Co-funded by
Wellbeing of Women in partnership with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and Burdett Trust for Nursing will jointly fund one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (PRF) to provide a single candidate with up to £30,000 for research lasting up to three years. Awards may include new and directly incurred research costs but may not be used to pay for salary. The research must be undertaken in the UK and applicants must be midwives and full members of the RCM.
Awards are intended to support research-active lecturers, or lecturer equivalent level, to gather data and strengthen their bids for longer-term substantive funding. These awards are open to researchers who have been awarded an MD or PhD within the last 7 years and are employed by the NHS, HEI or on a postdoctoral research fellowship with at least 40 percent of their time funded to undertake research.
Fellowships are usually for research that seeks to improve the practice of midwifery and maternity services, including postnatal care, but will be considered for basic science, clinical and translational research that seeks to improve the health of women, girls and babies in the areas of fertility, pregnancy and birth; gynaecological and reproductive health; and gynaecological cancers.
Evidence must be provided of previous research experience and future research career intentions. Applications may be made to support projects that are already in progress or for a new project, provided a substantial element of the project is carried out during the course of the Fellowship. Research projects must be capable of being brought to a conclusion within the duration of the Fellowship.
In line with RCM's Race Matters campaign and our intent to increase involvement and engagement from and support to midwives who identify as Black, Asian or an ethnic minority, we welcome applications from midwives from these communities and/or whose project aims to improve the health outcomes from people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.
Call timeline
Call launch: 7 April 2022
Submission deadline: 30 June 2022 by 1pm
Application outcome: December 2022
Awards start: from February 2023
How to apply
Download the PRF application forms and guidance below. Before applying, please read the grant guidance.
WoW Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Application Form 2022
WoW Research Questions for Non-standard Animals
WoW Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Guidance for Applicants 2022
If you have any queries, please contact the Wellbeing of Women research team at research@wellbeingofwomen.org.uk or call 020 3697 6350.