Fellow membership

Fellow membership is a high-level designation which is awarded to long-standing members to acknowledge their invaluable experience, extensive knowledge, expertise, and commitment to the discipline.

In recent years, the Society has strengthened its application process. It is therefore critical that each applicant be confident they are at the right juncture in their career to apply and have the time to provide the committee with robust evidence. Please ensure you refer to Guidance for Fellow applicants.

The Fellowship application period for 2026 is now closed.

Application requirements: who can apply?

Applicants must:

  1. Possess Full Member status for at least ten consecutive years postdoctoral prior to the year of nomination
  2. Supply the names of two supporters who are both Full (voting) Members of the Society. One must be a Fellow member and one must be outside the applicant’s institution. See further information below.
  3. Provide a high standard of evidence they have met three of the six criteria. See further information below.

What are the benefits?

  • Full voting rights
  • Eligibility to apply to the Board of Trustees*
  • Entitlement to use the designation of FTPS to represent outstanding achievement
  • Fellow lapel pin and certificate
  • Recognition by the Society at the Member Forum
  • Tier1** – discounted registration rates at most Society events
  • Eligible to apply for Society grants
  • Free online access to The Journal of Physiology
  • 20% APC discount for The Journal of Physiology ***
  • 20% APC discount for Open Access title Experimental Physiology ***
  • 20% APC discount for Open Access titles The Journal of Precision Medicine: Health and Disease and The Journal of Nutritional Physiology from 2027 (currently waived) ***
  • Access to the latest edition of our member magazine, Physiology News
  • Access to the Training Hub
  • Access to the Physiology Grants Directory
  • 50% reduced rate on membership of the Royal Society of Biology for the first two years

*Trustees are eligible to chair either the Governance Committees (Finance, Nominations, Remunerations) or Advisory Committees (Publications, Scientific Conferences, EDI, Policy).

**Tier 1 discount offers the highest level of savings for attendance at our events.

***Member publishing discounts cannot be combined with other discounts or savings, including those provided through transformative agreements.

How do I apply?

  • You will need to download and complete the application form found on this page
  • Return the application form by the deadline to governance@physoc.org

 

Fellowship criteria

  • Prospective applicants must choose only three of six criteria (see below) to be judged and provide a high standard of evidence for each
  • Where more than one bullet is listed under a criterion only one must be successfully achieved

Who qualifies as a supporter?

  • Applicants must supply the names of two supporters who are both Full (voting) Members of the Society
  • One must be a Fellow member and one must be outside the applicant’s institution to ensure independence of opinion
  • Supporters should hold a senior level position: e.g. Professor, Senior Research Scientist
  • It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure their named supporter is willing to act prior to application and supporters will be contacted directly by the Society for verification of their support
  • Both supporters must be well acquainted with the candidate’s professional activities and volunteer involvement

How much does it cost?

  • Fellow membership is £5.92 per month if paying by Direct Debit, or £71 per annum

How do I pay?

We accept the following payment methods:

Download the Membership Direct Debit Payment Terms and Conditions.

If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact membership@physoc.org

Retired Fellow Membership

  • Current Fellow Members can let us know when they want to move to a retired membership
  • Retired Fellow Members can access all the usual benefits of membership and attend Society meetings at a reduced Tier 1 cost

Fellowship Criteria (Choose 3)

 

Download PDF

Criterion Description Examples of High Standard of Evidence Notes/ Guidance for Applicants & Reviewers
Service to the Society
  • Actively engaged in the Society and its activities, (e.g. Demonstrated commitment and contribution as a Board or Committee member or other Panel or Task Force member or Editorial Board member in any Society publication etc)
 Evidence should show active engagement and tangible outcomes, not just attendance.

  • Significant, sustained contribution to Society activities over multiple years (e.g., Board, Committee, Panel, Task Force, Editorial Board). However, the strongest submissions move beyond “served on committee X for Y years” and instead show what changed because of their contribution.
  • Leadership roles or measurable impact on Society initiatives
 Examples could include:

  • Influenced strategic direction or long-term priorities resulting in strategic plans or policy documents
  • Creation or delivery of conferences, workshops, webinars with links to webinars, recordings, proceedings, or publications
  • Editorial board service with demonstrable influence and/or peer review leadership linking to guidance documents or standards
Research

  • Intended to capture leadership, development, funding, and delivery of research programmes — including securing competitive grants, leading collaborations, establishing infrastructure, and driving advances in physiology.
  • Served as a Principal Investigator involved in original research, significantly contributing to the advancement of physiology
  • Recipient of major research grants
 Evidence should demonstrate both the significance of the research contribution and the applicant’s personal leadership and influence within the field.

  • Principal Investigator on original research projects that advance physiology
  • Recipient of significant peer-reviewed grants (national/international)
  • Clear evidence of impact in the field
 Details of major research grants, including:

  • Funding body and scheme
  • Grant title and project description
  • Grant reference/ID
  • Value and duration
  • Role held (e.g., Principal Investigator, Chief Investigator, Co-Investigator)
  • Evidence of competitiveness or prestige where relevant for example
  • International collaborations or recognition
  • Leadership of research programmes, collaborations, consortia, or research centres
  • Patents, commercialisation, or translational outcomes
  • Awards, honours, or distinctions
Publishing

  • Intended to assess dissemination and intellectual contribution through peer-reviewed outputs and influence on the field.
  • Demonstrated consistent scholarly production in the form of journal articles and/or book chapters with at least 20 peer reviewed publications in a physiology or a life science journal
 Evidence should demonstrate not only publication volume, but also evidence of substantial intellectual contribution, authorship leadership, and impact within the field.

