Co-funded by

Wellbeing of Women-Royal College of Midwives Partnership Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (PRF) 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. 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. For midwives who don’t have an existing research time commitment within their current role, funds may be requested for a contribution towards salary.

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 across any area of women’s reproductive and gynaecological health, that seeks to improve the health of women, girls and babies.

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.

2023 Call timeline

Call launch: Week commencing 8 May 2023

Submission deadline: 3 August 2023 by 1pm

Application outcome: December 2023

Awards start: from February 2024

How to apply

Details will be released if future rounds are scheduled.

If you have any queries, please contact the Wellbeing of Women research team at research@wellbeingofwomen.org.uk or call 020 3697 6350.