The purpose of these visiting positions is to help individuals prepare for funding applications to pursue postdoctoral or doctoral research at the Primary Care Unit, University of Cambridge. Candidates can have a clinical or a non-clinical background.

What is a visiting position?

The visiting studentship may last up to 6 months; the visiting researcher position may last for up to one year. The position is unpaid.

The visiting researcher/student will be offered regular in-person or phone supervision within one of the research groups within the Primary Care Unit. Through this, they will be supported in conducting preparatory work for funding applications, such as literature review, and identifying potential research questions, relevant methods and sources of data.

Support will also be offered in identifying the most appropriate supervisory team and funders for a research project on the chosen topic.

What is the purpose of a visiting position?

These are visiting posts where the candidates would not need to be based in Cambridge, and are intended solely to support the candidates’ own careers rather than to do work for the University. Selected candidates will then be supported in submitting the paperwork for a visiting post in the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, within which the Primary Care Unit sits, though this application will then be subject to Departmental approval. Posts are subject to a match between the applicants and a Primary Care Unit research group and to capacity.

Who can apply?

For postdoctoral researchers: Candidates are expected to have excellent grades in their undergraduate and Masters degrees. Candidates should have completed or be shortly about to complete their PhD. Evidence of publication or conference presentation is desirable but not essential. Other evidence of academic or clinical accomplishment for career stage will also be warmly considered.

For predoctoral researchers: Candidates are expected to have a good first undergraduate degree in any subject relevant to the study of primary care and/or population health. This may include, but is certainly not limited to: medicine, science, nursing, psychology, mathematics, economics, social science or social work. It is desirable that candidates either have a Masters degree or are in the process of completing a Masters degree or in a relevant subject.

As well as academic excellence for career stage, the expressions of interest will be evaluated on their fit with one of the research groups at the Primary Care Unit, to facilitate effective mentoring by that group. Details about the different research groups in the Primary Care Unit can be found on our website: https://www.phpc.cam.ac.uk/pcu/

Individuals interested in a visiting studentship but without a Masters degree are welcome to still submit an application.

If a successful applicant is in paid employment, they will need to make their own arrangements with their employer for time to visit Cambridge for supervision, whether through study leave, annual leave or other arrangements.

What about funding?

There are some funding schemes available to support completion of a Masters in the Primary Care Unit e.g. the NIHR Pre-Doctoral Fellowship  (non-clinical), HEE/NIHR Pre-doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship, or NIHR In-Practice Fellowships (clinical, GP). These schemes offer paid time for clinicians or non-clinicians to prepare for future doctoral study, including undertaking an MPhil.

Making an application

To submit your expression of interest please e-mail pcupa@medschl.cam.ac.uk with the subject-line ‘PCU Visiting Position Application’.

With your e-mail please attach:

(i) A letter (no more than 400 words) outlining your central research interests, your fit with one or more of the Primary Care Unit research groups, and your longer-term ambitions/plans;

ii) Your CV, stating your contact details, qualifications and grades, employment and your citizenship.

iii) Details of two professional referees, to be contacted if you are selected for interview.

Interviews will be held periodically.

In-person supervision provided for visiting students and visiting researchers will be at the Primary Care Unit, Strangeways Research Laboratory or Cambridge Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge.