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.

How to apply

To apply, please download a copy of the application form at the bottom of this screen. Once you have completed the form, click the Apply Now button at the side of your screen and upload a copy of the completed form under the 'Upload Application Form' section of your application.

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/

Main Duties & Responsibilities

1. During PhD training, trainees will devote 80-90% of their time on their research

2. Trainees are expected to regularly work clinically during the PhD up to a maximum of one day per week.

3. Progress reviews will be undertaken by the Programme Coordinating Committee regularly throughout the programme. Each institution will also have supervision and monitoring committee requirements that the student will also need to comply with.

4. In the final PhD year, post-doctoral career plans will be reviewed. Advice on ‘re-entry' to clinical training/work and support for career development will be provided by the clinical mentor, programme directors and Postgraduate Deanery.

5. Medical or dental qualified PhD Fellows in training posts are expected to return to complete their clinical training after completion of their PhD.  For other applicants, future work arrangements will have to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and we would encourage fellows to discuss this further with their current employer.

6. Progress of individuals is subject to satisfactory review by their supervisors and the Programme directors, who will assess whether Fellows are meeting the expected milestones of academic progress (in addition to the standard requirements of each University).

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Medically qualified applicants can be from any speciality, including General Practice. They must be doctors in training (holding an NTN); GP applicants will either be doctors in training (holding an NTN) or have completed their training (post-CCT) and usually be within the first 4 years (FTE) post-CCT; Dentists should be either in a training programme or within 4 years of completing their training programme; NMAHPS and applicants from other clinical disciplines must have completed their professional training and have at least two years subsequent clinical experience. Heathcare Scientists must be working as a healthcare science practitioner, clinical scientist, biomedical scientist or consultant clinical scientist, must have completed their professional training and have a minimum of 2 years full time (or equivalent) clinical experience after full registration.

A2 Candidates for all posts must be fully registered with their appropriate UK professional regulatory body (e.g., GMC for doctors; Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) for nurses, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for allied health professionals, clinical psychologists with, pharmacists with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and Dentists with the General Dental Council (GDC).

A3 Candidates must not have applied for this PhD Programme more than twice before (the maximum number of applications in total is three).

Desirable:

B1 Evidence of distinction in career to date, e.g. prizes, awards, bursaries.

B2 Introductory research experience at BSc or MSc undergraduate research project and/or postgraduate research or equivalent postgraduate research-oriented qualification with high attainment

Skills

Essential:

C1 Aspiring to have a clinical academic career of a standard likely to be successful in obtaining a Post-doctoral Research Fellowship in future national open competition.

C2 Understanding of the research process through formal learning or involvement in delivering clinical research

C3 We are seeking individuals with good communication skills and the capacity for innovative and original thinking.

C4 Able to work in multidisciplinary teams

Experience

Desirable

D1 Successful record of conference presentations

D2 Experience in undergraduate teaching or postgraduate teaching

D3 Evidence of research publications or experience of writing

D4 Previous training or experience of designing or conducting research and research methods.

D5 Research experience

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Dimensions

The Multimorbidity PhD Programme for Health Professionals is designed to:

Recruit and retain the best aspiring clinical academics

To provide rigorous academic training whilst allowing Fellows to continue with their clinical development.

Equip trainees with the range of knowledge and skills required to compete as independent investigators in the modern area of research in the sphere of multimorbidity. 

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Additional Information 

The Director of the Multimorbidity PhD Programme for Health Professionals is Professor Frances Mair (University of Glasgow), Professor Bruce Guthrie (University of Edinburgh), Professor Ewan Pearson (University of Dundee) and Professor Colin McCowan (University of St Andrews). All have extensive experience in mentoring clinical academic trainees from multiple disciplines and we will organise clinical mentorship appropriate to your needs and discipline.

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Health & Safety Requirements for the role  

Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG)

The post for which you are applying is considered to be a regulated role under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. Under the Act, individuals working in a regulated role must be a PVG Scheme member before employment. If you are successful in your application, the offer of employment will be conditional subject to a satisfactory PVG Scheme record check. We will be in touch regarding requirements related to this. 

Further information is available at : https://www.mygov.scot/pvg-scheme

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NHS Honorary Contract

If appropriate, an Honorary NHS contract will be sought for the successful post-holder at their current grade within the NHS. All applicants must be eligible to hold an honorary contract in Scotland and must also be registered with an appropriate regulatory body.

It should be noted that the offer of appointment is subject to Occupational Health clearance and satisfactory references prior to commencement of duty. 

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Informal enquiries about this role may be directed to multimorbidityphd@glasgow.ac.uk 

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Terms and Conditions 

Whilst in this post you will be subject to the host University's own terms and conditions of employment. Salary placement will be dictated by your current NHS pay progression (or equivalent) arrangements and the budgetary limits of the programme.

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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.

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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. 

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Successful applicants will have the employment contract with the university hosting their allocated project and their individual HR policies will apply.  The below listed policies apply to those contracted by the University of Glasgow. 

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As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

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1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension , benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University .

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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 here. 

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We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University. 

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We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information. 

Closing date : 14 September 2025 @23:45

Click here to download the application form