For health and social care professionals (excluding doctors and dentists) 

The Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship (CDRFs) Scheme supports graduates with research experience who aspire to a career that combines research with continued clinical practice. 

Award holders undertake PhD’s at an English Higher Education Institute (HEI) but also require a clinical host in order to maximise their development as a clinical academic. 

Fellows are supported to complete a clinical research project of sufficient quality to obtain a research doctorate, develop their research and clinical skills, disseminate their research findings through publication and to further their collaborative relationships.

 

What we offer: 

University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust is keen to support people applying for the HEE/NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship (CDRF) Scheme. 

To help people get ahead of the game, Southampton Academy of Research (SoAR) is running a CDRF workshop to assist with preparing a competitive application for the scheme. 

The workshop will give you an opportunity to hear from a number of experts such as: A funding panellists, a successful CDRF applicant, a member of Research Design Service and more.

Introduction to the Scheme

The CDRF Scheme supports graduate (post-degree) health and social care professionals (excluding doctors and dentists) who have at least one year’s experience in clinical practice, and who can propose to undertake their doctorate at a recognised Higher Education Institution (HEI) based in England, an NHS body based in England or at any other English provider of health and/or social care services that provides at least 50% of its services free at the point of delivery (for example, a commissioned social enterprise, local authority or hospice).

Applicants should note that the term “clinical” is used in these Guidance Notes and in the application form to mean the practice that they undertake that requires their professional registration, and not necessarily to a patient facing or hospital-based role.

A CDRF supports the award holder to develop their research skills and their clinical skills; the latter through dedicated time for clinical practice and/or through other activities that support development as a clinician.

A key feature of the CDRF Scheme is that awardees are supported and expected to develop clinical skills as well as research skills.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate how they will develop their skills as a clinician over the period of the fellowship. Applicants are advised to take account of their current skillset and propose a clinical development plan that is appropriate to their level of clinical seniority. Senior clinicians may choose to propose activities that will ensure the maintenance rather than the development of their clinical skills. 

Applicants may wish to consider whether the research activity and research training proposed might be further utilised to develop or maintain clinical skills and /or professional development as a clinician.

A Clinical Doctoral Research Fellow is required to spend approximately 20% of their fellowship hours undertaking clinical/professional practice and development.

The workshop

These workshops are held annually (usually around November).

Please sign up to receive emails from SoAR, including event dates and other funding opportunities.