Opportunities

The School has several funding opportunities for those who want to start or continue their career in primary care research. Currently the School holds annual competitions for post-doctoral Fellowships, PhD Studentships and General Practice Career Progression Fellowships. Positions can be based at any of the 9 School members. See further details here

SPCR PhD Studentships

Each year for the five years of the SPCR (2021-26), QMUL has allocated funding to support one studentship. These Studentships offer traditional project-specific training in areas of particular importance to primary care and are awarded to applicants from diverse academic backgrounds including e.g., medical statistics, social sciences, health economics, and health psychology. 

Wellcome-funded PhD Programme for Primary Care

QMUL leads the Wellcome-funded PhD Programme for Primary Care Clinicians. We build upon the success of the last Wellcome-funded flagship programme which supported 5 years of enrolment from 2017-2021. The scheme is aimed at supporting the most promising medically qualified clinicians who wish to undertake rigorous research training, leading to the award of a PhD. 

SPCR Postdoctoral Fellowships

Each year for the five years of the SPCR (2021-26), QMUL can put forward candidates for these Postdoctoral Fellowships. Candidates enter into a competitive process with those put forwards from the other eight members of the School. These awards cover a 24 months fellowship period. Applicants must have a strong academic record and want to develop in their careers in primary care research. The fellowship offers scope for career progression by providing the opportunity to: design an independent research project, conduct the research, analyse data, publish the results and prepare for grant applications to secure future funding. Allied health professional staff are encouraged to apply.  This competition takes place twice yearly, with application deadlines in April and October.

SPCR Primary Care Clinicians Career Progression Fellowship

Each year for the five years of the SPCR (2021-26), QMUL can put forward candidates for these Primary Care Clinicians Career Progression Fellowships. Candidates enter into a competitive process with those put forward from the other eight members of the School. These awards cover a 12 month fellowship period. It is anticipated that these awards are taken as 0.5 FTE to allow clinical work to continue. They will be available to take up from August onwards.  

SPCR Annual Internship

Each year for the five years of the SPCR (2021-26) QMUL has funding to support internships for undergraduate students. Students from a number of disciplinary backgrounds are able to apply as long as they can demonstrate an interest in primary care research. These are short term internships over the summer months. They normally comprise of a particular piece of work that academics or practitioners have designed which take place in a research environment. 

Seedcorn bridging award

This award is provided every year and can be used to support researchers from any professional background for short periods of time, usually up to a maximum 1-year duration, while they develop applications for national training awards or external grant funding. Recipients should use the funded time to focus on their career development, building networks and working with local supervisory teams/mentors. 

The Seedcorn Bridging award for 2023 is now closed. Applicants need apply by early January 2024.   Please request information for next year's intake from Juliet.henderson@qmul.ac.uk 

The amount available is £10,000 for a seed corn awardee and £10,000 for a bridging awardee each year.