Job Purpose
The Clinical PhD Research Fellowships are fixed term 3-year appointments offering training, mentoring and support to health professionals undertaking a PhD on the topic of multimorbidity. The posts will be based in the University of Glasgow (up to 2 Fellowships), University of Dundee (up to 2 Fellowships), University of Edinburgh (1 Fellowship), and University of St Andrews (up to 2 Fellowships). We will develop the next generation of leaders in multimorbidity research through identifying and developing highly skilled clinical practitioners into researchers who understand and use multidisciplinary research to answer important clinical questions. The start of the fellowship is 1st August 2025. Where possible a 6-month preparatory period should begin at the start of February, and we will work with Fellows and their employers to organise release from their current clinical duties for an equivalent to one day a week (20% protected academic time), to work with their supervisors to define the PhD project.Arrangements on the preparatory period may be discussed individually with recruited fellows. The core degree is a cohort‐based 3‐year PhD. We include health care professionals from the following professions:
Medicine Nursing Allied Health Professions (e.g., Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry) Pharmacy Dentistry Clinical Psychology Healthcare Scientists Medical applicants are welcome from ALL medical and surgical specialties (including General Practice). They must be doctors in training (holding a National Training Number) or be General Practitioners who have completed their training (post-CCT) and are within the first 4 years post-CCT (full-time equivalent i.e. accounting for part-time working). Dentists, either in a training programme or within 4 full-time equivalent years of completing their training programme are eligible to apply. Doctors and dentists who are still in training will need to gain permission for time out of training from their Postgraduate Dean. Clinical work during the PhD will be limited to one day per week. Medical applicants must be doctors in training at the time of starting their PhD. Applicants from NMAHPS and other clinical disciplines must have completed their professional training and at the point of application must have a minimum of 2 years full-time equivalent clinical experience after full registration. Healthcare science professionals must be working as a healthcare science practitioner, clinical scientist, or consultant clinical scientist in any of the following areas: physiological sciences, life sciences, physical sciences, or informatics. They will need to have completed the relevant NHS Practitioner Training Programme and/or NHS Scientist Training Programme, or equivalent, and be currently clinically active. Professional registration with the HCPC is required and must have a minimum of 2 years full time (or equivalent) clinical experience after full registration, this is required at the point of application. Healthcare science assistants and healthcare science associates are NOT eligible. For all applicants, we will be looking for candidates with evidence of research or other relevant activity (for example, working in policy or management) before application. Research activity may include work undertaken as an undergraduate; holding an intercalated BSc; by completion of a relevant Master's degree or other post-graduate qualification in an area of clinical relevance; or by participating in research including writing papers. All applicants must be registered with their appropriate discipline specific professional body within the UK (e.g. General Medical Council, Nursing & Midwifery Council) and be licensed to practice in the UK. During the term of the post, the successful candidate is expected to undertake a PhD.
How to apply To apply, please download a copy of the application form at the bottom of this screen. Once you have completed the form, click the Apply for Job button at the bottom of this page and upload a copy of the completed form under the 'Upload Application Form' section of your application.
Important : candidates must select 2 projects in order of preference and contact the project supervisory team prior to submitting a formal application. Details on the projects and supervisory teams are in the programme website :
Main Duties & Responsibilities 1. During PhD training, trainees will devote 80-90% of their time on their research2. Clinical activity and training during the PhD will be a maximum of half to one day per week as appropriate.3. Progress reviews will be undertaken by the Programme Coordinating Committee regularly throughout the programme. Each institution will also have supervision and monitoring committee requirements that the student will also need to comply with.4. In the final PhD year, post-doctoral career plans will be reviewed. Advice on ‘re-entry' to clinical training/work and support for career development will be provided by the clinical mentor, programme directors and Postgraduate Deanery.5. Medical or dental qualified PhD Fellows in training posts would be expected to return to complete their training after completion of their PhD. For other applicants, future work arrangements will have to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and we would encourage fellows to discuss this further with their current employer.6. Progress of individuals is subject to satisfactory review by their supervisors and the Programme directors, who will assess whether Fellows are meeting the expected milestones of academic progress (in addition to the standard requirements of each University).
