Calling all researchers and data analysts who are early in your career!
The UK Data Service has opened applications for the next cohort of Data Impact Fellows. Read on to find out how you could benefit from becoming a Fellow and how to apply.
We’re very proud of the Data Impact Fellows programme and the achievements of those who have been through the programme.
Over the past few weeks on the Data Impact blog, we’ve been revisiting some of the highlights of the past ten years of the scheme. But now it’s time to look forward and invite you to apply to be part of our next cohort.
Newly refreshed after talking with earlier Fellows and considering how to make things even better, applications to become a Data Impact Fellow are now open.
What is the Data Impact Fellows programme?
The programme is open to researchers and analysts in both the academic and charity sectors who use data in the UK Data Service collection, who want to explore ways to get their work and their findings out to different audiences.
Fellows are relatively early in their careers.
In the VCSE sector, this might mean your first or second job. In academia, you might be a PhD student or in your first post-doc role.
If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible, drop us a line to check.
What does the scheme offer?
Becoming a Data Impact Fellow gives you access to a £3500 pot to help you develop engagement activities and approaches to producing impact. Our impact team will be there alongside you to support you in developing ideas for using the fund.
Starting with an in-person event in February 2027, we will give you plenty of opportunities to meet and network with other Fellows to share and develop ideas, both in person and online.
Alongside this will be access to learning and development activities with experts in impact and engagement.
A key strand of being a Fellow is our support for you to develop your voice and try out a range of approaches to engaging with different audiences.
You will get to share your work and ideas on our Data Impact blog. You will also have access to opportunities to showcase your work and its impact through co-creating a case study, helping us develop our impact themes, contributing to our upcoming new podcast series and joining us at our Autumn 2027 impact event.
Why should I apply?
Here is what some of our previous Data Impact Fellows said about how they’ve benefited from being a Fellow.
‘Being part of the cohort has provided a real sense of community and allowed me to connect with other early career researchers.’
Michaela Pawley, 2025 Data Impact Fellow
“Participating in this scheme has been an incredibly enriching experience, offering me professional growth to enhance the impact of my research.”
Niloofar Shoari, 2023 Data Impact Fellow
“One thing that I learned about impact while I was a Data Impact Fellow is that you need to be able to speak to people in a language that they understand. What people understand is stories and narrative and understanding why things happened and what the main impacts are. It’s really about that big picture, trying to understand the motivations and the big impacts and that story threading throughout.”
Ben Brindle, 2019 Data Impact Fellow
How do I apply to become a Fellow?
We encourage you to visit our dedicated page which gives you more detailed information about being a Data Impact Fellow and the application process.
If you have a question we haven’t answered there, please email us.
Applications are open now and close at 23:59 on 30th November. We look forward to hearing from you!
Comment or question about this blog post?
Please email us!