Get Funded to Become a UK Digital Twin Leader: DAFNI Fellowship 2026–2027 (UKRI) Application Guide

Some fellowships pay your salary, pat you on the head, and send you back to your desk. The DAFNI Fellowship is aiming for something more interesting: turning researchers into public-facing ambassadors for a national programme that sits right at the intersection of sustainability, government decision-making, and industry reality.

DAFNI (the Data and Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure) is part of the UK push to make infrastructure planning less like reading tea leaves and more like using flight instruments. Think “digital twins” for national infrastructure: modelling systems, testing interventions, spotting trade-offs early, and making better calls before concrete is poured and budgets are burned.

What’s especially appealing here is the positioning. This isn’t framed as “please disappear into a lab and resurface in 18 months with a PDF.” It’s explicitly about visibility (promoting your research), influence (input into DAFNI’s Roadmap), and relationships (networks across government, industry, academia). In plain terms: you’ll be supported to do the work, but also to be seen doing it—and to connect it to the people who can use it.

The fellowship starts April 2026 and runs until June 2027, which is a sweet spot: long enough to build something meaningful, short enough to keep momentum and urgency. If you’re a UK-based researcher who wants your sustainability work to travel beyond journal pages and into actual decisions, this one is worth your attention—especially because programmes like this often become career accelerators in ways standard grants can’t.

DAFNI Fellowship at a Glance (Key Facts)

What This Fellowship Actually Offers (Beyond the Label)

Let’s translate the official description into what you can realistically expect this fellowship to do for you.

First, it gives you a structured platform. Being a “DAFNI ambassador” isn’t fluff if you use it well. It’s permission—sometimes even a gentle requirement—to show up in rooms you might otherwise be shut out of: cross-sector meetings, stakeholder conversations, and roadmap discussions where priorities are set. Those rooms tend to be where careers quietly level up.

Second, it’s designed to push your work into the sustainability and infrastructure conversation, which is where a lot of UK research impact pressure is already pointing. If your research touches transport, energy, water, housing, telecoms, climate resilience, or any of the interconnected systems that keep the country running, DAFNI is effectively saying: “Bring us your models, your methods, your evidence—and help us make them usable.”

Third, the fellowship explicitly values network-building across government, industry and academia. That’s not just nice professional development. It’s a practical advantage. The best sustainability research often fails at the handoff: brilliant findings, no uptake. This fellowship is built around the handoff. It’s a chance to build relationships with the eventual users of your work while you’re still shaping it.

Finally, you’ll be able to feed into DAFNI’s Roadmap. A roadmap sounds bureaucratic until you remember what it really is: a statement of what the programme will prioritise next, and where attention (and often future funding) will go. If you’ve ever wanted to influence the questions being asked—not only answer them—this is your opening.

Is it competitive? Almost certainly. Fellowships that offer visibility, legitimacy, and a national platform usually are. But if you’ve been looking for a way to connect your research to real-world infrastructure decisions without becoming a full-time policy person, this is a rare, well-aimed bridge.

Who Should Apply (Eligibility, Fit, and Real-World Examples)

The non-negotiable requirement is straightforward: you must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding. If you’re unsure whether your institution qualifies, don’t guess—check internally with your research office (or ask DAFNI via the contact email) early. Eligibility confusion is a painfully common way strong applicants stumble.

Beyond that, “who should apply” is really about fit. This fellowship is best suited to researchers who can credibly say two things:

1. My work connects to sustainable research and national infrastructure challenges, and
2. I’m willing to be outward-facing—actively promoting the work and building relationships.

That could look like a civil engineer modelling flood resilience for rail corridors, a data scientist working on uncertainty quantification for infrastructure planning, an environmental researcher studying nature-based solutions with strong modelling components, or a social scientist integrating behavioural responses into transport decarbonisation scenarios. It could also include researchers working on methodology—data integration, simulation techniques, validation frameworks—so long as you can explain how the method helps answer infrastructure questions that matter.

A particularly good fit is anyone who has hit the classic “impact ceiling”: you have results, tools, or models with genuine potential, but you need access to stakeholders, datasets, adoption partners, or legitimacy in cross-sector spaces to get traction. The DAFNI ambassador framing rewards people who want their work to be used, not just cited.

This fellowship might be a weaker match if you strongly prefer solitary work and minimal engagement, or if your research has no plausible link to infrastructure systems and sustainability outcomes. Not because it’s “bad research,” but because this programme is clearly trying to create a community of people who can translate and connect.

Understanding the DAFNI Angle: Digital Twins Without the Hype

“Digital twin” can sound like a buzzword someone invented to sell software. In practice, for infrastructure, it’s often closer to a decision sandbox: a model (or collection of linked models) that lets you test changes—policy, investment, technology, climate conditions—and see what breaks, what improves, and what trade-offs appear.

