Peter Baker Investigatorship

Aims and Scope

The Peter Baker Investigatorship enables early career researchers (<10 years post PhD) to undertake research at the Marine Biological Association .

The Peter Baker Investigatorship supports researchers addressing fundamental physiological research questions. We are keen to see projects that explore the processes and mechanisms that enable marine life, from the molecular and cellular level to the interactions of organ systems and the whole organism. The award provides the opportunity to collaborate with world-leading expert marine scientists based at the Marine Biological Association, as well as accessing our research facilities (e.g. research aquarium), resources (e.g. long-term marine biodiversity datasets) and diverse range of local ecosystems (e.g. kelp forests).

The Marine Biological Association is committed to promoting and improving equality, diversity and inclusion in the marine biology community. We welcome applications from all individuals.

Background

Professor Peter Baker FRS was Head of the Department of Physiology and a Fellow of King’s College London from 1975 until his early death in 1987. Baker carried out much of his important scientific work at the Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth and was a Member of the Council and the Physiological Society’s Governor of the Association.

Baker’s interests in the life sciences were diverse and his contributions in corresponding fields of research internationally acclaimed. He was appointed Halliburton Professor in Physiology at King's College London in 1975 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society a year later. Baker pursued his research interests in the area of calcium homeostasis and, using the squid axon as an experimental model, branched out into other areas of physiology.

The Peter Baker Investigatorship was established to commemorate the scientific life and contributions of Professor Peter F. Baker FRS. The Investigatorship is provided by funds contributed by individuals and Scientific Societies from all over the world, including the Physiological Society as a Founding Member. The fund is now held in trust by The Company of Biologists and the Marine Biological Association, and is awarded by the Marine Biological Association. It is the intention of the Trustees that the Fellowship is used to encourage the interest of young research workers in marine biological research, particularly fundamental physiological research, to which Peter himself contributed so much.

Duration and Start of Award

On appointment, the Investigator would be expected to work at the Marine Biological Association for a period of up to 8 weeks. The award must start and finish in 2026.

Finance

Applications for up to £5,000. Funds can cover research expenses (e.g. laboratory consumables, sample analysis, ship time) and travel and subsistence for the applicant. This scheme does not cover applicant salary or indirect costs.

Eligibility

Applicants must be a member of the Marine Biological Association at the time of application. Researcher with <10 years post PhD experience.

Application Timeline and Process

Application deadline is 1200 midday (BST) Monday 15th October 2025. Notifications of outcomes will be mid-November 2025.
Once you have submitted your application you will receive an automatic confirmation email. If you do not receive this shortly after submission please contact the Membership team.

Application Form

Please provide confirmation that you meet the eligibility criteria
(If there are any barriers to joining as a Member of the Marine Biological Association, please contact the Membership team for guidance)

Confirmation of Eligibility

Yes

Personal Details

Title

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Any post nominals

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Phone

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City

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Career Summary

Title of Current Position

Current Employer

Current Position Start Date

Current Position End Date

Summary of Current Research (max 200 words)

PhD Award Date

PhD Institution

Please list up to 10 of your most significant publications in peer-reviewed journals, presented in reversed chronological order. Include full details for each entry; author(s), title, journal name, volume, issue, page numbers, and year of publication. Select publications that are most relevant to this application and best support your case.

List of Key and / or Relevant Publications

Research Proposal

Full Title of Proposed Project (max 20 words)

Please provide an indicative (up to 8-week) time line, including start date, length of visit to the MBA and end date.

Time Scale

Please provide a scientific summary of your proposed project. This should concisely present your research proposal, including a brief overview of the background, the research context, and a clear summary of the project's aims and objectives (maximum 500 words).

Project Summary

Your project proposal should provide a comprehensive overview of the planned study and include the following elements:

(i) A clear outline of the research context, objectives, and anticipated outcomes.

(ii) A description of the methodology, including data collection and analysis techniques.

(iii) A timeline with key milestones.

(iv) An explanation of the significance, originality, and timeliness of the research (maximum 1,500 words).

Project Proposal (max 1,500 words)

Please provide a lay summary of your proposed project. This summary should be written in plain language that is easily understood by someone without a scientific background.

Explain what drew you to this area of research and what aspects of your proposed work you find exciting, important, or meaningful.

Additionally, briefly describe the potential impact of your research and how it could benefit society more broadly (maximum 200 words).

Project Lay Summary (max 200 words)

Project Financial Details. Include a budget overview. Applications for up to £5,000 for up to 8 weeks.

MBA Contact Information. Please provide a summary of any contact or collaboration with an MBA-based scientist involved in this application or previous

Data Management & Data Sharing

The Marine Biological Association advocates for open science and is dedicated to ensuring that research data are made publicly available in a responsible and well-managed way, with minimal restrictions. Ray Lankester Investigators are expected to deposit data outputs in appropriate, recognized, and publicly accessible repositories (e.g. DASSH). This enables others to verify findings and build upon the work, serving the broader public interest. To maximize the value of open data, it should be made intelligently open—that is, it must be discoverable, accessible, understandable, assessable, and reusable.

Outline of data management and data sharing plan:
Please outline your plan for data management and sharing. Include details on how data will be collected, stored, curated, and preserved, as well as how and when it will be shared. Specify the repositories or platforms you intend to use, and describe any measures to ensure data quality, accessibility, and compliance with ethical or legal requirements (maximum 200 words).

Outline of Data Management & Data Sharing Plan (max 200 words)