CAMS Fellowship Call 2025

CAMS Fellowships Regulations 2025

The Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund (ACTF) and Community for Analytical Measurement Science (CAMS) are pleased to announce this year’s CAMS Fellowship call.

Purpose and Criteria of CAMS Fellowships

The ACTF-CAMS partnership provides funding for a range of initiatives to support the development of analytical measurement science talent. The objective of the ACTF is to promote, assist and extend the science and study of analytical chemistry, and of all questions relating to the analysis, nature and composition of natural and manufactured materials for the benefit of the public and sustainable futures. CAMS is an industry-led initiative aimed at promoting world-class analytical measurement science training, research and innovation.

In this year’s call, up to 5 CAMS Fellowships, funded by the ACTF, will assist early career researchers to establish a research identity.

One-off Fellowship awards of up to £30K are to be used in any way that advances the purpose of the Fellow; including but not limited to:

• co-funding of PhD studentship
• a 3-to-6 month sabbatical
• buy-out from teaching commitments
• purchase of equipment or materials
• visit(s) to UK, Irish or overseas laboratory(ies)
• purchase of time on third party facilities
• public engagement and schools, including training in communication
• fieldwork
• hosting visiting researcher(s) of acknowledged standing
• establishing a research network

NOTE: Registration fees or overhead costs will not be paid.

The duration of the Fellowship project should be defined by the applicant but would not normally be expected to exceed 2 years.

Applications should be in-keeping with to the objectives of ACTF and CAMS – further information about CAMS and its 4 research themes can be found on the CAMS website https://cams-uk.co.uk.

Who is Eligible?

The Fellowships are open to early career researchers (ECRs) with a substantive appointment  at a UK or Irish higher education institute or within UK or Irish industry.  Please note that PhD students or those holding a temporary postdoctoral positions are not eligible.

For the purposes of this award ECRs are defined as researchers within 8 years of their PhD award (this is from the time of the PhD viva voce / oral exam), or equivalent professional training; and within 6 years of their first academic appointment (the first full or part-time paid employment contract that lists research or teaching as the primary function), including colleagues on probationary teaching and research contracts. Supporting letters from line managers or Heads of department will be required to support the application and confirm that the researcher had a substantive appointment.

There are no restrictions on age or nationality, but a Fellow must be resident in the UK or Ireland. Applications are welcomed from candidates who wish to re-establish themselves after a career break or other period of absence from active research.

Only one application per person will be considered. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent years if they still meet the eligibility criteria, but they must declare that they have applied previously and explain how their project proposal is diffs from the original application.

Successful applicants of other CAMS or ACTF awards are still eligible to apply for this award although this should be declared and any overlap of existing awards should be acknowledged in the application.

Call Timetable

Application Content & Format

Applications must be completed and submitted via email using the application form by 17:00HRS on 19^th September 2025. All questions in the application form must be addressed within the stated word limits. A single page attachment may be including but only for the purposes of providing Gannt charts or diagrams that support the application. A letter of support on headed note paper from the applicants Head of Department or Line Manager must also be submitted with the application.

Finances

A Fellowship is valued up to £30,000 or Euro equivalent, and will not exceed £30,000 under any circumstances. Fellowship grants are exempt from VAT.

Payment will be made by BACS to the Fellow’s Home Institution up to one month before the start date of the Fellowship upon receipt of the Fellow’s Home Institution’s invoice by the ACTF Administrator. The Fellow’s Home Institution will be responsible for disbursement of funds to the Fellow.

Registration fees or overhead costs will not be paid. Fellows are responsible for their own work permits, visas, immigration clearance, travel and accommodation arrangements, insurance of their travel costs, personal belongings and medical requirements.

In consultation with the ACTF Administrator, Fellows may be permitted to move money between expenditure categories during the course of their Fellowship.

 Other Benefits

Recipients (the individual) of CAMS Fellowships will automatically receive Awardee Membership to the CAMS Network and have access to the following benefits for the duration of the award:

• Invite to attend and present/exhibit at annual CAMS conference
• Promotion of work and highlighting institution’s skills/expertise via CAMS website and social media channels
• Engagement with CAMS Industry and Academic members via facilitated webinars
• Access to CAMS network resources including webinars, best practice guides, showcase events and education

 Point of Contact

Please contact Dr Ruth Hearn, ACTF Administrator, at ruth@rhearn.net with any queries about the CAMS Fellowship Call 2025.