PhD Studentship: ECAT-i Clinical Lectureships Med Surg GP 2025 intake

ECAT-I PhD Fellowships for Health Professionals

University of Edinburgh

UE06 - UE08: £33,882.00 - £60,321.00 Per Annum.

College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine.

Fixed Term Contract - 6 August 2025 for up to 5 years.

Full Time - 40 Hours Per Week.

Up to 5 posts available across all disciplines.

ECAT-i (Edinburgh Clinical Academic Track – inclusive) is the University of Edinburgh’s prestigious academic track for health professionals. 

These posts provide research opportunities for registered health and care professionals, including:  allied health professionals (art therapists, chiropodists/podiatrists, dieticians, drama therapists, music therapists, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, osteopaths, paramedics, physiotherapists, prosthetists and orthotists, radiographers, and speech and language therapists) chiropractors, clinical psychologists, dentists, dental hygienists, dental nurses, dental therapists, general practitioners, healthcare scientists (in life sciences, physiological sciences, physical sciences and biomechanical engineering, and bioinformatics), health visitors, midwives, non-medical public health specialists, nurses, optometrists and dispensing opticians, osteopaths, pharmacists, social workers, pharmacy technicians and practitioner psychologists.

Joining the ECAT-i programme involves undertaking a Wellcome PhD for Health Professionals in a world-leading research centre at the University of Edinburgh. The programme aims to build on the principles of research excellence and mentorship developed during the successful ECAT Wellcome Clinical PhD Programme, with a strong emphasis on research inclusivity and a positive research culture.

We are seeking to recruit up to five outstanding health and care professionals for the August 2025 intake.

The opportunity:

Funding is provided for a preparatory period (typically three months full-time) when selection of supervisors and planning of the PhD project are optimised with the support of the ECAT directors before beginning the three-year PhD project.  Following the PhD, salary funding may be available for up to two years of postdoctoral research.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• You must demonstrate a commitment to a research career.
• You must be academically ready to undertake a PhD.
• You must be registered to practice in the UK with the relevant professional body.
• You must have the support of your health board, where relevant. 

Non-UK citizens are welcome to apply but must be suitable for sponsorship under a Skilled Worker visa.  Candidates who have the right to live and work in the UK may be eligible for a 'home' fee status.  Otherwise, the programme will only cover the cost of ‘home’ postgraduate tuition fees and the balance between ‘home’ and ‘international/EU’ fees must be covered by the post-holder.

Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check required.

As a valued member of our team you can expect:

An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. We give you support, nurture your talent and reward success. You will benefit from a competitive reward package and a wide range of staff benefits, which includes a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, staff discounts, family friendly initiatives, flexible working and much more. Access our staff benefits page for further information and use our reward calculator to find out the total value of pay and benefits provided.

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality. 

If invited for interview you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK.  Further information is available on our right to work webpages.

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role.  This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant. 

About Us

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

About the Team

The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine traces its origins back nearly 500 years (Darwin, Simpson and Conan-Doyle were students here) and is internationally renowned for its research and teaching. Professor David Argyle is the Head of College, the only conjoint Medical and Veterinary Medical School in the UK. The College employs over 3000 academic and support staff. The College has two Schools, the Edinburgh Medical School comprising three Deaneries; Biomedical Sciences; Molecular Genetic and Population Health Sciences and Clinical Sciences and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

The undergraduate medicine teaching programme in the College enjoys a high reputation nationally and internationally, with over 1,300 students enrolled on the MBChB and Intercalated courses and nearly 1000 on the Veterinary Sciences BVS and related programmes. In addition, approximately 2000 students are currently enrolled in the College’s taught and research post-graduate courses, including an extensive range of online distance learning diplomas and degrees. They are trained by over 1000 outstanding academic staff.

The academic disciplines within Medicine are largely concentrated in the two teaching hospital campuses, the Royal Infirmary at BioQuarter and the Western General Hospital. Both have extensive new infrastructure with major research institutes and state of the art research facilities on clinical sites. Edinburgh hosts a number of prestigious MRC and BHF Research Centres. The approach is interdisciplinary, with basic and clinical researchers working together at the laboratory bench and in our clinical research facilities to address major themes in basic, clinical and translational medicine. The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies on the Easter Bush Campus houses outstanding teaching and clinical facilities as well as the splendid Roslin Institute, one of the world’s leading veterinary research centres. The College offers outstanding opportunities to address ‘One Health’ and Global Health problems of the highest international priority.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 results reaffirmed Edinburgh’s position as one of the UK’s leading research universities. Our College achieved outstanding results across four units of assessment (UoAs). Work was submitted from every eligible academic in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine: a total of 782 full time equivalent posts.  This includes joint submissions from within the University of Edinburgh. Overall, results were excellent. The University of Edinburgh is fourth in the UK based on the quality and breadth of its research - known as research power - and is Scotland’s top ranked institution, according to Times Higher Education's REF power ratings.

Closing Date: 29^th October 2024

Interviews will be held in person in Edinburgh on 5 December 2024 (Thu).

Click here for a copy of the full job description.

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