Westminster.

The fellowship can be carried out full-time for 13 weeks or part-time over a longer period. The successful applicant will be expected to start their fellowship between January 2027 and October 2027. The exact start date is to be agreed between the applicant, POST, and the applicant’s supervisor.

Who is eligible to apply?

The Westminster Fellowship scheme is open to members of the RSC who are undertaking or have recently completed their PhD study. “Recently completed” applies to people whose PhD funding ended within the six months prior to the application deadline (if your funding ended before 1^st February 2026, you are not eligible for this fellowship). The full person specification can be found in the application pack.

If not already a member of the RSC, you can apply to join prior to submitting your Fellowship application.

Please note: you will need to submit your application for RSC membership at least one week in advance of the deadline in order to receive your membership number in time. Soon after applying for RSC membership, candidates will receive a 6-digit membership number in the email confirming the application has been received: even if membership is not formally approved, this number will be sufficient for application to the Westminster Fellowship.

Successful candidates will be required to complete pre-fellowship checks. This includes security vetting to Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) level. All successful candidates are required to pass these checks before an offer can be confirmed.

How to apply

It is important that you download and read the application pack before applying, as it contains more details on the role, application process, and assessment criteria.

Download the application pack

Applicants should submit:

• A completed application form, which contains questions asking you to demonstrate your skills and experience.
• A two-page briefing on a topic that you think would be of current interest to Parliamentarians. The briefing should be completed using the briefing template and should not contain your name or any other identifying details. We want you to use the briefing template and ensure your work is not identifiable to make the process fair. Please see the application pack for more information on the two-page briefing assessment and some tips for writing it.
• An approval form, which has been completed by your PhD Supervisor and Head of Department.

Download the application form

Download the approval form

Download the two-page briefing template

Please email your application form, two-page briefing and completed approval form to Matt Davies, Public Affairs Manager, Royal Society of Chemistry ([email protected]). Applications will undergo an initial sift based on the two-page briefing.

The deadline for applications is 23:59, 1^st August 2026. Interviews will likely be held on week commencing 21^st September.

Funding arrangements

The Royal Society of Chemistry will give the successful applicant a £8128.50 bursary to cover their three months at POST. More details can be found in the application pack.

Frequently asked questions

What is a POST fellowship? Who can apply for it? Who pays for it? We have put together a page with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we get about POST fellowships.

If you have a question that is not answered in the application pack or our frequently asked questions page, please contact Vincent Saverat, Physical Sciences and Digital Adviser ([email protected]) or Matt Davies, Public Affairs Manager, Royal Society of Chemistry ([email protected]).

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