eMITTEN
East Midlands Paediatric Trainees Website
Academic Training in Nottingham
Academic Consultant Paediatricians and Neonatologists typically split their working hours into clinical time and research time. They are usually employed by a University and hold honorary Consultant Contracts with a NHS trust. They are responsible for leading research teams which may include non clinical staff such as post-doctoral (post PhD) scientists, PhD Students, Research Technicians, and BMedSci students as well as clinical staff which include Clinical Lecturers, Academic Clinical Fellows and Clinical Research Fellows. All these titles can be somewhat confusing and I shall explain their roles later.
The Academic Child Health Department is located mainly on E floor, East block at Queen's Medical Centre next to the Child Health Lecture Theatre. The department consists of a number of offices and laboratories. If you were to join the Academic Department you might perform lab work in these laboratories, or in labs across the way in the main University Campus.
Step One: Deciding if Academic Training is for you...
Academic training will take you longer to get your CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training), as you will require time out of programme to conduct your research. You will see some of your colleagues progress faster up the ST numbers, and might end up working for them as they become Consultants! You will have to complete an academic portfolio as well as a clinical one, and sometimes will have two ARCPs (one clinical and one academic) to do instead of the usual clinical one. Whilst on an academic placement, your pay will drop (as you will not have any banding), though this can usually be made up fairly easily by doing a few locum shifts.
There are many benefits, however. You will have the opportunity to work with Internationally Recognised Academics, and will become involved in research at the cutting edge of science. You will never ever fear the dreaded 'Research' box on application forms again! You will almost certainly get a publication, or two out of it. You will have the opportunity to learn new laboratory skills, as well as learn how to analyse and present your data. You will be taught how to spot 'dodgy' studies, and inappropriate statistical analyses. Your basic hours are nine to five, though there is a lot of flexibility. You typically are not on a rota, so there are no nights or weekends, though you may want to supplement your income with locums. You will meet a wide range of non-clinical lab staff, and be introduced to the Johnson's Arms pub!
You will typically be expected to attend national and international conferences, and present you results. You may find yourself jet setting to all sorts of places with your supervisors. In the last year I have been to Stockholm and Copenhagen, two places I have always wanted to go.
Stage Two: What is available in Nottingham!
Some specialities are catered for in Nottingham and some are not. Current research interests are focussed on the following:
- Neonatology / Perinatal Nutrition / Fetal Programming
- Paediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Paediatric Neurology
- Paediatric Neurooncology
- Paediatric Neurosurgery
- Paediatric Nephrology
Full information on the research groups is available on the Nottingham University School of Clinical Sciences website here. The named research team leaders / supervisors are very approachable and always keen to discuss opportunities for you.
Stage Three: Apply for a job!
If do not already hold a PhD or MD degree, then there are two main jobs to look out for: Clinical Research Fellow and Academic Clinical Fellow.
A Clinical Research Fellow job is usually advertised for 1 year (sometimes extendable to 2 years) and involves specifically researching a topic that is given to you. Therefore the speciality is already chosen, as is your supervisor. You are employed by the University of Nottingham, and have University access to email, journals and courses.
An Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded post that is different from the above. You compete for such jobs with doctors from other specialities. If successful, YOU then choose your speciality from the above, and then discuss which project you would like to do. You could choose your own idea, or be given a topic. ACF posts give you 9 months dedicated research time out of 3 years. This 9 months can be split into one 6 month post and one 3 month post. When you get your research time is up to your Training Programme Director, but is usually negotiable. When not doing the 9 months research time, you do clinical posts, and thus progress up the ST ladder.
These are the first stages of an academic career. To progress further, really you must obtain a funded Training Fellowship from either the Medical Research Council (MRC), Welcome Trust or other body. The data that you collect in the above jobs will enable you to put together (with the help of your supervisors) an application. Competition for these Training Fellowships is fierce, but not at all impossible. A number of Clinical Research Fellows in the Academic Department have recently obtained Training Fellowships.
Obtaining a Research Fellowship pays your basic salary for three years, plus gives your department money for you to conduct your research. During this time you would normally register with the University of Nottingham and complete a PhD in your chosen speciality.
Once you get your PhD you can apply for Clinical Lecturer posts which can then lead onto Associate Professor / Honorary Consultant posts. Further progress leads to becoming a Reader, and then a Professor.
The RCPCH Academic advisor is Dr Helen Budge, who is very keen to discuss any of the above with you.
