Clinical academic career support
The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine is committed to broadening and strengthening its support for early career clinical academics.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Providing information on lectureships (eg SCREDS and CSO/NES) and fellowship opportunities (please see below)
- Mentorship
- Support for those making fellowship applications through review of proposals and mock interviews
- The possibility of time limited institutional salary support to obtain competitive fellowships (please see below)
- Support for those planning a return to a full-time clinical post
Professor Jürgen Schwarze is the Deputy Dean for Clinical Academic Careers. Through the Clinical Academic Career group, he will work with colleagues across the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, NHS Lothian and NHS Education for Scotland to provide enhanced support for early career clinical academics staff who require it. Jürgen will be supported in this role by Joanne Ness and Sally Cheng.
We have a team of dedicated staff to support your career development. If you would like to get in touch, please email CMVMCLAC.support@ed.ac.uk and someone will get back to you.
SCREDS Clinical Lectureships (Scottish Clinical Research Excellence Development Scheme)
Supported by NHS Education Scotland (NES), ECAT SCREDS Clinical Lectureships are designed to combine specialist training in the successful candidate’s chosen speciality with enhanced academic and research opportunities which will involve a balance of research, teaching and clinical duties. This will allow each successful applicant to establish a successful research foundation in their chosen area. The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine can appoint up to five SCREDS Clinical Lecturers annually. Recruitment typically takes place at the end of summer for a spring/autumn start the following year. Candidates must have completed their PhD to be eligible to apply, and must have a National Training Number and GMC registration.
Joint NES/CSO Postdoctoral Clinical Lectureships
These Postdoctoral Clinical Lectureship positions are designed to provide opportunity for research time for medical doctors who have completed a research degree (PhD or MD) and are currently working towards the completion of speciality training. The posts will have 50% protected academic time and will be available until the CCT is reached. It is expected that on completion of these Lectureships candidates will be in a good position to apply for intermediate fellowships.
Joint NES/CSO Postdoctoral Clinical Lectureships
Wellcome Early-Career Awards
This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. Through innovative projects, they will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme.
MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowships
Apply for support to become an independent researcher in a medical research field. Your research can focus on any area of MRC’s remit to improve human health. Candidates must be a registered healthcare professional and have a PhD or equivalent. Successful applicants will receive salary and project costs for up to five years (80% of the full economic cost). You may apply for joint funding from one of the collaborating organisations. This is an ongoing funding opportunity. Application rounds close January, April and September.
MRC Clinicial Scientist Fellowships
CRUK Clinician Scientist Fellowships
CRUK Clinician Scientist Fellowships support excellent individuals to develop a clinical academic research career through a period of postdoctoral training. Applications are considered from any area of CRUK’s funding remit, including population, prevention and early detection/diagnosis research, but with the exception of any interventional clinical study/trial and drug discovery. Candidates should have obtained a higher degree (MD/PhD) in a cancer-relevant research area and have obtained CCT and hold consultant status, or a national training number (NTN or NTN(A)) and at the time of award.
CRUK Clinician Scientist Fellowships
AMS Clinician Scientist Fellowships
These fellowships provide five years' salary and consumables to enable talented clinicians to pursue academic research alongside their clinical practice in order to make long-term improvements in healthcare. The programme focuses on ‘translational research’ – that is, research that has a direct benefit to patients. The findings can then be used to shape healthcare, by influencing policy or informing professional practice. Candidates must be medically qualified, with a PhD or MD in a basic science or clinical/health related subject. They must be either approaching the end of their training or have recently been awarded consultant status.
AMS Clinician Scientist Fellowships
Institutional bridging funding (salary support)
The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine will consider the provision of time-limited salary support in exceptional cases to enable postdoctoral clinical academics to obtain competitive fellowship funding, post-CCT (or post-residency for veterinary trainees). Applications will be considered by an invited panel. Panel meetings will typically take place twice a year in the spring and the autumn. Click here for guidance for applicants. If you have any questions, please contact CMVMCLAC.support@ed.ac.uk