DAFNI sits in that space. So when you position your fellowship idea, aim for clarity: what system are you modelling or analysing, what decisions could it inform, and what sustainability outcomes are at stake?

If you can explain your work in a way that a smart policymaker can repeat accurately after one meeting, you’re in the right zone.

Insider Tips for a Winning DAFNI Fellowship Application (Read This Twice)

1) Treat “ambassador” as a job description, not a compliment

Write as if you’re applying for a role where communication and relationship-building are part of the deliverables. Don’t say you’ll “raise awareness.” Say what you’ll do: organise a cross-sector roundtable, present at targeted stakeholder forums, build an advisory group, create a short public-facing briefing series, or run a demonstration session using DAFNI tools.

2) Anchor your research in an infrastructure decision that has teeth

The strongest applications won’t just describe a topic (for example, “sustainable transport”). They’ll describe a decision: prioritising heat resilience upgrades, evaluating trade-offs between electrification pathways, planning water network investments under uncertain rainfall patterns, or choosing interventions that reduce emissions without shifting costs elsewhere.

If your work helps decision-makers avoid expensive mistakes, say so plainly.

3) Show you can work across tribes (without becoming vague)

DAFNI is explicitly cross-government, cross-industry, cross-academia. That means your application should demonstrate you can speak multiple dialects: technical depth for researchers, practical relevance for industry, clarity and constraints for government. One of the best ways to prove this is to describe a collaboration you’ve already managed—or a realistic plan to build one during the fellowship.

4) Make your sustainability contribution specific

“Sustainable research” is broad. Pin it down. Are you reducing emissions? Improving resilience to climate hazards? Cutting resource use? Designing for equity in access to infrastructure services? Addressing adaptation trade-offs? The clearer you are, the easier it is for assessors to see your purpose and measure success.

5) Put your networking plan on rails

“Build networks” is easy to promise and hard to execute. Add structure: identify target stakeholder groups (local authorities, infrastructure operators, regulators, consultancies, third-sector voices), propose touchpoints (quarterly meetings, joint workshops, co-authored briefs), and explain what those interactions will produce (requirements gathering, validation datasets, adoption pilots, or policy-ready insights).

6) Talk about the roadmap like someone who wants to help write it

DAFNI’s Roadmap input is a big deal. Don’t treat it like an afterthought. Explain what perspective you bring: gaps you see in modelling capability, data-sharing barriers, validation needs, cross-infrastructure coupling problems, or overlooked sustainability outcomes. Show that you understand the roadmap is about prioritisation, not wishlists.

7) Build a credible delivery rhythm from April 2026 to June 2027

This fellowship isn’t endless. Propose phases: onboarding and stakeholder discovery; model/tool development or adaptation; validation and scenario testing; dissemination and roadmap contribution. Avoid the trap of promising everything in the first six months and “impact” in the last month. A steady drumbeat wins.

Application Timeline: A Realistic Plan Working Back from 4 February 2026

If you want to submit something strong by 17:00 on 4 February 2026, you’ll need more than a heroic final weekend.

Late November to early December 2025: lock your core idea. Identify the infrastructure decision you’re targeting, the sustainability outcome you care about, and how DAFNI fits. Contact your research office to confirm UKRI eligibility and internal processes.

Mid-December 2025: sketch your ambassador activities and your roadmap input. This is where many applicants get fuzzy—don’t. Draft a one-page plan that includes who you’ll engage, how often, and what outputs come from those engagements.

Early January 2026: write a full draft and send it to two reviewers: one technical peer and one non-specialist (someone who will call you out when you drift into jargon). Build in time for at least one major rewrite.

Mid to late January 2026: gather final institutional checks, refine your narrative, tighten outcomes, and proofread like your future depends on it (because, quietly, it does).

By 2 February 2026: aim to submit at least 48 hours early. Portals misbehave. PDFs mysteriously break. People realise they need a signature at the worst possible moment.

Required Materials: What to Prepare (and How to Make It Easier)

The UKRI listing doesn’t spell out every document in the snippet provided, so treat this as the practical baseline you should prepare for—then confirm specifics on the official page.

You should expect to produce a project description explaining what you’ll do during the fellowship and why DAFNI is the right home for it. Write it for an intelligent reader outside your niche. Clear beats clever.

You’ll likely need a CV (or similar track record document). Emphasise work that signals cross-sector relevance: applied projects, stakeholder engagement, interdisciplinary papers, tools or datasets shared, policy collaborations, or industry partnerships.

