Considering a career as a clinical academic but want to experience life as a researcher first?

The Universities of Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter have launched their Clinical Primer scheme, supported by the Wellcome Trust. Applications are welcome from medical, veterinary and dental graduates for six month biomedical / health research ‘primer’ projects. The projects start in 2019 and the funding will cover clinical salary and associated project costs.

This opportunity is aimed at exceptionally motivated clinically qualified medical, veterinary and dental trainees who are at an early stage of their career, but who can demonstrate a capability and a drive to undertake a period of research with a view to developing a career in academic medicine. Successful candidates will undertake a biomedical “primer” project at either the University of Bristol, Cardiff or Exeter with a view to preparing them for a PhD fellowship application.

Applicants must either be:

• fully-qualified medical doctors or dentists and will have started, or be ready to start, their specialist training, in which case the project will be undertaken as an out of programme module; or
• have completed a degree in veterinary medicine or veterinary science, an intercalated degree or other research experience, such as an undergraduate vacation project, is also desirable

All applicants should be entitled to work within the European Economic Area (EEA).

Primers will be available in various areas and specialties.

They particularly encourage applications from candidates keen to conduct interdisciplinary projects and they will be co-supervised by clinical and non-clinical members of staff.

The training period is negotiable (range 3-6 months) and will allow time for one clinical session per week, if applicable.

Further information, eligibility criteria and an application form are available from the participating institutions:

• University of Bristol, Elizabeth Blackwell Institute: medical, veterinary and dental Clinical Primers
• Cardiff University: medical and dental Clinical Primers
• University of Exeter: medical Clinical Primers

The closing date for applications is 9am GMT, Thursday 8 November 2018.

If you have any queries, please see the relevant institution’s website for contact details.