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, University of Dundee, University of Edinburgh  and University of St Andrews with potentially up to 7 fellowships available . Our aim is to 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 2026. Where possible a 6-month preparatory period should begin at the start of February where successful candidates will work closely with allocated supervisors to develop the selected PhD project. We will work with Fellows and their employers to try to organise release from their current clinical duties for an equivalent to one day a week (20% protected academic time).

Arrangements on the preparatory period will be discussed individually with recruited fellows and will be subject to their current employer’s agreement.

The core post is a cohort-based 3-year PhD which funds a full-time salary (see details below), PhD fees and research costs. The successful candidate is expected to undertake a PhD during the term of the post.

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). Medical applicants must be doctors in training (holding a National Training Number) or be General Practitioners who have completed their training (post-CCT) in the last 4 years (full-time equivalent ie. may be > calendar years accounting for part-time working). Dentists, either in a training programme or within 4 years full-time equivalent of completing their training programme are eligible to apply. Clinical work during the PhD will be limited to one day per week. Doctors and dentists who are still in training will need to gain permission for time out of training from their Postgraduate Dean and must still be 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 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. Clinical work during the PhD will be limited to maximum one day per week.

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, HCPC) and be licensed to practice in the UK.

Important 

Candidates must select 2 projects in order of preference. You MUST discuss your first preference project with the supervisory team (and ideally your second preference project) prior to submitting a formal application. They are expecting you to contact them.

Details on the projects and supervisory teams are in the programme website :

https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/graduateschool/multimorbidity/researchprojects/

All applicants will be appointed to 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. The core principle is that academic salary will be commensurate with your existing NHS salary within the limits of the funding available to the programme.

For pre-CCT trainees, salary will be at an appropriate point on the CAT-I Clinical Lectureships/PhD Fellowships (Medical, Surgical & General Practice) ACN2 scale. For post-CCT GPs and dentists, starting salaries will be dependent upon career stage but will not exceed point 9 of the ACN2 Clinical Scale (£71,550 per annum). For NMAHPS, Healthcare scientists, and professionals from other clinical disciplines, starting salaries will be dependent on career stage and the expected maximum salary offered for NMAHPS, Healthcare scientists, and professionals from other clinical disciplines is Band 7, Point 34 of the Agenda for Change. 

Informal enquiries about this role may be directed to [email protected]

For further information and to apply online :
https://www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/multimorbidity-phd-programme-for-health-professionals-fellow

Closing date: 14 September 2025

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.
 
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.