Defra are delighted to announce the 2025/26 R&D Fellowship Programme is now live. The Defra Group plays a unique and vital role at the heart of UK life.The group is a collection of government agencies and departments, working closely with different partners, industries and communities, across the country. As the world and political climate changes, we are tasked with finding innovative solutions to constantly evolving challenges.

About the Fellowship Programme:

Defra is here to make our air purer, our water cleaner, our land greener and our food more sustainable. The importance of our work, and the importance of science and analysis to inform that work, has never been greater.

Following the success of our first fellowship programme we’re delighted to launch the second Defra R&D Fellowship Programme, championed by our Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Gideon Henderson. This programme provides an opportunity for researchers to gain experience in a policy focused environment.

Feedback from our first cohort of fellows highlights the opportunity the programme has afforded to form new networks and connections, supporting career development, understanding how government works, working at the intersection of science and policy and being involved with research that has real world impact.

Our Defra R&D Fellows will use their scientific or analytical skills to work alongside policy and evidence teams on a range of priority and strategic policy issues.

Details about the programme can be found at: Research and Development Fellowship Programme 2025/26 - Defra Jobs - UK Government    

The deadline is the Monday 4th November 2024.