FCDO Invites Applications for 11 Senior Research Fellowships in Global Development – UK Academic Experts Welcome @UK Academic Experts Welcome

FCDO Job Summary

Job Title: Senior Research Fellowships
Job Location: FCDO Head Office, London or East Kilbride, UK
Closing Date: 30 August 2026, 5:00 PM GMT
Contract: Two years, part-time (0.4 FTE), subject to security clearance

Overview

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), in partnership with the GRTD Research Commissioning Centre, co-led by 3ie and the University of Birmingham, is inviting applications for eleven prestigious Senior Research Fellowships.

These fellowships are designed for experienced researchers at Associate Professor level or above, employed by UK academic institutions, and working within one of FCDO’s priority thematic areas.

Thematic Areas of Focus

Applicants can choose to work within one of the following critical thematic areas:

• Gender and Equity
• Conflict
• AI for Development
• Food and Agriculture
• Economic Development

• Systemic Resilience of Human, Social, Economic, Political, and Ecological Systems
• Hybrid and Transnational Threats
• Polar Regions

• Critical Minerals
• Technology, Geopolitics, and Information Manipulation
• Global Health

Key Details

• Application Deadline: 30 August 2026 at 5:00 PM GMT (applications reviewed on a rolling basis)
• Start Date: 1 April 2027
• Placement Duration: Two years at 0.4 FTE
• Placement Locations: FCDO Head Office, London or East Kilbride
• Eligibility: At least Associate Professor level, UK academic employment, UK residency for security clearance requirements

Eligibility & Requirements

Candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Employed by a UK academic institution and at least Associate Professor level
• Able to obtain UK security clearance (Developed Vetting or Security Clearance), which requires UK residency of at least 2-5 years depending on the clearance type

• Satisfy UK residency criteria:
• DV: Lived in the UK for at least 5 of the last 10 years
• SC: Lived in the UK for at least 2 of the last 5 years

Application Process

Interested applicants should:

• Review the specific thematic area job descriptions
• Complete the application form via the RCC Grant Management System
• Refer to the user guide for assistance

Supporting policies and documentation are available for review, including the FCDO Senior Research Fellowship Agreement, Programme Operating Framework, and policies on safeguarding, fraud, and transparency.

Important Dates

• Call for Applications Opens: 20 May 2026
• Application Closing Date: 30 August 2026 at 5:00 PM GMT
• Interviews: Early October 2026
• Fellowship Start: 1 April 2027

Contact & Further Information

For questions or clarification, applicants can email rcc@3ieimpact.org with the subject “Senior Research Fellow Request for Clarification.”