About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
Cambridge Junior Research Fellowship 2027 at Lucy Cavendish College – £36,498 Annual Stipend and £4,500 Research Allowance
Application Deadline: October 30, 2026
Lucy Cavendish College at the University of Cambridge is inviting applications for its Junior Research Fellowship 2027, offering early-career researchers an opportunity to pursue research in Cambridge, United Kingdom, for three years.
The fellowship provides a £36,498 annual stipend, a £4,500 research allowance, and a generous meal allowance. It is designed for researchers at the beginning of their academic careers who wish to develop their research and contribute to the academic community at Lucy Cavendish College.
Applications are welcomed in selected areas of English, History, and Physical or Environmental Geography. Particular encouragement is given to research focusing on African and Indian literature and history, as well as climate change, environmental change, and natural hazards.
Interested and eligible candidates must submit their applications online by 5:00 p.m. GMT on Friday, October 30, 2026.
Cambridge Junior Research Fellowship 2027: Programme Overview
Host Institution: Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge
Fellowship: Junior Research Fellowship 2027
Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Duration: Three years
Expected Start Date: October 1, 2027
Annual Stipend: £36,498
Research Allowance: £4,500
Additional Benefits: Generous meal allowance and optional paid teaching opportunities
Eligible Research Areas: English, History, and Physical or Environmental Geography
Target Applicants: Early-career researchers
Application Deadline: October 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. GMT
About the Cambridge Junior Research Fellowship
The Junior Research Fellowship at Lucy Cavendish College is intended to support early-career researchers as they establish themselves in academia.
The fellowship runs for three years, beginning on October 1, 2027. It is a full-time, fixed-term appointment, although the College is willing to consider requests to hold the fellowship on a part-time basis.
The fellowship is non-renewable.
The successful candidate will be expected to pursue research, disseminate research findings, and participate actively in college life. Fellows will also have the opportunity to engage with the wider academic community at the University of Cambridge.
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship is specifically intended for early-career researchers who meet the following eligibility requirements:
Recent PhD completion: Applicants must have obtained their PhD no more than 18 months before the relevant eligibility assessment.
Candidates awaiting their PhD: Applicants whose doctoral viva is scheduled may also apply, provided their degree will be awarded by the beginning of the fellowship.
Previous fellowship restrictions: Candidates must not currently hold, or have previously held, a stipendiary research fellowship at another institution in the United Kingdom.
Relevant research background: Applicants must demonstrate research experience and expertise relevant to one of the eligible subject areas.
Candidates should review the official eligibility rules carefully before submitting their applications, particularly the restrictions concerning the timing of their PhD award and previous research fellowships.
Eligible Research Areas
Applications are invited in three broad subject areas, with particular interests identified by the College.
1. English
Applicants may propose research focusing on:
Medieval literature.
Early Modern literature.
Literature from the African continent.
Literature from the Indian subcontinent.
Literature originally written in English or translated into English.
Researchers investigating African and Indian literary traditions, cultural production, and related literary histories are particularly encouraged to consider this opportunity.
2. History
The fellowship welcomes applications in modern global history, with particular encouragement for research focusing on African or Indian history.
This area may appeal to early-career historians examining societies, historical developments, global connections, and the experiences of communities across Africa, India, and the wider world.
3. Physical or Environmental Geography
Applicants working in physical or environmental geography are also encouraged to apply, particularly those researching:
Climate change.
Quantitative approaches to environmental change.
Natural hazards.
Researchers using quantitative methods to understand environmental processes and challenges may find this fellowship especially relevant.
Fellowship Salary and Benefits
The Cambridge Junior Research Fellowship offers a financial package to support the successful candidate throughout the appointment.
Annual stipend: £36,498.
Research allowance: £4,500 to support eligible research activities.
Meal allowance: A generous meal allowance is included as part of the fellowship package.
Optional teaching opportunities: Limited opportunities may be available to undertake small-group teaching within the College. Teaching is optional, and fellows who undertake it will receive additional payment.
Flexible working arrangements: Although the fellowship is primarily full-time, the College is willing to discuss applications for part-time arrangements.
Applicants should consult the official fellowship terms for clarification of the stipend, research allowance, meal provision, and any applicable conditions.
Fellowship Responsibilities
The primary purpose of the fellowship is to enable the successful candidate to conduct research and disseminate their findings.
In addition to their research, fellows are expected to participate fully in college life and contribute to the academic community at Lucy Cavendish College.
The fellowship provides an opportunity to develop research, exchange ideas with other scholars, and build academic experience within the University of Cambridge environment.
Required Application Documents
The initial application must include three main components.
1. Academic CV
Applicants must submit an up-to-date academic CV highlighting their educational qualifications, research experience, publications, and other relevant academic achievements.
2. Research Statement
Candidates must provide a research statement of no more than 1,000 words or two pages.
The statement should describe the proposed research and explain how the applicant would contribute to college life.
Applicants should clearly communicate the significance of their research, its potential contribution to their field, and their interest in participating in the wider College community.
3. Two Referees
Applicants must provide the contact details of two referees who can support their application.
Candidates should ensure that their referees' information is accurate and complete before submitting the application.
What Happens After the Initial Application?
The selection process involves further assessment for candidates who progress beyond the initial application stage.
Longlisting: Long-listed candidates are expected to be notified before the end of November 2026.
Written work: Candidates selected for the next stage will be asked to submit previously prepared written work of up to 10,000 words. This may be a book chapter, thesis chapter, or published article. An additional statement of up to 500 words may be submitted to explain the context of the work.
Interviews: Short-listed candidates will subsequently be invited to interviews scheduled for February 2027.
Applicants should prepare their research materials carefully and monitor communications from the College throughout the selection process.
Application Deadline
The deadline for the Cambridge Junior Research Fellowship 2027 is:
Friday, October 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. GMT.
Applications must be submitted through the CASC system before the deadline. Candidates should ensure that all required information, including the contact details of their two referees, is entered correctly.
How to Apply
Interested and eligible candidates should visit the official Lucy Cavendish College website to review the fellowship announcement, confirm the eligibility criteria, and access the online application system.
Official website: Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge
Applicants are encouraged to review the full application guidance before submitting their documents and to ensure that their research interests align with one of the eligible subject areas.
With its three-year duration, research funding, and academic environment, the Cambridge Junior Research Fellowship offers an opportunity for eligible early-career researchers to advance their work and contribute to scholarship in English, History, or Physical and Environmental Geography.
How to apply