Royal Society University Research Fellowship

The Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF) is a research fellowship awarded to outstanding early career scientists in the United Kingdom who are judged by the Royal Society to have the potential to become leaders in their field. The research fellowship funds all areas of research in natural science including life sciences, physical sciences and engineering, but excluding clinical medicine.
The URF scheme provides the opportunity for Research Fellows to build an independent career in scientific research. Fellows are expected to be strong candidates for permanent faculty posts and academic tenure in universities at the end of their fellowships. , the fellowship funds up to 80% of basic salary costs for the awardee, with the other 20% usually provided by the University hosting the fellow.
, examples of current and former Fellows include:
Fellowships are awarded annually. In , there were 25 universities across the UK and Ireland hosting 44 newly appointed University Research Fellowships. In , the success rate of applications was 8%.
Several previous URFs have been subsequently elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, for example Athene Donald, Richard Borcherds, Frances Ashcroft and David J. Wales.