Research Fellowships
ClimateXChange Research Fellowships are one of the ways we provide longer-term support to policy teams. These research opportunities focus on responding to specific policy questions and evidence needs, rather than necessarily carrying out primary research.
Our fellowships:
- build long term relationships between policy and research colleagues;
- develop mutual understanding between research providers and policy decision makers; and
- build communications and engagement expertise.
Our Fellows are experts in their field, with an understanding of public policy and the use of evidence to support decision making. The roles can take many forms, from evaluating a policy as it is implemented or on-going technical capability embedded within a Scottish Government policy team.
Our Fellows work in universities and research providers connected to expert networks and resources. Their individual work plans are agreed with the relevant Scottish Government policy division, with fellowships typically lasting between seven to nine months although it can be extended. CXC Fellows must have completed a PhD at a UK research organisation and be eligible to work in the Scottish Government for the period of the research, under the criteria set out in the Civil Service Nationality Rules.
In addition to the experience from working directly with policy and analytical teams in the Scottish Government, our fellows also connect with each other and to the wider research ecosystem. ClimateXChange supports the Fellows with training and development related to understanding the policy process, how to communicate research effectively to policy decision makers, and to connect the fellows to the wider CXC network.
Meet the recent and current CXC Research Fellows
Info webinar and FAQs
During a previous round of Fellowship opportunities in May 2025, Anne Marte Bergseng, ClimateXChange Programme Manager, and Dr Sarah Govan, Project Manager, hosted a webinar on 21 May providing further information about the post-doctoral research projects, including how to bid for them and answering general questions from attendees.