Academy of Medical Sciences Professorship Scheme

The Academy of Medical Sciences is committed to attracting and retaining emerging talent from across the globe to the UK, and recognises the importance of capacity building at the early-leadership career stage.

This scheme seeks to progress that ambition by offering flexible support to researchers imminently taking up their first full Professorship, or for those that have recently commenced such a position.  Awards will be made in partnership with the employing Higher Education Institute (HEI). 

You will have recently commenced, accepted, or have been guaranteed, your first full Professorship post at a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the UK, and will have completed a move (or be planning to move) from overseas to the UK.

In light of the challenging landscape, and our commitment to ensuring a strong and diverse pool of candidates, the Panel has agreed to modify the eligibility criteria for this round. On that basis, researchers within three years (previously one year) of appointment to their professorial role will be deemed eligible.

As the scheme is focused on supporting talented researchers who have recently moved to the UK from overseas, applicants will not typically have resided in the UK for more than a total of twelve months in the three year period prior to having accepted their professorial appointment.

You will not have previously held a full professorship, either overseas or in the UK.

It is a strict requirement of the scheme that the HEI will need to be providing you with an open-ended contract and evidence that you will be offered a supportive environment.

You should be a researcher in the field of biomedical sciences or healthcare.

If you are interested in making an application to the scheme, but do not fully adhere to these criteria, we are happy to discuss your situation further, and would encourage you to contact the office at amsprofessorships@acmedsci.ac.uk.

Your AMS Professorship will be for a duration of up to five years and for a maximum of £500K.  The financial support of the Academy will be offered during the initial three years of the award: up to £225K in Year 1; up to £175K in Year 2; and up to £100K in Year 3.

The funds can be used flexibly, and are intended to support your research during the early years of your first full Professorship post.  For example, they could be used to fund research assistance, research costs or equipment.  

However, the funds may not be used to contribute to the cost of your salary or personal expenditure.

In addition, and for the full five year duration of the professorship, awardees will have access to careers support, and the Academy’s extensive networks across academia, industry and healthcare.

There will be two competitions per annum.

The current members of the selection Panel are:

Professor Moira Whyte FMedSci, University of Edinburgh (Chair)

Professor David Adams FMedSci, University of Birmingham

Professor Frances Brodsky FMedSci, University College London

Professor Catherine Law FMedSci, University College London

Professor Mike Malim FRS FMedSci, King’s College London

Professor Martin Wilkins FMedSci, Imperial College London