NHLI’s research pages provide detailed information to help early career researchers find funding opportunities, as well as advice and guidance on how to successfully develop and submit an application, meeting both internal and external requirements. These pages provide a great deal of information to assist developing grant applications.

Internal NHLI schemes that may be of particular interest to early career researchers include:

The NHLI Foundation Travel Awards, funded by the National Heart and Lung Foundation and the Michael Alberman Travel Award endowment, provide financial support for NHLI researchers to present their work at conferences or attend scientific workshops relevant to their field. Applications are accepted approximately four times a year. Click here for reports of previous awardees.

Early career researchers who have completed their PhD and wish to transition to independence can apply for the NHLI Pilot Awards, which are generously funded by the National Heart and Lung Foundation. These awards are flexible and can be used in any way that assists early career researchers in developing their own funding portfolio through pilot research projects or learn new skills through laboratory visits and/or specialist training courses. This scheme runs approximately twice per year. 19 awards have so far ben provided and reports of previous awardees are available here.

Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching is an important part of the activities within NHLI. The Educational Development Unit has information for postdoctoral staff with all levels of experience who are interested in getting involved in various aspects of student teaching, such as marking, acting as module co-leads or project co-supervisors, supporting the delivery of online sessions, etc.

The FaculTeach platform displays available teaching positions to help staff get involved with teaching within the School of Medicine. You can find a blog here about how this platform works, and what it can do for you. Module leads and administrators also periodically send out requests to staff to recruit those interested in contributing to teaching on specific courses and units.  These are an excellent opportunity to become more involved in teaching.

There are various courses and workshops available for improving your teaching skills at all levels through the PFDC and the EDU

You can also get formal recognition of your teaching via the STAR Framework.

The Assistant Supervisor role was created to formally recognise the contribution postdocs and fellows make towards PhD student supervision. The process consists of training courses aimed at increasing your understanding of the ways you can support students’ work and wellbeing as an Assistant Supervisor. Your line manager can then request formal assignment of the Assistant Supervisor title to your role. Your contract will not be impacted by this change.

Imperial’s mentoring scheme is available to all job families across the College. Given that mentoring can significantly impact career advancement, it is highly recommended for postdocs and fellows to engage with a mentor.

To learn more about the mentoring scheme, take visit our webpage where you can read testimonials from mentors and mentees sharing their experiences. When you are ready to find a mentor, complete this form to be matched with one.

Our guidance for mentors and mentees offeres valuable information on how to be an effective mentor and how to get the most out of mentoring as a mentee. If you wish to become a mentor, visit the mentoring webpage for details about available workshops and fill in this registration form.

All mentors are expected to attend a 2-hour briefing run by the People and Organisational Development Team (POD). These workshops are designed to equip mentors with the knowledge, skills, and practical tools needed to build and sustain effective mentoring relationships.

POD also hosts an annual CPD event for all mentors. This event provides opportunities for networking and learning about the latest best practices. Additionally, there is a central database of mentors across the College for all job families, which all faculties and departments can access.

You can also consult with your line manager or another experienced individual in your department. They may be able to recommend someone and facilitate the initiation of a mentoring relationship.

For mentoring inquires at NHLI, please contact Ross Goold.

The NHLI Postdoc and Fellows Committee are committed to supporting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. Our committee strives to promote a positive work environment for postdocs and fellows, so that everyone feels included, respected and understood, irrespective of who they are.

Working closely with the NHLI EDI Committee, including Co-Leads Dr Adam Byrne and Dr Beata Wojciak-Stothard, we engage on and advocate for social equality and equal opportunity for postdocs and fellows at NHLI.

We proactively seek to implement measures that help tackle EDI issues, such as availability of childcare expense coverage for those applying to our NHLI Foundation Travel Awards. We also work closely with Imperial’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre.

Input and suggestions are welcomed and can be directed to our EDI contact Dr Matthew Siggins or any member of the NHLI Postdoc and Fellow Committee.

The Annual Review Conversation (ARC) is a key milestone in every postdoc and fellows career trajectory at the College. It can be used to discuss your career ambitions and to ensure that your training needs are met.

Complete information on its key principles and purposes, as well as tips on how to get the most from this experience are available.

Throughout the year, there are regular events held specifically for postdocs and fellows. Within the NHLI, these include the biennial NHLI Postdoc Day and Question and Answer sessions with the Head of Department.

Imperial College’s PFDC also offers a wide range of courses and workshops to postdocs and fellows. PFDC offers an award-winning programme of support, with individual support which includes one-to-one support and mock interviews. The PFDC also provide information about fellowship opportunities. They provide useful resources to help postdocs and fellows at every stage of their career.

To find out more about the PFDC, watch the video that introduces how the PFDC can support you during your time at Imperial. If you have any questions or would like to speak to a member of the PFDC team, contact them by email: pfdc-support@imperial.ac.uk.

Postdocs and fellows may want to join one of the College’s multidisciplinary networks, centres and institutes to increase their research opportunities and collaborations in multi-disciplinary fields, or network with groups outside of the College, such as the London Postdoc Network.