The Armagh Observatory & Planetarium regularly welcomes applications for externally-funded fellowships as well as offering its own Öpik fellowship every three years. If you are interested in holding a personal fellowship at AOP either contact member of staff working in an area of research close to your own, or contact the Head of Research, Prof. Marc Sarzi. Some of the most popular externally funded fellowships that can be hosted at AOP are listed below.
- STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (ERF). AOP can sponsor one ERF position starting in 2026. To be considered for this position you should identify an AOP member of staff in your area and work with them to complete the ERF Expression of Interest Template. This should be submitted, together with your CV the Head of Research (Prof. Marc Sarzi) by our internal deadline this year of Friday July, 4 2025 (noon UK time). The STFC closing date for the ERF will be on October, 1 2025 (4pm UK time).
- Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF). This is aimed at exceptional early-career researchers, with between 3 to 8 years of post-doctoral experience, who are ready to lead their independent research programme (see the Royal Society website for full details). If you are eligible and interested in holding a URF at AOP, please contact the Head of Research (Prof. Marc Sarzi) as early as possible and by July 18, 2025, to allow sufficient time for preparing the financial details of the application, which are generally submitted by early September.
- Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship (DHF). The DHF programme aims to support outstanding early career scientists who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances, such as caring responsibilities and/or health-related conditions. Please contact us by September 12, 2025 to discuss applications for these fellowships, which will need to be submitted by October 28, 2025.
- Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) Norman Lockyer Fellowship. The RAS Norman Lockyer Fellowship is awarded to enable an outstanding researcher to devote the majority of their time to research on an astronomical topic, including solar system and planetary science. The deadline for this fellowship is expected to be in mid October, so if interested please do contact us by mid September.
