Beyond the fellowship award, our fellows enjoy a range of opportunities to develop their skills and networks.
Annual fellows’ symposium
Those holding an MRC intermediate fellowship, new investigator research grant or senior fellowship are invited to MRC’s annual showcase event. The day is a mix of talks and interactive events, offering the opportunity to network with peers, MRC board and panel members and head office staff.
Induction and mid-award workshops for intermediate fellows
Researchers awarded a career development award, clinician scientist fellowship, or a new investigator research grant are invited to a one day workshop to network with their peers, meet relevant members of MRC staff and discuss what to expect from their award.
Partnership with industry
Advice and support for existing and prospective fellows to build industry collaborations during their fellowship. The advice is provided by experts drawn from MRC funding boards and fellowship panels, including industry representatives and senior MRC head office staff.
Observing board meetings
An on-going programme across our four research boards invites researchers to attend part of a board meeting to gain insight into the peer-review and decision-making process. Postgraduate fellows are usually invited in the second half of their award as they start to consider funding routes for their next career stage.
Mentoring
The Academy of Medical Sciences mentoring programme pairs postdoctoral clinical and non-clinical researchers with an academy fellow, NIHR senior investigator or NIHR research professor. This prestigious programme promotes an enabling, non-directive approach to help mentees make critical career decisions. Mentors provide a framework for making career choices and act as a signpost to information and resources, while gaining insights into the needs of early career researchers.
To be eligible for this programme as a mentee, you should be a clinician fellow, a career development award grant holder, skills development fellow, a new investigator research grant holder or on the programme leader track. Senior fellows (both non-clinical and clinical) are also eligible to apply.
Watch our video on why mentoring matters for a career in medical sciences, including:
- why mentoring matters
- the benefits of mentoring
- how to get the most out of a mentoring relationship
If you are interested in getting involved in the mentoring programme, please visit the Mentoring Programme page at the Academy’s website or contact mentoring@acmedsci.ac.uk.
SUSTAIN scheme
Current clinician fellows, career development award grant holders and new investigator research grant holders are eligible to apply for SUSTAIN, a programme run by the Academy of Medical Sciences, that will provide women researchers an opportunity to benefit from individualised support on key topics such as leadership, career planning, building a research team, grant writing and work-life balance.