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience Knowledge/Qualifications Essential: A1 Medically qualified applicants can be from any speciality, including General Practice. They must be doctors in training (holding an NTN); GP applicants will either be doctors in training (holding an NTN) or have completed their training (post-CCT) and usually be within the first 4 years (FTE) post-CCT; Dentists should be either in a training programme or within 4 years of completing their training programme; NMAHPS and applicants from other clinical disciplines must have completed their professional training and have at least two years subsequent clinical experience. Heathcare Scientists must be working as a healthcare science practitioner, clinical scientist, biomedical scientist or consultant clinical scientist, must have completed their professional training and have a minimum of 2 years full time (or equivalent) clinical experience after full registration.A2 Candidates for all posts must be fully registered with their appropriate UK professional regulatory body (e.g., GMC for doctors; Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) for nurses, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for allied health professionals, clinical psychologists with, pharmacists with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and Dentists with the General Dental Council (GDC).A3 Candidates must not have applied for this PhD Programme in more than 3 occasions (either in separate or consecutive years).
Desirable: B1 Evidence of distinction in career to date, e.g. prizes, awards, bursaries.B2 Introductory research experience at BSc or MSc undergraduate research project, postgraduate research or equivalent postgraduate research-oriented qualification with high attainment
Skills Essential: C1 Aspiring to have a clinical academic career of a standard likely to be successful in obtaining a Post-doctoral Research Fellowship in future national open competition where appropriateC2 Understanding of the research process through formal learning or involvement in delivering clinical researchC3 We are seeking individuals with good communication skills and the capacity for innovative and original thinking.C4 Able to work in multidisciplinary teams
Experience Desirable D1 Successful record of conference presentationsD2 Experience in undergraduate teaching or postgraduate teachingD3 Evidence of research publications or experience of writingD4 Previous training or experience of designing or conducting research and research methods.D5 Research experience
Dimensions The Multimorbidity PhD Programme for Health Professionals is designed to:Recruit and retain the best aspiring clinical academicsTo provide rigorous academic training whilst allowing Fellows to continue with their clinical development.Equip trainees with the range of knowledge and skills required to compete as independent investigators in the modern area of research in the sphere of multimorbidity.
Additional Information The Director of the Multimorbidity PhD Programme for Health Professionals is Professor Frances Mair (University of Glasgow), Professor Bruce Guthrie (University of Edinburgh), Professor Ewan Pearson (University of Dundee) and Professor Colin McCowan (University of St Andrews). All have extensive experience in mentoring clinical academic trainees from multiple disciplines.
Health & Safety Requirements for the role Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG)
NHS Honorary Contract If appropriate, an Honorary NHS contract will be sought for the successful post-holder at their current grade within the NHS. All applicants must be eligible to hold an honorary contract in Scotland and must also be registered with an appropriate regulatory body.It should be noted that the offer of appointment is subject to Occupational Health clearance prior to commencement of duty.
Terms and Conditions Whilst in this post you will be subject to the host University's own terms and conditions of employment. Salary placement will be dictated by your current NHS pay progression (or equivalent) arrangements and the budgetary limits of the programme. For medical applicants, salary will be on the CAT-I Clinical Lectureships/PhD Fellowships (Medical, Surgical & General Practice) ACN2 scale for pre-CCT trainees. For post-CCT GPs and dentists, salaries will be dependent upon career stage but will not exceed point 9 of the ACN2 Clinical Scale (£64,641). For NMAHPS and other clinical disciplines, a clinical salary, which will be negotiated after appointment in line with the ‘UK clinical academic training in medicine and dentistry: principles and obligations' document for staff on a pay scale other than clinical salary will be commensurate with your existing NHS salary. The expected maximum salary offered for NMAHPS and professionals from other clinical disciplines is Band 7, Point 34 of the Agenda for Change (£43,442).
