ECR Fellowships Webinar

Q: When is the next round of fellowship applications scheduled for? A: The next round starts on the 1st July 2025. Please consult the Additional information section on our website for more information. 

Q: How many fellowships do you plan to offer? A: the MHP has a total fund of £1.5 million for ECR fellowships. The number of fellowships depends on the project budgets and timelines proposed by the applicants. 

Q: Does this call also consider major (severe depressive disorder)? - A: All funded fellowship projects must focus on SMI. Population studies of major depressive studies or depressive symptoms would not count as SMI (as they vary in severity from mild to severe), but studies of hospital treated patients or severe treatment resistant depression would fit this funding call.  

Q: I plan to investigate ''teachers and school leaders' mental health in the neoliberal economy'' Is this topic suitable for a MHP ECR Fellowship application. A: Unless your proposal can be linked to SMI, your topic would not be eligible for this funding call. 

Q: Does a permanent contract dependent on funding qualify? Many universities give permanent contracts for all postdocs to give them more security, but it is contingent on gaining more funding at the end of your current funding. A: There are several university positions of this type across UK institutions that vary widely in their security beyond the end of the award. If you have a permanent contract, you would not be considered eligible for this fellowship call and you cannot hold two fellowships simultaneously. Further questions about your specific situation can be addressed to our email address mhp@ed.ac.uk. 

Q: Is someone whose viva is ending before April 2025 eligible? - A: You will need to have the right to work in the UK by the time you take up the award. I think the timeline for this round is likely to be challenging for you, and later rounds may be more achievable. 

Q: One of the requirements is to be employed at a UK institution. Would someone who has recently graduated and holds a flexible-hour teaching contract or a fixed-term teaching contract as a tutor still be eligible? A: Yes, provided the other eligibility criteria are met. 

Q: Does an honorary contract suffice, and must this be at the host institution, so should we set this up by the deadline, so < 6 weeks?  A:  We need a little more information from you to answer your question. Please get in touch with us at our email address letting us know your current and proposed host institutions and whether you propose substantive or honorary contracts.  

Q: I don't have a PHD yet. My background is in occupational therapy currently a manager within the Community mental health service, of NHS trust worked in Neurodevelopmental service and have 2 Masters degree in Occupational therapy and Information Technology. How do I get involved and where do I fit in? A: All applicants need to have a PhD to be eligible to apply for a MHP ECR fellowship. The MHP will be promoting other opportunities to get involved in the coming months, one of them being part of the MHP PPIE network while others will be around collaboration and innovation awards for specific projects. Please keep an eye out on our website and social media channels.  

Q: I am writing up my PhD - due to submit next month but my Viva will likely be later in 2025. I assume I will have missed the boat for this opportunity? A: We are planning to open new rounds of applications in future. You will be eligible to apply once you have your PhD award letter.   

Q: I'm based in Swansea and unable to move, are hubs open to working remotely, for example one hub in London and another in Edinburgh but I'll be based in Swansea? A: Applicants (and their main supervisor) must be based at the same host institution when they take up their award but can collaborate/partner remotely with other Hubs. DATAMIND is based at Swansea University and could be one of the Hubs you could consider for your project.  

Q: Do you currently have to be based at the same institution as your intended lead hub PI or is it possible to relocate to achieve this? A: You must be based at the same institution as your main supervisor once you take up the award. You do not have to be based at the same institution as them pre-award. The host institution must be associated with the MHP. A full list A full list of the associated institutions is on the ECR Fellowships Additional information, under the question "Which institution can I be based at during the Fellowship?"

Q: I have a question about one of the criteria: the candidate cannot have a permanent role. But considering the fellowship ranges from 1-3 years, does having this fellowship prevents me pursuing a lectureship if an opportunity comes up during the fellowship A: No, but we are seeking to make awards to candidates who can complete their project and achieve its objectives. 

Q: Are we required to find mentors / should they also be budgeted for? -A: You are not expected to find a mentor at the time of your application. The MHP is planning to provide mentorship opportunities to its ECRs once they start their fellowships. We are not expecting mentors to be budgeted for in your application. However, training associated costs, which can include external mentorship programme fees, can be budgeted for in your application.

Q: Can we use grant money to collect new data? eg neuroimaging data in London? or to add on a neuroimaging technique to the ongoing neuroimaging collection at CUBRIC? A: New data collection can be budgeted for in your application, but the costs of collecting neuroimaging data alongside your fellowship salary costs in this call is likely to be challenging. You should contact your proposed supervisors to discuss your ideas as early as possible. 

Q: Are the hubs at the same stages of data collection? And in the fellowships, should only data from the hubs be used, or can other data be used as long as they are relevant to at least two hubs' topics? A: Hubs are at different stages of data collection. New data can also be collected as part of your proposed fellowship. We strongly recommend discussing your project needs and timeline with the Hubs you are interested in collaborating with before submitting your application.  

Q: Do proposals have to fit under the pre-existing hub workstreams? Or just be aligned with the hub generally? A: Proposals need to be aligned with the hubs in general and create a link between them. Please discuss your proposal with the Hubs and your proposed supervisors before applying. 

Q: Is it possible for your intended lead institution to be a collaborator with one of the platform hubs? -A: yes, as long as your lead supervisor is a member (principal or co-investigator, or employed staff) of one of the Hubs, or a MHP Associate member. Details of associate membership will be announced on our website soon. The host institution must also be associated with the MHP. A full list of the associated institutions is on the ECR Fellowships Additional information, under the question "Which institution can I be based at during the Fellowship?"

Q: How flexible are the fellowships in terms of continuing to work on other projects outside of the scope of the Mental Health hub? A: ECR Fellows are expected to prioritise their project but can engage in other work in a limited capacity, as long as it doesn’t impact their project delivery within the agreed timeline or the delivery of its objectives.