Opportunity of a lifetime – MI unveils prestigious Parliamentary Fellowships

Midlands Innovation is proud to announce two new exclusive parliamentary fellowship opportunities for PhD students at participating MI partner institutions, following a successful first year.

Midlands Innovation is thrilled to partner with the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) again to offer two fellowship opportunities in social sciences and biological health. The successful fellows will have the opportunity to learn about the role of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) which sources reliable and impartial scientific research evidence for the UK Parliament, covering cutting-edge and complex topics.

PhD level students at one of four participating MI universities have their own chance to experience working in the Palace of Westminster. Successful fellows will have the opportunity to interact closely with people and activities in the two Houses of Parliament, including; Select Committees, MPs and Peers, their support services, ‘All-Party Parliamentary Group’ meetings and more.

The 13-week fellowship opportunity, which will take place from April 2026, is open to PhD students who are undertaking or have recently completed their PhD study in the social sciences or in life sciences, health sciences and medicine. The opportunities are for eligible PhD students from Loughborough University and the Universities of Birmingham, Leicester and Warwick.

The successful fellows will support UK Parliament’s use of research evidence. Most fellows assist POST in providing briefing material for parliamentarians on emerging science topics. This can include researching and producing briefings and reports or assisting Select Committees research needs for inquiries.

The 2026 Midlands Innovation POST Fellowship opportunities follow a hugely successful joint initiative between Midlands Innovation and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology in 2025, where two clinical fellows were chosen from an exceptional field of candidates to undertake the first two MI POST Fellowships.

Chris Hatton, a Clinical Research Fellow and PhD student and Nick Moody, a vascular surgery registrar and PhD student, based in the College of Medicine and Health at the University of Birmingham undertook their fellowships this year. Chris was based with the Health and Social Care Committee’s Independent Expert Panel, assisting in the committee’s evaluation report of palliative care in England. You can read a blog by Chris on his experience by clicking here, while Nick was based with POST and the House of Commons Library, and published two parliamentary briefings on the parliament website: Treating rare diseases: the challenge of orphan drugs and NHS Productivity: House of Commons Library briefing.

Professor Rachel O’Reilly, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Research for the University of Birmingham, and Midlands Innovation Executive Management Group member, said: “We’re thrilled to be offering two fantastic parliamentary fellowships for postgraduate students. They truly provide an opportunity of a lifetime to undertake research projects on areas of national importance which will help provide parliamentarians with the information they need to make decisions that can impact the whole country.

“In an age of disinformation, Parliamentarians rely on the highly respected research provided through POST to help inform them on a range of emerging topics. Researchers will also have the opportunity to undertake their fellowships based in the Palace of Westminster.
“I would encourage qualifying PhD students to apply for these fantastic fellowships and grasp the opportunities which Chris and Nick have so successfully taken. They will not only represent Midlands Innovation and their own institution, but also the highly respected research community from the Midlands.”

Dr Clare Lally, Biological Sciences and Health Lead at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), said: “We’re delighted to continue our collaboration with Midlands Innovation and invite PhD students to get firsthand experience in the heart of policymaking. We’re looking for students who are keen to rapidly research a brand new topic and learn how evidence-based insights inform the policies that shape society.”