Postdoctoral Fellowships in Transport at Lancaster University
I welcome enquiries from outstanding researchers who would like to develop a postdoctoral fellowship application in transport, logistics or operations research with me as their prospective supervisor or UK sponsor at Lancaster University.
This is an invitation to prepare a competitive application for external fellowship funding, rather than an advertisement for an already funded postdoctoral position. A strong proposal takes time to shape. Please contact me at least three months before the relevant funder's deadline so that we can identify a topic of mutual interest, assess eligibility and develop the application together.
At a glance
| Fellowship route | Who may apply | Duration | Next application window | When to contact me |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCA European Postdoctoral Fellowship | Researchers of any nationality who meet the PhD, experience and mobility rules | 12–24 months | Opens 7 April 2027; deadline 8 September 2027 | By early June 2027 at the latest |
| Newton International Fellowship | Non-UK researchers based outside the UK with no more than five years of active full-time postdoctoral experience | 2 years | 2027 dates not yet announced | At least three months before the deadline |
In brief: the MSCA European Postdoctoral Fellowship is the main route and may support more than one suitable enquiry through the institutional selection process. Because the Royal Society allows each UK academic sponsor to support only one Newton application per round, Newton sponsorship will be reserved for one exceptionally strong candidate.
Fellowship routes
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship
The European Postdoctoral Fellowship is open to researchers of any nationality who are moving within Europe or coming to Europe from elsewhere in the world. The fellowship normally lasts 12–24 months.
Applicants must hold a PhD, or have successfully defended their doctoral thesis, by the call deadline. They must normally have no more than eight years of research experience after the PhD and must satisfy the scheme's mobility rule. The application is developed jointly by the researcher and host organisation.
The 2027 MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call is currently scheduled to open on 7 April 2027, with a deadline of 8 September 2027 at 17:00 CEST. Prospective applicants should therefore contact me by early June 2027 at the latest, and preferably earlier.
Newton International Fellowship
The Newton International Fellowship supports outstanding early-career researchers who are based outside the UK and wish to conduct research in the UK. The award currently provides support for two years.
Applicants must be non-UK citizens based outside the UK, must have completed or defended their PhD by the application deadline, and must have no more than five years of active full-time postdoctoral experience after the PhD, allowing for eligible career breaks. Projects submitted through the Royal Society must fall within its natural-sciences remit, which includes engineering and mathematics.
The dates for the 2027 round have not yet been announced. For reference, the 2026 round ran from 15 January to 11 March 2026. The Royal Society permits each UK academic sponsor to support only one application per round. I will therefore be able to sponsor only one selected Newton applicant in a given round.
Research areas
I am particularly interested in proposals connected with:
- transportation systems and public transport;
- operations research, optimisation and mathematical modelling;
- transit and traffic assignment;
- network modelling and mobility systems;
- logistics and supply chains;
- traveller behaviour; and
- data-driven and computational methods for transport planning and operations.
These areas are indicative rather than exhaustive. The most important requirement is a strong research question that fits both the applicant's expertise and our mutual research interests.
How to apply for support
Please email yujiang@lancaster.ac.uk with the subject line “Postdoctoral Fellowship Enquiry – [Your Name]” and include:
- your academic CV;
- a brief description of your proposed research idea, ideally one page;
- the fellowship scheme you are considering;
- your PhD award or expected defence date and current institution/country;
- a short explanation of your eligibility, including the relevant mobility or postdoctoral-experience requirements; and
- links to, or copies of, up to three representative publications or working papers.
I will consider the fit between the proposed topic, the applicant's track record, eligibility and the time available to prepare a competitive submission. An initial discussion does not guarantee support or funding, and all applications remain subject to Lancaster University's internal approval processes and the funder's rules.
Planning ahead
Both schemes are highly competitive and require a genuinely joint proposal-development process. Early contact gives us time to refine the research question, clarify the contribution, assemble the work plan, and develop the training, impact and career-development elements expected in a strong fellowship application.
Please consult the official scheme pages before contacting me, as eligibility rules, dates and application requirements may change. The minimum lead time is three months before the external deadline; earlier enquiries are strongly encouraged.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an advertised, funded postdoctoral vacancy?
No. This is an invitation to develop a competitive application for external fellowship funding with me and Lancaster University as the proposed supervisor, sponsor and host.
Which postdoctoral fellowship schemes are supported?
The main route is the MSCA European Postdoctoral Fellowship. One exceptionally strong eligible candidate may also be supported for the Newton International Fellowship in each round.
When should I contact Dr Yu Jiang?
Contact me at least three months before the external funder's deadline. Earlier contact is strongly encouraged because the research question, work plan, training and impact case must be developed jointly.
Which research topics are suitable?
Relevant topics include public transport, transportation systems, operations research, optimisation, transit and traffic assignment, network modelling, logistics, supply chains, traveller behaviour and data-driven transport planning.
Can more than one Newton applicant be sponsored?
No. Under the current Royal Society rules, each UK academic sponsor may support only one Newton International Fellowship application per round.
Official sources
The opportunity details and eligibility summary were checked against the official MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships overview, MSCA funding calendar and Royal Society Newton International Fellowship guidance. Applicants should always confirm the current rules with the relevant funder before applying.