Prepare a case for support-style narrative that makes three things obvious: the sustainability value, the infrastructure relevance, and your plan to act as an ambassador. If you have prior engagement experience—briefings, workshops, advisory roles—this is the moment to highlight it.

Finally, be ready for institutional confirmations through your host organisation. Many UK research organisations have internal review deadlines, sometimes a week or more before the external deadline. Ask now, not later.

What Makes an Application Stand Out (How Reviewers Usually Think)

Assessors rarely fund “the most impressive person in the room” on reputation alone. They fund the application that feels inevitable: clear purpose, credible plan, and obvious fit.

A standout DAFNI Fellowship application will likely show:

A strong match to DAFNI’s mission. Your work should naturally connect to infrastructure systems and sustainability questions where modelling, data, and analytics matter.

A believable plan for cross-sector impact. Not generic outreach—specific engagement with the kinds of organisations that shape infrastructure decisions.

Clarity on outputs and outcomes. Outputs might include scenarios, model components, briefs, workshops, demonstrations, or contributions to roadmap priorities. Outcomes are what changes because of them: better decisions, stronger evidence, improved capability, or clearer trade-offs.

Credibility and feasibility. The April 2026–June 2027 window matters. If your plan reads like a five-year programme disguised as a fellowship, reviewers will worry you won’t land the plane.

A communication style that invites trust. The ability to explain complex modelling work without hiding behind jargon is not a nice-to-have here. It’s the job.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake 1: Writing a research proposal and forgetting the ambassador role

Fix: build ambassador activities into your core plan, not the final paragraph. Show how engagement informs your research choices and how your outputs travel to users.

Mistake 2: Staying abstract about sustainability

Fix: name the sustainability outcomes you’re driving (resilience, emissions reduction, resource efficiency, equitable access) and how you’ll assess progress.

Mistake 3: Treating “networking” like coffee chats

Fix: turn networking into structured collaboration—workshops with goals, stakeholder mapping, joint outputs, and planned follow-ups.

Mistake 4: Overpromising deliverables in a short fellowship window

Fix: propose fewer, higher-quality outputs with a clear sequence. Reviewers trust applicants who can prioritise.

Mistake 5: Assuming reviewers share your technical vocabulary

Fix: define your key concepts in plain English once, early. If your application can’t be understood by someone adjacent to your field, it’s at risk.

Mistake 6: Leaving institutional checks to the last minute

Fix: ask your research office about approvals, internal deadlines, and eligibility confirmation in November or early December.

Frequently Asked Questions (The Things People Email About at 16:42)

Is this fellowship only for early-career researchers?

The listing doesn’t specify career stage in the provided details. That usually means the programme may be open across stages, but fit will matter more than seniority. Check the official guidance for any formal criteria.

Do I need to work directly on DAFNI digital twin tools?

The fellowship is tied to DAFNI, so you should show a meaningful connection—through data, modelling, infrastructure analytics, or contributions that align with DAFNI’s approach. If your work is adjacent, make the link explicit rather than hoping reviewers infer it.

What does “based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding” mean?

It generally means your employer/host institution must be recognised as eligible to receive UKRI funds (many universities and approved research organisations are). Your research office can confirm quickly.

Can I involve government or industry partners?

You’re encouraged to build networks across government, industry, and academia, so yes—partners and collaborators are likely a strength. Just be clear on what they contribute and how the relationship will work in practice.

What should I say about the DAFNI Roadmap?

Describe the perspective you’ll bring and the concrete input you expect to provide—priority areas, capability gaps, data needs, validation approaches, or cross-infrastructure linkages. Show you want to help shape direction, not just attend meetings.

What happens if I miss the deadline time?

UKRI-style deadlines are typically strict, and 17:00 means 17:00, not “end of day.” Plan to submit early.

Where do I ask specific eligibility or application questions?

Email [email protected] with concise questions. Include your institution, a one-sentence summary of your idea, and what clarification you need.

How to Apply (Next Steps You Can Do This Week)

Start by reading the official opportunity page end-to-end and making a checklist of the required components. Then do the two unglamorous moves that dramatically increase your odds: confirm your organisation’s UKRI eligibility with your research office, and block writing time on your calendar before December disappears.

Next, draft a one-page “spine” for your application: the infrastructure decision you’re targeting, the sustainability outcome you care about, the modelling/analytics contribution you’ll make, and the ambassador activities you’ll run. If that one page doesn’t sound compelling, revise it until it does—because the full application will only amplify what’s already there.

Finally, if you have any uncertainty about fit, send a short, polite query to DAFNI. Programmes like this would rather answer a smart question in December than reject a misaligned application in February.

Apply Now / Full Details

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page here: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/dafni-fellowship/

Questions? Contact DAFNI at [email protected].