Ramsay Memorial Fellowships Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Information not publicly available
• Success Rate: Highly competitive (specific rate not available)
• Decision Time: Annual award cycle
• Grant Range: £17,500 maximum annual contribution to salary costs, plus up to £1,000 for research expenses
• Geographic Focus: UK universities

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.soci.org/awards/scholarships-and-fellowships/ramsay-fellowship
• Email: awards@soci.org
• Phone: 020 7581 5000
• Charity Number: 313811

Overview

The Ramsay Memorial Fellowships Trust was established in 1920 as a memorial to Sir William Ramsay, the Scottish chemist who discovered the noble gases and won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904. The British Ramsay Fellowships are financed from a Trust Fund set up by public subscription in 1922 and strengthened by donations from industry in 1953. The Trust provides postdoctoral research fellowships in chemical sciences, particularly focusing on inorganic and general chemistry. The fellowships enable early-career chemists to conduct original and independent research at UK universities. The Trust has a distinguished history, with many former Ramsay Fellows going on to become chemistry professors at leading universities or hold senior positions in industry.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

• British Ramsay Fellowships: Postdoctoral research fellowships for early-career chemists from the British Commonwealth, with exceptional cases considered for candidates from outside the Commonwealth
• The Trust contributes 50% of the Fellow's total salary costs up to a maximum of £17,500 per annum
• The balance of all costs to be paid by the co-sponsor (host institution)
• A grant of up to £1,000 per annum may be requested by the Fellow for research expenses
• Application method: Annual competition via online portal
• Candidates must be nominated by members of the Advisory Council (UK university chemistry professors)

Priority Areas

• Chemical sciences research
• Inorganic and general chemistry
• Original and independent research projects
• Supporting early-career researchers
• Promoting diversity in chemistry (particularly welcoming applications from under-represented groups)

What They Don't Fund

• Non-chemistry research
• Undergraduate studies
• Established researchers
• Non-university based research

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees working in conjunction with an Advisory Council consisting of UK university chemistry professors. The Advisory Council plays a key role in nominating candidates, with final awards determined by the Ramsay Trustees and Advisory Council together.

How to Apply to Ramsay Memorial Fellowships Trust

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through an online application form during the designated application period. Candidates must be nominated by members of the Advisory Council (UK university chemistry professors). The application requires completion of a comprehensive form detailing the proposed research project and the candidate's qualifications. All applications must be supported by three references, submitted to awards@soci.org.

Decision Timeline

Annual award cycle with decisions typically made following the application deadline. Specific timeline details are announced during each application cycle.

Success Rates

Highly competitive fellowship programme, though specific success rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not publicly available. Interested candidates should contact the Trust directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated priorities and eligibility criteria:

• Strong academic record with distinction in chemical sciences
• Clear, innovative, and original research proposal
• Alignment with inorganic and general chemistry focus areas
• PhD thesis must be submitted by 31 December following the application deadline
• Support and nomination from UK university chemistry department
• Applications from under-represented groups are particularly encouraged
• For British Ramsay Fellowships: preference given to candidates from the British Commonwealth who have been born within the Commonwealth and who have graduated with distinction in chemistry from a Commonwealth university

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Fellowships are specifically for postdoctoral researchers in chemical sciences
• Strong emphasis on original and independent research
• Requires nomination by UK university chemistry professors on the Advisory Council
• PhD must be completed or near completion (thesis submitted by year-end)
• Focus area is inorganic and general chemistry
• Trust actively encourages applications from under-represented groups
• Long-established programme with prestigious alumni network
• The Trust contributes 50% of salary costs (maximum £17,500) with the host institution covering the balance
• Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per annum available

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• John Innes Foundation
• The Armourers And Brasiers' Gauntlet Trust
• Brain Research Uk
• Pharmacy Research Uk
• Westminster Medical School Research Trust
• Thriplow Charitable Trust
• Race Against Dementia
• The British Mass Spectrometry Society
• The Worshipful Society Of Apothecaries General Charity Limited
• The Cambridge Political Economy Society Trust

References

• Society of Chemical Industry - Ramsay Fellowship page: https://www.soci.org/awards/scholarships-and-fellowships/ramsay-fellowship
• Charity Commission records for charity number 313811