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 Society and Ethics 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 social and ethical 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
An award will not normally exceed £250 000, exclusive of any standard Wellcome Trust allowances. 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.
Candidates will still be working in their professional capacity at the preliminary application deadline.
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 (preferably submitted to se@wellcome.ac.uk) 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, Arial 11 or similar), including a short research plan and a description of the proposed methodology
- approximate costs
- a letter of support from the head of department in which you will be working (this can be submitted directly to se@wellcome.ac.uk).
Preliminary applications are reviewed to check that they are eligible, fit the Trust’s funding remit and are generally competitive. Applicants who pass this review will be invited to submit a full application. A sample application form can be downloaded/printed from eGrants.
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 (Society and Ethics)
Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE
T +44 (0)20 7611 8893
E
se@wellcome.ac.uk