SCI Scholarships

SCI is proud to offer a range of scholarships for PhD students who are approaching their final years of study. Your research must be applied in focus and be focused on addressing a societal challenge in the areas of climate and planet, health and wellbeing or sustainability, in line with SCI’s charitable objectives.

In addition to the Scholarship, you will benefit from publishing opportunities, access to a high-calibre industry/academic network to help launch your career, and opportunities to present your work and raise your profile within the scientific and industrial community. SCI Scholarships are prestigious and competitive awards, well-respected by industry professionals and academics. An SCI Scholarship can be an important addition to your CV.

All award recipients will be expected to become SCI members for the duration of the award. They will gain access to SCI journals, wide networking opportunities within industry and academia, and training. They will become part of the SCI Scholars programme and be expected to actively participate in the Society. Each award recipients will be required to write a report and present their work at a suitable SCI event.

The award must be used for training and or support over and above that provided from main funding sources, to support the academic and translational requirements of the PhD; to take the form of laboratory visits, conference attendance, internships, or other activities outlined in the application form and agreed by SCI.

SCI Scholarship - Established 1920

The Scholarship scheme has 3 scholarships to be awarded to up to three outstanding PhD students who are approaching their final years of study. Thanks to generous funding from past SCI members, SCI offers £5,000 to each successful applicant (paid over 2 years) as well as a host of other benefits which help to support the scholar as they move towards their next career step.

Award Information

Award History

The SCI Scholars fund, established in 1920, was endowed by the bequests of Rudolph Messel and John Gray, former presidents and founding members of SCI.

SCI then established the College of Scholars to help current members (Scholars) make the most of the opportunities an SCI award provides and to highlight SCI resources that may be of value in current research and future career roles.

Application

Applications will only be considered from SCI standard or student members. Please note that SCI Scholarships are not available to SCI e-members or non-members.

In order to apply, please submit your application by completing the online application form when applications open.

Presentation Details

SCI Scholars will receive a £5,000 scholarship over two years. Winners will also be required to attend the SCI celebration day to receive their certificate.

Eligibility Criteria

    Background
    • PhD students approaching the final two funded years of their research degree
    • Self-funded students may also apply
    • SCI standard or student members
    Career Stage
    • Early-career
    • PhD level
    Areas
    • Across the scientific and engineering spectrum

Timetable

Applications open January 2025
Applications close 30 April 2025
Frequency Annual

SCI Sydney Andrew Scholarship - established 2021

The Sydney Andrew Scholarship scheme supports up to 10 PhD students. Research must be in applied areas across science-based industry, but with research in the areas of regenerative agriculture, sustainable food production or neglected science being especially welcomed. SCI offers £3,000 to each successful applicant, as well as a host of other benefits to support the scholar as they move forward in their career.

Award Information

Award History

Dr Sydney Andrew, a brilliant industrial chemical engineer who exemplified the SCI mission of encouraging the application of chemical and related sciences for public benefit, died in November 2011. A life member of SCI, Dr Andrew was awarded the Society’s Medal and gave a lecture on ‘Neglected Science: a view from industry’. He bequeathed a substantial share of his estate to SCI for the support of scientific innovation on the theme of neglected science. These are areas of science which, though of importance in agriculture and the chemical industry, receive scant attention from academic research, and for academic research into Neglected Science.

Application

Applications must fit with SCI’s overall objectives - The area of research should be shown to have a clear translational impact. The PhD student must have its university's support - The supervisor is expected to apply with a named student.

Presentation Details

Each student award will amount to £3k given within University PhD programmes to students entering the 2nd year of a 3.5 - 4-year PhD programme.

The award will be given in one calendar year for use throughout the PhD period. It will be given to second year PhD students for use throughout the remainder of their PhD programme.

Eligibility Criteria

    Background
    • PhD students at an approved UK University or Institution
    • SCI standard or student members
    Career Stage
    • PhD students
    Areas
    • Emerging areas of agriculture and the chemical industry

Timetable

Applications open January 2025
Applications close 30 April 2025
Frequency Annual

Other SCI Awards

Ramsay Trust Memorial Fellowship

Fellowships are awarded annually by the Ramsay Memorial Fellowships Trust to postdoctoral chemists who may have already had some postdoctoral experience of research but who are in the early stages of their career, so that they may initiate a programme of original and independent research.

RS/SCI Studentships

Former SCI life member, Dr Sydney Andrew, left a legacy to SCI to support academic research into 'neglected science'. SCI currently funds a maximum of one PhD studentship for a successful Fellowship applicant per year, working in an appropriate research area.

SCI Sydney Andrew Scholarships

The Sydney Andrew Scholarships supports up to 10 PhD students per year studying projects in emerging areas of agriculture and the chemical industry. The award must be used for training and/or support over and above that provided from main funding sources, to support the academic and translational requirements of the PhD.

Awards News