My winning proposal: Pivoting after a PhD

The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851’s Research Fellowships allow a shift in focus

Top tips:

• The application form for this fellowship is less onerous than other equivalent schemes.
• The application requires less technical detail than other schemes so is good for those who want to move on from a previous field of research.
• The lay summary is an important part of the application so make sure yours is read over by friends and family not conversant in your field.
• Outline how you would communicate your project to a wider audience.

The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 is an educational trust set up in 1850 by Queen Victoria to organise the world’s first trade fair. These days, the commission supports research into science, engineering, the built environment and design by awarding around 35 postgraduate research fellowships and scholarships each year.