CAMS Fellowship Call 2026
The Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund (ACTF) and Community for Analytical Measurement Science (CAMS) are pleased to announce this year’s CAMS Fellowship Call.
The ACTF-CAMS partnership provides funding for a range of initiatives to support the development of analytical measurement science talent. In this year’s call up to 5 CAMS Fellowships, funded by the ACTF, will assist early career researchers to establish a research identity in the field of analytical science.
One-off Fellowship awards of up to £30K are to be used to advance the purpose and career of the Fellow, whilst being in-keeping with the objectives of both the ACTF and CAMS.
Further information about the call and the application process can be found here: https://analyticalchemistrytrustfund.co.uk/
CAMS Fellowships Regulations 2026
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. 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.
The Fellows primary area of research should be analytical science, focussed on the development of novel analytical techniques and methodologies. Projects that are based on the use of existing analytical techniques for routine characterisation are outside the scope of this scheme and will not be awarded.
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 Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) 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 and RTPs are defined as researchers within 8 research active 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 substantive appointment), whichever is shorter. The first substantive appointment must be the first paid employment contract that lists research or teaching as the primary function. Supporting letters from line managers or Heads of department will be required to support the application and confirm that the researcher has 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 and they should provide details of their career break in the application.
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 clearly justify how their project proposal is different.
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
| Activity | Date |
| CAMS Fellowship Call 2026 | launched May 2026 |
| Deadline for receipt of applications | 11th September 2026 |
| Announcement of awards | November 2026 |
| Commencement of work programme | From 1st January 2027 |
Application Content & Format Applications must be completed and submitted via email to ruth@rhearn.net by 17:00HRS on 11th September 2026. 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.
Assessment of Applications
Applications will be assessed by a minimum of 3 professional analytical chemists from the ACTF and/or CAMS.
Reviewers will score the applications under the following categories with the combined score weighted as indicated:
- Quality of science 30%
- Impact 30%
- Innovation 20%
- Professional development 20%
The review scores will then be discussed at the ACTF Trustees meeting where up to 5 applications will be selected to receive a CAMS Fellowship, noting ACTF and CAMS reserve the right to make no Fellowship award if applications do not meet the required standard.
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
Progress, Impact and Expenditure Reporting
As a CAMS Fellow you are expected to complete and participate in the below points as per your Award Agreement. These reports are used to measure the impact and benefit of CAMS as an organization; we also have an obligation as CAMS to share these reports with the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund who fund these awards.
Engagement with RSC Analytical Community and CAMS
A CAMS Fellow is expected to engage and participate in CAMS and RSC Analytical Community activities, including contributing to and presenting their work at in person and virtual meetings, webinars, conferences and other events.
As a CAMS Fellow you will receive an impact report at regular intervals, where you will be able to add all publications, events, and other activities you have been involved in. We will provide all awardees with a CAMS introduction presentation that you can use when presenting.
Acknowledging funding
A CAMS Awardee is expected to acknowledge ACTF and CAMS in all publications and presentations, using the text below.
"This work was supported by the by the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund (ACTF) and the Community for Analytical Measurement Science (CAMS) through a CAMS Fellowship Award”
Where possible, the following links should also be used:
https://analyticalchemistrytrustfund.co.uk/ https://cams-uk.co.uk | @CAMS_UK | www.linkedin.com/company/cams-uk
Reporting requirements
Fellowship Annual Reports should summarise the work carried out under the CAMS Award. It should detail progress against major deliverables, the impact and benefits to date, and information on events attended, as well as any revisions to the programme of work. A summary of how the work is aligned to CAMS’s priorities and how it addresses a specific industry challenge(s) - including reference to any collaborations - should also be provided.
A second follow-up report outlining the medium-term development of the Fellow’s research career must be sent to the ACTF and CAMS one year after the end of the Fellowship.
Report timings
We will always contact you in advance to request award reports and to give you time to be able to deliver them. The timetable below outlines when you can expect to receive report requests and should help you plan your time.
| Award Type | Month Reports are Requested | Month Reports are due |
| Fellowships | November | January |
Please note, the above schedule is fixed.
Late/non-receipt of reports
To allow us meet our external funding obligations, it is critical that we receive the information on your Awards on time.
The CAMS Secretariat is here to help should you need support completing reports. Should circumstances arise which may warrant an extension this should be requested from the Secretariat. Extensions will only be given once in any reporting period.
Variation and Termination
A Fellowship is a grant to the Fellow only; in the event that a Fellow is for any reason unable to conduct the Fellowship no substitution will be permitted.
In the event of maternity, paternity, adoption, parental or sick leave on the part of the Fellow no additional funds will be paid, but the requirement to complete the Fellowship within predefined timescale may be relaxed at the discretion of ACTF and CAMS.
If a Fellow, for any reason, ceases to undertake the Work Programme the ACTF Administrator must be informed immediately in writing. Where possible, at least one month’s notice should be given of any material change in the Fellow’s or the Work Programme’s circumstances.
If a Fellow plans to transfer to another HEI before the beginning of the Fellowship or during the Fellowship, Trustees expect the grant to transfer with the Fellow to the new HEI. Agreement is required to this from both the transferring and receiving HEI and from the ACTF.
If a Fellow transfers before or during a Fellowship to an organisation outside the UK or the Republic of Ireland the grant will be terminated forthwith and all uncommitted funds returned to ACTF.
Any Fellow whose progress or conduct does not satisfy ACTF and CAMS shall have the grant terminated.
ACTF and CAMS reserve the right to terminate the grant at any time, subject to reasonable notice and to pay any payment that may be necessary to cover outstanding and unavoidable commitments.
Miscellaneous
CAMS Fellowships may be terminated, or its conditions varied, at any time at the discretion of ACTF and CAMS.
ACTF and CAMS reserve the right to make no Fellowship award if applications do not meet the required standard.
Fellows should seek to publish the results of their CAMS Fellowship in accordance with normal academic practice The Fellow and the Home Institution shall acknowledge the support of the ‘Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund’ and ‘Community for Analytical Measurement Science’ in all publications, presentations and materials resulting from the Fellowship.
ACTF and CAMS make no claim to the intellectual property rights arising from a Fellowship.
ACTF and CAMS accept no responsibility, financial or otherwise, for expenditure by the Fellow or the Host Institution in addition to the Fellowship grant or liability financial or otherwise arising from the Fellowship.
The decision of ACTF and CAMS is final.
If not already a member, Fellows are strongly encouraged to become a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and its Analytical Science Community.
Invoicing for the grant payment is taken as acceptance of the terms and conditions laid out in these regulations.
Point of Contact Please contact Dr Ruth Hearn, ACTF Administrator, at ruth@rhearn.net with any queries about the CAMS Fellowship Call 2026.
