Education · Postdoctoral Fellowships
Veyra Fellows Program
The Veyra Fellows program is a competitive postdoctoral fellowship that enables outstanding early-career researchers to lead an independent research strand within a Veyra host group for two to three years.
About the program
The Veyra Fellows program was established in 2009, concurrent with the founding of the Graduate School. Its purpose is to provide a structured but genuinely independent postdoctoral experience — one in which the Fellow shapes the research agenda rather than supporting an existing project. Fellows are full members of their host group and of the wider Institute community, with the same facility access and administrative support as faculty.
The program accepts fellows in all five divisions. A Fellow selects a host group in consultation with the relevant group lead prior to submitting an application; the research proposal is co-developed but must represent a distinct and complementary strand to the group's existing programme — not a continuation of work from the Fellow's doctoral thesis.
Appointments are for two years with a one-year extension available subject to a satisfactory review in month 18. Fellows are encouraged but not required to seek independent external grant funding during their tenure; the Institute provides bridge funding for applicants whose external grants are delayed past their appointment start date.
Independent research strand
The defining feature of a Veyra Fellowship is the expectation that the Fellow defines and pursues a genuinely new research question. The host group provides laboratory space, equipment access, and collegial mentorship; it does not provide a project brief. Fellows present their research strand at the Institute's annual internal conference and at a dedicated mid-term Fellows' symposium in month 18.
Eligibility
The program is open to researchers who have completed a doctoral degree within the five years preceding the application deadline, or who expect to receive their degree before the fellowship start date.
Academic qualifications
- A completed or imminent PhD (or equivalent doctorate) from any accredited institution.
- A strong publication record relative to career stage — typically at least two first-authored papers in peer-reviewed journals.
- A research proposal that is distinct from both the doctoral thesis and any ongoing projects in the host group.
Restrictions
- Veyra doctoral graduates are eligible to apply, but must propose work with a host group other than their doctoral group, and must have held at least one postdoctoral or research position elsewhere before applying.
- Candidates may not hold concurrent full-time research positions elsewhere during the fellowship.
- Applications for a second Veyra Fellowship are not accepted.
Host group matching
- Candidates must contact a potential host group lead and receive a letter of support before submitting the application.
- The host group lead's letter must confirm that the proposed research strand is complementary to, not duplicative of, existing group projects.
- Cross-division proposals — where the Fellow's expertise spans two of Veyra's divisions — are actively encouraged and reviewed by a panel drawn from both divisions.
Stipend and benefits
Stipend
48,000 cr/yr
Tax-free. Adjusted for inflation annually in line with the Institute's cost-of-living index. Paid monthly in arrears.
Research budget
6,000 cr/yr
Discretionary, for consumables, software licences, and equipment not available in the core facilities. Unused budget does not roll over between years.
Conference travel
1,800 cr/yr
Covers registration, transport, and accommodation for external conference attendance. Fellows are expected to present at least once per year.
Health & wellbeing
Included
Campus health plan, gym and recreational facilities, and access to the Institute's employee assistance programme.
Facility access
Full
All five core facilities with priority booking equivalent to faculty. HPC allocation: 60,000 GPU-hours per year per Fellow.
Visa support
Provided
The Graduate School office assists international Fellows with visa documentation, letter of appointment, and relocation guidance. Costs covered by the Institute.
What is expected of Fellows
Research leadership
Fellows are expected to own their research strand — designing experiments or analyses, sourcing collaborators, and writing up results without waiting for direction from the host group lead.
Publication
A minimum of two first-authored publications submitted to peer-reviewed journals by the end of the standard two-year term. The expectation for an extended three-year appointment is four papers.
Community engagement
Fellows participate in the Graduate School seminar series as occasional speakers, take on co-supervision of at least one PhD student (with the host group lead as lead supervisor), and attend the annual Fellows' symposium.
Grant applications
Fellows are strongly encouraged to apply for at least one independent external fellowship or project grant during their tenure. The Research Office provides grant-writing support and pre-submission review.
Mid-term review
At month 18, Fellows submit a progress report and present to the Graduate School board. The board assesses whether to recommend a one-year extension and provides written feedback regardless of outcome.
Final report
Within three months of the fellowship end date, Fellows submit a brief final report summarising the research conducted, outputs produced, and any external funding secured. This report is used to inform future cohort selection.
Handbook and application documents
The fellowship handbook covers all administrative, financial, and IP obligations in full. Download before preparing your application.