Clinical Doctoral Fellow

Pathway:
Clinical research
Career Stage:
Early career
Salary:
£33,000 – 38,000

Overview

Key skills:

  • Medical degree
  • GMC (General Medical Council) registration
  • Practical knowledge of clinical procedures
  • Research and lab experience
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Well-developed communication skills

Typical job titles: Clinical Doctoral Fellow, Clinical Doctoral Research Fellow, Academic Clinical Fellow

This role is highlighted because it is the potential starting point for a clinical research career, which is a distinct pathway through which clinical (including medical) practitioners can combine their existing career with research.

Currently, the Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship (C-DRF) and Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) are two schemes within England’s Clinical Academic Careers Framework aimed at health professionals who want to obtain a PhD by research, while continuing to practise and develop their clinical skills.

Rafiah Patel

Clinical Doctoral Fellow

Pathway:
Clinical research
Career Stage:
Early-mid career
Institution:
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Previous Job Title:
Speech and Language Therapist

Rafiah is an NHS Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) specialising in supporting children with co-occurring language and learning needs. Over the years, Rafiah has developed a keen interest in the role of technology across health, education and social care.

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Next steps

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