Liverpool Clinical PhD Fellow - Health Priorities in the Global South (4 posts)

Liverpool Clinical PhD Fellow – Health Priorities in the Global South (4 posts)

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Experienced Global Health Research Programme Coordinator

Role overview

The clinical PhD fellowships are designed for clinical researchers (i.e. doctors, midwives, nurses, public health, other allied health professionals and veterinarians) across multiple scientific disciplines, who intend to become clinical academics. The scheme is specifically focused on Health Priorities in the Global South and individuals who wish to pursue an academic career in this field. Projects should focus on human health relevant to the global south. Veterinary projects must have a strong One Health focus.

The scheme is intended for clinicians in the early part of their academic career and the salaries available reflect this. Veterinary applicants will be encouraged to enrol with a specialist college. The posts are full time research, although a portion of time may be spent on clinical activities if needed for regulatory or other justifiable reasons. It is expected that the PhD project will take place in a Low- and Middle-Income Country setting, with the fellow resident at the study site for a significant proportion of time. If personal circumstances prevent long term residence overseas, shorter periods of time spent overseas can be considered if a compelling case can be made to show how academic and training objectives can be met.

At the end of the fellowship the successful candidates will possess a PhD awarded by either University of Liverpool or Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and relevant training and skills to pursue academic independence through post-doctoral fellowship applications or other equivalent funding.

Applicants must have a UK clinical licence to practice. Due to terms set out by the ultimate funder, we cannot accept applications from candidates not licensed to practice in the UK. Registration with the relevant UK college or council must be evidenced at the point of application. Applicants must not already be registered as a PhD student.

All applicants must submit a 500-word concept note outlining a well-conceived project and will be expected to demonstrate strong academic potential and a clear interest in health problems in the Global South as well as a desire to pursue these in their future career. Applicants must also demonstrate a clear Liverpool link and have identified suitable supervisor(s) at either UoL or LSTM, as well as at an overseas institute. A list of suggested primary supervisors is provided on the website, but applicants are free to approach any suitable supervisors at either institution. Shortlisting will assess candidates on academic potential, demonstrable interest in health problems of the Global South, stage of training and skills development, suitability and novelty of the proposed topic of the PhD and arrangements for supervision.

Application process

First stage application

Candidates will initially apply via a Google Forms application found on the LCGHR website (Google account required). Liverpool Clinical PhD Programme (LCPP) | Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences | University of Liverpool

The application must identify your proposed supervisors, and the overseas institute where you will be based. The application will request that you upload a 500-word concept note*, a CV, a cover letter, and letters of support from your Primary Supervisor in Liverpool as well as your in-country supervisor (if different). All documents must be included with your application to be considered for shortlisting. *Project titles, supervisor names and references are not included in the word count of the concept note, and you may include one figure.

Letters of support should be no more than 1 page and should include details of how your supervisors plan to support you and what resources and infrastructure will be available to ensure you have the correct environment to thrive.

Your cover letter should be no more than 2 pages and must address how you meet the attributes listed in the Person Specification on Pages 9 & 10, and include a short statement on why you feel you are a good fit for the fellowship.

This application will also confidentially capture EDI data as requested by Wellcome Trust which will only be visible to the Research Programme Coordinator; specifically; the demographic information of (1) fellows who apply to the PhD Programme, and (2) those who are successful, including: university attended for undergraduate degree, gender, age, race and ethnicity, socio-economic status, and health professional specialty. You can read Wellcome’s Diversity, equity and Inclusion strategy here.

Second stage application

If successfully shortlisted, candidates are then invited to develop their application more fully with the support of their supervisors over the next ten weeks, typically using the standard Wellcome fellowship application template. Candidates will also need to cost up their £110k research budget with the help of the LCGHR Research Programme Coordinator. Candidates should expect to submit their proposals four weeks before interview for scoring. Proposal scores and interview scores will be combined to give a mean score which will determine candidate selection. Feedback is not automatically given to applicants who do not progress past first stage application but may be given on request.

Proposed Timeline (actual dates may vary)

• First-stage applications open: w/c 1st September 2025

11 weeks to develop 500-word concept note and cue up Liverpool and in-country supervisors

• Deadline for first-stage applications: 14th November 2025

• Shortlisted applicants notified by: 28th November 2025

11 weeks to develop project into full proposal and budget with help of LCGHR team and Supervisor(s)

• Deadline for submitting full proposal & budget: 16th February 2026

4-week interlude for panel review

• Successful candidates notified no more than 2 weeks after interview

• Fellowships commence from Sept 2026 for the 26/27 academic year.

Medical entry point

Medical graduates must have General Medical Council registration and have passed the relevant specialty exam, e.g. MRCP, MRCS, MRCOphth/FRCOphth Part 1, MRCPsych, MRCOG Part 1, MRCPCH, FRCA Part 1. GPs are advised to contact the office to clarify their eligibility. It is anticipated that most applicants will have already commenced their specialist training, but this is not essential.

Applicants should have at least two years post-graduate experience and must not already be on the GP or Specialist register. The most appropriate stage of clinical training for UK applicants to enter the programme is between the end of ST3 (or completion of the third year of an academic clinical fellowship) and the end of ST5.

The earliest stage of clinical training acceptable for entry to the programme is completion of ST1 (or the first year of an ACF). The latest stage of clinical training acceptable for the programme will be 6-months before the projected award of a Certificate of Completion of Training. Medical appointments will be made according to the University’s standard clinical pay scale.

General practitioners who have recently (usually within two years) completed training can be considered, but would be subject to a salary cap.

Nursing/midwifery/health professionals entry point

Midwives and Nurses must have current registration with the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council, and a minimum of 2 years full time post-registration experience (or equivalent part-time) is desirable. A relevant Master’s degree would be advantageous. However, candidates with a first class or upper second-class honours degree will be considered if they can demonstrate research experience.

Other allied health professionals and clinical professionals must hold their relevant professional licence and will be assessed on criteria similar to midwives and nurses.

Veterinary entry point

Veterinary graduates must be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Ideally applicants should have at least 2 years post graduate (clinical, research or other relevant) experience. However, individuals about to graduate will be considered if they can demonstrate skills and experience beyond their undergraduate veterinary degree e.g. prior work in a LMIC setting, additional degree qualifications. Veterinary graduates are advised to contact the office to clarify their eligibility.

It would be advantageous to have demonstrated some undergraduate (e.g. through intercalation, vacation research projects or being involved in research publication) or post graduate research experience. Veterinary appointments will be made according to standard (non-clinical) University pay scales.

Postgraduate research study On commencing a 3-year post; fellows will begin a PhD study in their chosen clinical and academic specialisation, addressing a research question of relevance to health needs in the Global South. It is expected that the successful candidates will undertake training appropriate to the post, with a focus on this activity in low- or middle-income country (LMIC) settings. Candidates will be appointed as staff first, and will then register their PhD at either University of Liverpool or Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Overseas posting

It is a requirement of the programme that part of this research is conducted overseas, in an appropriate LMIC. Candidates are encouraged to reside in the research site, with appropriate overseas allowances paid to support this. However extended periods of residence overseas may be unsuitable for some individuals and fellowships with shorter periods of time spent overseas can be considered. Individual cases should be discussed early to see if they would fulfil training requirements.

The Liverpool Clinical PhD Programme has strong links with many potential overseas research sites, in particular the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme (MLW) in Malawi (https://www.mlw.mw/)

• Seniority level: Internship
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Health Care Provider
• Industries: Higher Education

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