  • ≥20 peer-reviewed publications in physiology/life sciences
  • Authorship reflects substantial contribution
 Emphasise quality as well as quantity* (e.g., senior/lead authorship, impactful journals). Include DOI/reference list.

  • Identification of the most significant publications – top 5
  • The following metrics could be included: citation count, h-index, m-index (H-index ÷ # years since first publication), or Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI), alternative metrics such as Altmetric or broader engagement indicators
  • Development of influential theories, methods, datasets, protocols, or reviews
  • Publications arising from major collaborative programmes led by the applicant
  • Guest editorships or special issue leadership
  • Invited review articles
  • Peer-review contributions for major journals or funders

* The DORA site highlights the strengths and also limitations of the H-index and why ‘it should never be used in isolation when evaluating researchers.’ As Nominations Committee is considering more than just this one metric, we would be compliant (there was no consensus from the Board to remove the metrics). 
Policy and public service
  • Played a significant leadership role in setting of national or international policy, whether impacting on education, research or other scientific areas related to physiology
  • Outstanding service on relevant national or international professional committees
  • Peer-acclaimed contributions to the public understanding of physiology
 Evidence should demonstrate leadership, influence, and measurable contribution to policy, professional practice, education, or public understanding of physiology beyond the applicant’s own institution.

  • Leadership role in shaping national or international policy related to physiology, research, or education
  • Government consultations or advisory groups
  • Regulatory, educational, or standards-setting bodies
  • Service on relevant professional committees
  • Public health, research, or education strategy initiatives
 Provide clear examples of influence or outcomes, e.g., policy documents, committee reports, media coverage. Evidence should demonstrate tangible impact beyond institution alongside their role leadership of the project or participant, for example.

Other examples could include:

  • Changes to policy, practice, curricula, funding priorities, or public programmes
  • Invitations to provide expert advice or testimony
  • Public lectures, outreach programmes, citizen science initiatives, or educational campaigns
  • Media engagement (television, radio, podcasts, press, digital platforms)
  • Development of public-facing educational resources
  • Leadership of awareness campaigns or community initiatives
  • Invitations to serve on high-profile committees or advisory boards
  • Awards or recognition for public engagement or policy contribution
Education and teaching

  • Intended to encompass both direct teaching excellence and wider educational contribution, including curriculum development, pedagogic innovation, assessment design, educational leadership, and broader influence on education and training.
  • Established reputation in developing innovative new courses or teaching methods in physiology or medicine (i.e. scholarly activity in education, recipient of a teaching award, authored/edited a textbook used at multiple institutions, etc.). This should be above and beyond what is considered normal teaching work.
  • Substantial experience in an external examiner capacity
 Evidence should demonstrate their specific role and leadership contribution. As well as sustained educational leadership and impact beyond routine teaching responsibilities, with clear evidence of influence at institutional, national, or international level.

  • Developed innovative curricula, assessment methods, digital learning resources, or pedagogic approaches widely adopted.
  • Demonstrated leadership in education strategy, programme development, accreditation, or curriculum reform
  • Recipient of teaching awards
  • Authored/edited textbooks used at multiple institutions
  • Substantial external examiner experience
  • Evidence of scholarship in education, including pedagogic publications, educational research, or conference presentations
 Provide clear examples of influence or outcomes, adoption, awards, or national recognition. Examples of supporting evidence may include:

  • Teaching awards, fellowships, or honours
  • Student outcome or engagement data
  • Evidence of curriculum adoption by other institutions
  • Citations, downloads, usage metrics, or reviews of educational resources
  • External examiner appointments and reports
  • Accreditation or programme review documentation
  • Invitations to deliver educational workshops, keynote lectures, or training
  • Testimonials, letters of support, or peer recognition
  • Educational publications, grants, or funded pedagogic projects
  • Evidence of national or international influence on education policy or standards
Administration
  • Personal responsibility for significant resources (such as budget, personnel or facilities)
  • Project management of a senior and complex nature
 Evidence should show their specific leadership role and decision-making authority demonstrating how their administrative leadership contributed to institutional success, sustainability, or strategic advancement beyond normal departmental duties.

  • Oversight of significant resources (budget, personnel, facilities)
  • Managed large, complex projects successfully
 Provide clear evidence including scope, scale, complexity of the environment and the tangible outcomes or improvements. Examples of supporting evidence may include:

  • Performance indicators showing efficiency gains, growth, or improved outcomes
  • External recognition of effective management or institutional impact
  • Evidence of successful implementation of major initiatives or reforms

Important Links

Tax relief

If you pay your own Society membership subscription and are a UK taxpayer, you can claim the tax back on your annual membership fee. Further details can be found online.

Download application form

Menu Menu Search

Site search

Filter

Content Type