Research Fellowships for Health Professionals

Purpose

This scheme is intended for practising health professionals who wish to carry out research in any area within the remit of the Ethics and Society Programme, either full-time or part-time, while maintaining their work commitments. The research should address a real-life issue in the candidate’s professional practice that is relevant to the Programme. Part-time fellows will be expected to spend at least 50 per cent of their time on their research.

This scheme can be used to enrol on a PhD for those who have little or no humanities or social science experience. The scheme can also be used to undertake postdoctoral research. It is particularly aimed at people who intend to pursue a long-term academic career exploring the ethical or social aspects of biomedical research or health interventions.

The fellowship will enable successful candidates to pursue their ethics and social research interests in one or more appropriate departments or research facilities.

Candidates might wish to seek support for research training as part of their fellowship, either in a new discipline or in a new methodology or aspect of their own field. In such cases, the requested training must form a substantial component of the research proposed and should not normally be available via the standard funding routes. The requested training should also include methodologies and/or skills that are new to the candidate. Legitimate uses of research training funds include participation in taught courses and periods spent in other research groups gaining practical, technical or other skills for introduction to the sponsor or individual's own group.

What's included

The fellow's salary is provided, plus appropriate employer's contributions. Essential research expenses, including travel and fieldwork, are available, as is a set amount for travel to conferences, seminars and other meetings of a scholarly nature.

If enrolling for a PhD, an agreed salary will be provided, together with PhD registration fees, research expenses and a contribution to travel and general training costs.

The maximum duration of the award is three years full-time. Candidates wishing to apply for a part-time award will be handled on a case-by-case basis, but awards will typically not be longer than four years in duration. The time permitted for professional activities or other non-research activity during the fellowship is normally restricted to a maximum of eight hours or two programmed activities per week.

Eligibility

Research fellowships must be held at a UK, Irish or low- or middle-income country institution.

Individuals holding permanent academic posts are not eligible for these fellowships.

A candidate will still be working in his or her professional capacity at the preliminary application deadline to which they apply and should not normally be more than ten years from the date of their first professional qualification. Due allowance will be given to candidates whose career has been affected by a late start or by interruption for family or other personal reasons. Candidates more than ten years from qualification should consider applying for a studentship, a Research Fellowship, a University Award or an Investigator Award, as appropriate to their career stage.

Candidates should have completed general professional training as defined by the relevant college or equivalent professional body, of which the following is an indicative list only.

• Medical graduates must have passed the relevant exam for their specialty (e.g. MRCP, MRCS, MRCOphth/FRCOphth Part 1, MRCPsych, MRCOG Part 1, MRCPCH or FRCA Part 1). GPs are advised to contact the office to clarify their eligibility.
• Dental candidates must have obtained MFD, MFDS, MGDS, MFGDP or equivalent.
• Veterinary candidates should have a degree in veterinary medicine (e.g. BVSc, BVM&S, BVMS, BVetMed or VetMB) and some experience in clinical practice. An intercalated degree is desirable, but not essential.
• Clinical psychology candidates must have obtained a professional doctorate-level qualification in Clinical Psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society before taking up the award. Candidates are advised to contact the office to clarify their eligibility.

The eligibility of candidates following other health professions will be assessed under similar principles but on a case-by-case basis.

Candidates should be sponsored by someone (typically in a senior position) who has a contract of employment with an academic institution or, in the case of an NHS employee, an honorary academic appointment. The sponsor must also have tenure beyond the duration of the proposed fellowship and be in a position to guarantee space and facilities for the tenure of the award.

Application process

Preliminary applications should be made in writing and should include:

• the applicant's name and contact details
• the applicant's CV, including publication list
• the sponsor's name and contact details
• the title and a brief project outline (one page maximum)
• approximate costs
• a letter of support from the head of department.

Preliminary applications are reviewed for eligibility, and full application forms are sent if eligibility criteria are met.

Deadlines

Applications are considered twice a year.

Preliminary application deadlines are 20 June and 2 December.

The full application deadline will be between six weeks and two months after the preliminary application deadline. We aim to advise all applicants whether they have been invited to submit full applications within two weeks of the preliminary application deadline.

Contacts

Grants Section (Ethics and Society)
Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE

T +44 (0)20 7611 8893
E es@wellcome.ac.uk