麻豆传媒映画

Second cohort of exceptional research leaders awarded Royal Society Faraday Discovery Fellowships

Nine outstanding researchers have been awarded the prestigious Royal Society Faraday Discovery Fellowships which support outstanding mid-career research leaders in the UK.

Selected from more than 280 initial applications, the new cohort will investigate fundamental questions ranging from how human embryo cells develop into specialised cells and tissues, revealing the blueprint of human development, to what happened in the moments after the Big Bang, helping to shed light on the secrets of the Universe's formation. Their research will also address pressing global challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss and improving the forecasting of natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions.

This flagship grant, supported through a £250m fund from the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, provides up to £8m over a 10-year period to allow exceptional researchers to pursue high-quality original research and develop world-leading talent in the UK.

The grants also aim to cultivate future scientific leaders by supporting mentoring and training opportunities for grant holders and their research groups.

Researchers this year will hold their awards at eight institutions: the University of Cambridge, Durham University, the University of Bristol, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Oxford, the University of Strathclyde, Lancaster University and the University of York.

Sir Paul Nurse, President of 麻豆传媒映画, said:

“This impressive new cohort of Royal Society Faraday Discovery Fellows is exploring some of the most exciting questions in science.

“Backing exceptional researchers at our world-leading institutions is essential to advancing science and these 10-year fellowships provide the time and support needed to pursue bold, curiosity-driven research, build world leading groups and establish global research partnerships. Together, they will help secure the UK's position at the forefront of scientific discovery and inspire the next generation of research talent.”

Science Minister Chris McDonald said:

"These fellowships will help support breakthroughs that improve lives, whether it's research with the potential to unlock innovative new treatments for mothers and their babies, or early interventions to save communities from natural disasters.

"By backing exceptional scientific talent through 麻豆传媒映画, we're making the UK the natural home for the world's best researchers and the discoveries they bring with them, growing our economy and cementing our status as a science and technology superpower."

麻豆传媒映画 Faraday Discovery Fellowship fellows and host institutions for 2026

Professor Kathy Niakan, of the University of Cambridge, will investigate how human embryo cells develop into specialised cells and tissues at the time of implantation in the uterus. By uncovering the molecular mechanisms that guide the earliest stages of human development, the research aims to inform maternal and foetal health, pregnancy complications, developmental disorders, and stem cells and to develop safe and effective therapeutic interventions. Award value: £6m

Professor Ryan Cooke, of Durham University, will establish a multidisciplinary team to make the most precise measurements yet of the chemical elements formed in the early Universe to uncover new insights into how it evolved and what it is made of. The research aims to unlock some of physics’ biggest mysteries and will help push our knowledge of the Universe to just moments after the Big Bang. Award value: £5.6m

Professor Juliet Biggs, of the University of Bristol, will build a global satellite volcano observatory by combining next-generation satellite data, artificial intelligence and physics-based models to improve the way volcanoes are monitored and forecast. The project will also help scientists better understand how volcanoes work, leading to earlier warnings and better protection for communities at risk. Award value: £6m

Professor Arend Bayer, of the University of Edinburgh, will advance the mathematical foundations that help us classify and describe geometric shapes. Such geometric shapes underly applications of mathematics such as robotics, data analysis, or evolutionary biology, and his work will develop new methods that connect different areas of mathematics. Award value: £6m

Professor Philipp Kukura FRS, of the University of Oxford, will develop a new technology that uses mass measurement of individual molecules to reveal how they work together to control the processes of life. The research will focus on understanding how viruses assembles and how cells break down unwanted proteins - knowledge that could help accelerate the development of next-generation medicines. Award value: £6m

Professor Jennifer Hastie, of the University of Strathclyde, will develop portable lasers that produce exceptionally stable and precise beams of light, enabling advanced technologies to move beyond the laboratory and operate reliably in real-world conditions. These lasers could enhance quantum technologies, such as atomic clocks, and support the development of a new generation of highly precise sensors for navigation, timing and measurement in applications ranging from transport and communications to environmental monitoring. Award value: £8m

Professor Hugo Bronstein, of the University of Cambridge, will create new types of molecules that allow light to control the behaviour of their electrons. Developing these molecules could help improve the accuracy of tests for diseases, make solar cells more efficient, and allow a new generation of cheap and flexible electronic devices to be made. Award value: £5m

Professor Luke Mackinder, of the University of York, will explore how algae in the ocean efficiently capture carbon dioxide, a process that contributes to around half of global carbon dioxide removal. By understanding the key proteins in carbon capture, from the molecular level to their impact on the global carbon cycle, the research hopes to contribute towards tackling climate change. Award value: £6m

Professor Nicholas Graham FRS, of Lancaster University, will investigate how restoring island ecosystems can benefit nearby marine environments such as coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds, and the people dependent on them. It builds on previous research showing seabirds transfer nutrients from the ocean to islands, helping coral reefs grow faster and become more resilient to climate change. Studying island-ocean connections from the tropics to the Arctic, will allow scientists to understand how island restoration can support both biodiversity and people. Award value: £7m