There is no single route to becoming a clinical academic: opportunities can and will arise throughout your training, from being part of a research project as a medical student or undertaking an intercalated degree, to holding an NIHR Integrated Academic Training (IAT) programme post.
There are many points in the NIHR IAT programme (see video below) at which you can join. The Specialised Foundation Programme is the earliest stage in the IAT. Many clinicians join the Academic Clinical Fellow scheme, aiming to go on and do a PhD and take up a Clinical Lectureship. There are many other routes into research if you do not hold one of these posts. One example is our NIHR BRC-funded fellow posts, or standalone Clinical Research Fellow posts, which offer opportunities to explore research prior to committing to a further degree.
The most important thing you can do is speak to people about your interest, look for and follow up on opportunities. The SoCATS Committee is happy to help point you in the right direction.
Developing a clinical academic career
Explore our programmes
-
Specialised Foundation ProgrammeThe Specialised Foundation Programme allows 5% of trainee doctors to combine clinical training with research methods training. -
Academic Clinical FellowshipsACFs offer dedicated time to develop academic skills whilst preparing to apply for training fellowships for higher degrees.
