• Total funding amount: Up to £65K across the entire fellowship.
• Award duration: 1 year or longer if Less Than Full Time (LTFT). LTFT must be no less than 50% of the full-time equivalent.
• Application deadline: 10 June 2026 (12:00 PM)

If you have questions about the fellowship or application process, please contact research@oruk.org. 

The BOA & Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) are pleased to announce a joint research fellowship, with the goal of developing a pipeline of research-active orthopaedic surgeons. This scheme will award two fellowships of up to £65k for a project in any area of orthopaedics.

Research projects in any aspect of the field of orthopaedic surgery or surgical care will be considered, including basic science, diagnosis, treatment, surgical technology, AI, logistics or audit. The research can be self-contained or part of a wider research programme and should be integral to the applicant pursuing a higher degree.

Funding will be available for salary (maximum £60k) or as a stipend at UKRI levels.

The BOA and ORUK are both fully supportive of diversity and inclusion within trauma and orthopaedics and within research. We are particularly keen to promote and encourage applications from individuals that wish to undertake their research flexibly or less than full-time (minimum 0.5 FTE).

Research Fellowship Eligibility

Applications are open to BOA members at the following membership grades:

• any trainee grade (must have passed MRCS part B and have an ortho NTN)
• post-CCT members (who have completed CCT but not been appointed to a substantive consultant post by 10 June 2026)
• SAS surgeons

One or more proposed supervisor must also be a BOA member.

Membership may be applied for and backdated but must be approved prior to the submission closing date. Please allow a minimum of 3-4 weeks for membership to be processed (i.e. applications must be received by 13th May 2026). For more information on membership, please click here.

What is funded?

Funding is available for:

1. Either a salary or stipend for the fellow:
   1. salary maximum £60k for one year including NI and on-costs, or
   2. stipend at UKRI levels (which is currently £21,805 outside of London or £23,805 inside London per year – these amounts refer to full-time stipend; part-time equivalents apply).
2. Tuition fees, research consumables, and travel are permitted. This is expected to be a maximum of £10k across the duration of the Fellowship.

Indirect costs and FEC are not covered. A maximum of £65k will be awarded.

Flexibility is strongly supported, applicants may elect to take a part time equivalent (minimum 0.5 FTE) with the above salary/stipend amounts paid pro rata.

You will need to set out in your application how the requested funding will be used.

Application process

In addition to the application details provided by the applicant,  your project supervisor(s), a representative from the host institution’s the finance office and the Head of Department will all need to provide supporting details for your application by the application deadline on 10 June 2026 at 12:00pm.

The supporting details involves multiple stages:

• The supervisor(s) are required to provide a supervisor statement.
• The Finance Administrative Officer confirms financial arrangements.
• The Head of Department confirms approval of the application after all other supporting details are provided.

Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an online interview (via video conference) in September or October 2026. The interview panel will comprise members of the BOA Research Committee and the ORUK Science Committee.

Two awards are due to be made. It would be expected that the successful candidate would take up the post at the earliest opportunity, typically 3-9 months after acceptance. (July 2027).

See our FAQ for applicants .

Assessment criteria

Applicants will be assessed on the plan and impact or their research criteria and are also expected to provide details on Intellectual Property and testing on animals, if applicable.

Key dates