Primary Care Research Centre
Primary Care Research Centre

Working with us

We encourage and support students to consider a research career in primary care.

We host studentships and fellowships from a range of funders including the NIHR.

Current opportunities

NIHR SPCR Post-Doctoral Fellowships - open for applications

Competition closes: 1pm - 2 March 2026

Further information for this competition

The NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) Post-Doctoral Fellowships support early-career researchers to develop as independent primary care scientists and future research leaders. These awards provide time, training, and support to develop an independent research trajectory, publish high-quality outputs, and prepare applications for future funding (for example, an NIHR Advanced Fellowship).

Fellowships are for 24 months and must be undertaken at a minimum 60% FTE. Awards are expected to begin by 1 October 2026. The SPCR has a contract end date of 31/03/2029 and all awards must end by 30/09/2028 to allow for final reporting.

Applicants do not need to be employed by an SPCR member to apply. However, all nine fellowships will be hosted within SPCR member departments, with one fellowship awarded per member.

Every applicant, whether currently based in a member department or not, must notify the relevant department’s research manager or training lead (for Southampton Research Manager Jo Kelly J.Kelly@soton.ac.uk, training lead Mark Lown M.Lown@soton.ac.uk) of their intention to apply. This is vital to ensure that local HR and costing procedures are followed.

Please note this award is not intended to cover a clinical salary.

NIHR SPCR Primary Care Clinical Fellowships - open for applications

Competition closes: 1pm - 2 March 2026

Further information for this competition

The NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) offers Primary Care Clinical Fellowships to support the development of the primary care clinical workforce into academic primary care research careers.

These fellowships are designed to support early-career primary care research clinicians (pre- or post-doctoral) who demonstrate a clear commitment to a career in academic primary care.

Host Institutions

Fellowships may be undertaken at any of the nine SPCR member universities: University of Bristol, University of Exeter, Keele University, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, University of Southampton, University College London.

Applicants do not need to be employed by an SPCR member institution at the time of application.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the SPCR team via spcr@keele.ac.uk 

Early Career Researchers

The Primary Care Research Centre supports the development of staff and students at all stages and career pathways, including Early Careers Researchers, who are our future research leaders. ‘PPM CONNECT’ is an umbrella term which brings together several groups within the centre:

Research Fellows 

Support and guidance to research fellows about various aspects related to a career in research. This group is for postdocs and researchers up to level 5.

Leads:


PhD Student Forum

Networking and support for students at the pre-doctoral and doctoral stage.

Leads:


Trial Management Forum

Practical knowledge and support for everyday management of research studies. For trial administrators, trial managers, programme managers, researchers (all levels) and students. Please contact Amy and Leanne at tmforum@soton.ac.uk.

Leads: 

  • Amy Din
  • Leanne Smith


Research Ideas Workshops

Short presentations and discussions about research ideas and grant proposals. For all staff and students.

Leads: 


Seminar Series

Academic presentations to showcase work in progress or completed ideas.

Lead:

GP Academic Clinical Fellows

The Primary Care Research Centre is a world-leading primary care research department and a member of the NIHR School for Primary Care Research. We encourage medical students, clinical trainees and GPs in practice to choose academic primary care as a career option. We highlight opportunities for becoming involved in academic work through presentations to medical students, trainees and GPs about GP academic careers. We hosting medical student research-based study, in depth projects, medical student summer placements, academic foundation year posts, academic clinical fellow posts, clinical lecturer posts and a research apprenticeship scheme for GPs in practice. 

We have a named initial contact for enquires and match those interested in learning more to a mentor who will support them to consider options for becoming involved in primary care research. This may range from coming to see what we do and attending departmental seminars, to involvement in research projects and attending conferences, to applying for substantive funding and developing a tailored research and training programme. Our friendly supportive environment and wealth of primary care research experience and opportunities means that we can foster talent and help build the academic leaders of the future. 

Training lead:


Primary Care Clinicians Career Progression Fellowships — NIHR School for Primary Care Research


Current Academic Clinical Fellows  

  • Dr Alice Maxwell-Smith
  • Dr Kristin Veighey 
  • Dr Maclyn Augustine 

Qualitative Group - Qualitative Expertise in Medicine (QualMED)

QualMED delivers excellent qualitative research and teaching within the Faculty of Medicine. Qualitative research is a central, and growing, strand of research activity in the Faculty of Medicine and beyond. It is frequently embedded in large trials and increasingly features in grant writing. 

Grant selection panels expect evidence of a mixed-method approach to research. We are a multidisciplinary team of experienced qualitative researchers who can provide a different view, knowledge and experience of research. We support high-quality qualitative research through:

  • Grant applications
  • Undertaking and supervising funded qualitative research projects
  • Teaching and supervision of both undergraduate and postgraduate students

We work with QUEST (a University-wide qualitative network), and members of the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM), which provides an excellent forum for qualitative methods knowledge exchange.  

What QualMED can offer

QualMED currently provides teaching for undergraduate (BM5) and postgraduate (MSc Public Health, MSc Allergy) students in the Faculty of Medicine. Our teaching includes introductory sessions on:

  • What qualitative research is
  • Philosophical underpinnings and approaches
  • Data collection methods
  • Sampling
  • Data analysis
  • Ethics and rigour/quality
  • Critical appraisal of qualitative research
  • Qualitative synthesis


QualMED meetings 

QualMED meet regularly as a group which provides opportunities for staff to discuss their qualitative research, explore new approaches and how to optimise quality and impact of the research conducted. The group is open to all qualitative researchers and teachers in the Faculty of Medicine.  

For further information regarding QualMED please contact Geraldine Leydon.

QualMED organising committee: