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Academic Recruitment

Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) / Academic Clinical Lecturer (ACL)

Queen’s University Belfast in partnership with the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (Northern Ireland Postgraduate Deanery) and the Health and Social Care Trusts offer a pathway of academic clinical training opportunities in research and education.

Applications are now invited for Academic Clinical Fellows (ACF) and Academic Clinical Lecturers (ACL) at ST3 level or above. These posts offer candidates a comprehensive experience in clinical academic medicine to work alongside internationally recognised clinicians and researchers. We are seeking highly motivated, enthusiastic individuals wishing to excel in both clinical and academic training and who have the ambition to be the next generation of world leading academic clinicians.

Objectives:

  • To obtain core competencies in medicine at ST3 level and above.
  • To undertake a programme in research methodology.
  • To identify an area of clinical interest to base an application for an externally funded PhD programme (ST3 level or above) or develop a post-doctoral research programme

Main Activities and Responsibilities:
This is normally a 2 year full-time training or until completion of specialty training.

The successful applicant will have achieved evidence of clinical academic achievement and ideally have experience of research such as an intercalated BSc.

They should be aiming to pursue a career in academic medicine and to develop a programme of research to apply for a PhD studentship.

ACF posts will be 25% research time depending on the clinical training requirements for the individual trainee.

Research:

The successful candidate will be expected to develop an area of research interest and apply for research training fellowships e.g. to Wellcome ICAT programme, MRC, Northern Ireland HSC R & D Division. This will be in consultation with the Director of the Centre to which the trainee is appointed.

Objectives:

  • To obtain core competencies in clinical training programme at ST3 level and above.
  • To identify an area of clinical interest to base an application for an externally funded fellowship programme (ST3 level or above) or develop a postdoctoral research programme.
  • To undertake postdoctoral research and complete clinical training in academic medicine. For trainees who already have a relevant PhD appointment at ACL will be considered in light of their training needs.

Main Activities and Responsibilities:

This ACL post is normally for 3 years or until completion of specialty training. Successful applicants will be issued with an Academic NTN.

Applicants for an ACL must have a minimum of 12 months remaining from post start date to completion of specialty training.

The successful applicant will have completed a postgraduate research programme. They should be aiming for a career in academic medicine and developing a research application for a Clinician Scientist Training award.

ACL posts will be 50% research time depending on the clinical training requirements for the individual trainee.

Research:

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a programme of post-doctoral research leading to an application for a clinician scientist scheme or equivalent from a major funding body.

You will be aware that the UK is in the process of leaving the European Union. This means freedom of movement will be affected after 31 December 2020. However, the HSC will continue to welcome and value staff and trainees from Europe as it does the whole world.

The UK will have left the European Union on January 31 2021 and we are currently in the transition period until 31 December 2020 during which all EU law will still apply to the UK. EU citizens and their family members will be able to move to the UK until 2021, with the same rights to work and study freely. For EU citizens who live in the UK by 31 December 2020, you are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. All EU citizens who have lived in the UK for more than five years continuously will be eligible for ‘settled status’ (equivalent to indefinite leave to remain). If you have lived in the UK for less than five years you will be eligible for ‘pre-settled status’ and can upgrade this to ‘settled status’ when you have been here for five years. More information on the settlement scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

The UK is introducing a new points based immigration system from 1 January 2021. If you intend to visit work or study in the UK from 1 January 2021 you can find out more information on what you need to do here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-immigration-system-what-you-need-to-know.


Application Access

Applications are now open via the online platform ORIEL

https://www.oriel.nhs.uk/Web

Please note: Closing date for applications is Wednesday 5th March 2025 at 4pm