Postdoctoral and Doctoral Opportunities
We ensure to support and nurture postdoctoral and early career colleagues, and we have been highly successful in supporting postdoctoral applications.
Funding opportunities:
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships
European Commission Horizon Europe Funding Opportunity
Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships (2025 Call) – Calls for Expressions of Interest
European Fellowships
The School of History at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) welcomes Expressions of Interest from talented postdoctoral researchers with an excellent track record to apply (with a QMUL host PI supervisor) for the 2025 MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships Call.
We have supported the applications of several MCSA Fellows in the past, scholars who went on to flourishing academic careers. MCSA Fellows are integrated into our School and can develop a wide range of skills and contacts useful in their future careers. They benefit from a rich research culture and stimulating collegiality in a School whose historical practices are well integrated into the Queen Mary Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and its disciplines, and the buoyant intellectual environment of the University of London.
What does the Fellowship entail?
European Fellowships are awarded to support a personalised, well-structured and feasible research and training project with optional secondment for a 12- to 24-month fellowship. The project must show a ‘best fit’ between your expertise and that of your PI supervisor, as well as demonstrating two-way knowledge transfer, clear research outcomes and wider impact.
The Fellowship scheme offers a highly competitive salary and research/training/networking budget based on EC set allowances.
Researcher eligibility
- Any age and nationality – your main activity (work/studies) must not have been in the UK for more than 12 months in the last 36 months prior to the EC MSCA PF call deadline of 10 September 2025.
- Have a PhD at the date of the EC call deadline.
- Have a maximum of eight years full-time research experience from the date of PhD. Years outside research and documented leave periods will not be taken into account.
Research Areas
The School of History is home to eight research clusters and welcomes Expressions of Interest (EOI) that fall into these areas:
- Britain at home and in the world
- Identities, emotions and communities
- Politics – ideas and practices
- Empires and their aftermaths
- Violence, war and memory
- Health – minds, bodies, politics, sciences
- Making, circulation and meaning
- Gender and sexualities.
An applicant’s alignment with one of the above clusters will help to identify a relevant PI. However, if you have a specific PI in mind, please do note this in your EOI and/or any correspondence with the School of History research team.
How to Apply
Your EOI must be submitted to Sarah Saines at history-research@qmul.ac.uk by the deadline of Thursday, 8 May.
Your EOI must include:
- CV, including a full list of publications and justification of research achievements (max. two pages).
- A two-page outline identifying i) your research proposal (establishing how your research is original and innovative and noting potential impact); ii) career goals (how the fellowship will advance your career); and iii) how you will contribute to the research culture and profile of the school.
- A statement confirming how you meet the MSCA-2025-PF eligibility criteria.
EOI Results will be announced by mid-June 2025. Selected candidates will then prepare the EC proposal with matched PI supervisor using EC guidance and templates. They will be supported by the QMUL IRI EU pre award team, who provide additional guidance materials and application technical support.
QMUL was awarded nearly 70 Horizon 2020 individual fellowships and was ranked 9th in the UK and 18th in Europe for H2020 fellowships. It hosts over 20 successfully evaluated Horizon Europe fellowships.
EC Funding Deadline
The EC MSCA-PF (2025) deadline is Wednesday, 10 September 2025.
From 1 January 2024, the UK has been an Associated Country in Horizon Europe and is eligible to apply to and be awarded EC funding, including the MSCA-2025-PF call.
Alongside their research mentors, Prof Kim Wagner supports our postdoctoral researchers (PDRs), and is the dedicated PDR coordinator. He organises a colloquium series, which runs throughout the year and is a great opportunity for PDRs to present their research to the rest of the School.
The Humanities and Social Sciences Early Career Researchers (ECRs) Network supports researchers at the beginning of their academic careers. As well as regular talks and workshops, there are opportunities to meet other ECRs from across the Faculty to share experience and knowledge. In addition, the Humanities and Social Sciences Peer Review College provides individual support for early career researchers in grant and fellowship applications.
We have a diverse community of postdoctoral fellows who contribute to our dynamic research environment. We welcome enquiries and applications from potential postdoctoral fellows. More information on our current postdoctoral fellows can be found on our postdoctoral research page. All enquiries should be directed to Senior Research Manager Sarah Saines (history-research@qmul.ac.uk) or Director of Research Funding Dr Chris Moffat.
The School of History operates an internal peer review process to support, mentor, and manage demand for highly competitive postdoctoral research fellowships. Applicants wishing to consider applying for these awards are encouraged to contact the Director of Research Funding, Dr Chris Moffat, and a member of staff in the appropriate area of expertise to act as your mentor at least six weeks in advance of the relevant scheme’s deadline (and at least three weeks ahead of any stated internal deadline).
Applications must fit the funding scheme criteria and the School’s research profile. Many schemes are oversubscribed with low success rates. We are only able to support the strongest applications.