About the Nuffield Medical Fellowship

This Fellowship programme allows the Fellow to develop their career towards becoming a world-leading authority in their research area, while advancing biomedical knowledge for the benefit of human physical or mental health.

The template Job Description for the Fellows is available. When the successful applicants have been verbally offered and accepted a Fellowship, their host department will develop the template into a full Job Description that is specific to the Fellow's research area and responsibilities. The Fellow's employment contract (and UK visa application, if required) will be based on this final full Job Description.

Key responsibilities of the Fellows will be:

Carry out collaborative projects with colleagues at their partner institutions in Commonwealth countries outside the UK
Develop new avenues of research, concepts and ideas to extend intellectual understanding
Establish a substantial, externally funded research group and secure significant long-term funding for research which will fully support the work of the group.
Maintain a successful publication record (appropriate to the stage of career, and accounting for career breaks) and disseminate your group's research through participation in international conferences and seminars, and other media.
Provide academic supervision for post-graduate research students appointed through the Fellowship.
Engage in activities to enable your research to have a wide impact, for example by participating in and supporting public engagement and widening access activities
Embed the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work and interactions with colleagues

Reporting and monitoring

In the first three years of the Fellowship, Fellows will be asked to complete a short annual progress report for the Trustees. Fellows will receive a request to complete this reporting on or around the anniversary of their Fellowship start date, with a deadline approximately four weeks later. Fellows can request to defer reporting if they are on long-term leave from the Fellowship.

During the course of year 4, the Fellow's progress will be reviewed with the host department and the Nuffield Medical Trustees. At the Year 4 Review, Fellows will have the option to request an extension of their Fellowship up to a maximum of 8 years.

Benefits of working for the University of Oxford

Nuffield Medical Fellows will be full employees of the University of Oxford. People are the foundation of the University’s success and we are committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining the highest calibre of staff. A range of benefits is available to all staff for both work and personal life. For more information see the University's HR webpages.

Additional support and resources for mentoring, accessing networks and training are available through the Medical Sciences Division and through the Fellow's host department.

The following are essential for all applicants, and are outlined in the Fellows' template Job Description:

A relevant PhD/DPhil, or equivalent research qualification, or post-graduate medical degree (M.D.) with significant post qualification research experience
An existing collaboration with a partner institution in a Commonwealth country outside the UK that will be utilised during the Fellowship, or a demonstrable commitment as part of this fellowship to establish such a collaboration.
Demonstrated ability in leading an independent programme of research, with evidence of independent thought leadership in developing your own research ideas and setting strategic direction.
A track record of securing and managing external research funding, including as Principal Investigator.
Evidence of making important contributions to their area of research demonstrated through, for example, first or senior author publications, patents or impacts on health practice or policy.
Presentation of a clear and compelling research vision that fits strategically with the research of a Department in the Medical Sciences Division.
Understanding of the University’s obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty, and a commitment to promoting a positive research culture and demonstrating respect, courtesy and consideration in interactions with members of the University community.
Experience of effective line management and/or supervising graduate students.

Essential for Clinical applicants only:

Full and specialist registration (and with a license to practice) with the General Medical Council or to be eligible for registration within 6 months of interview. For applicants who currently practise outside the UK it is anticipated that GMC registration and entry on the Specialist Register can be established after the applicant has been offered the position.
If appointed to a clinical post it must be held in conjunction with an honorary (non- stipendiary) contract with the relevant NHS Trust.
Hold a certificate of completion of training (CCT). If the applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
Evidence of English language proficiency may be required in order to apply for a GMC number/license to practise in the UK. Please refer to the GMC website for guidance

Fellowships will be awarded for five years in the first instance. Progress will be reviewed with the host department and the Nuffield Medical Trustees during year 4 of the Fellowship. At this review Fellows will have the option to request an extension of their Fellowship up to a maximum of 8 years.

When applying for a Fellowship, applicants should submit a research proposal with a five-year timeline.

Fellows are expected to be predominantly based in Oxford for the duration of their Fellowship. Fellows may undertake elements of their work in other countries or with their Commonwealth collaborators where appropriate.

Flexible working will be supported for Fellows to undertake the Fellowship at a minimum 0.8 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE). The Fellowship duration will be extended accordingly for Fellows wishing to work < 1 FTE, e.g. 0.8 FTE for 6.25 years, instead of 1 FTE over 5 years.

The Nuffield Medical Fellowship will allow Fellows protected time to concentrate fully on their research. Fellows are expected to spend 100% of their research time on their Fellowship (includes all activities associated with the Fellowship) but may spend up to 8 hours per week on other activities (e.g. clinical commitments, teaching, etc.) provided that the activity enhances the Fellow’s career development.

Oxford offers many opportunities for professional development in research and teaching. Nuffield Medical Fellows may apply for the title of Associate Professor or full Professor through the annual Recognition of Distinction exercises. If the title of full Professor is conferred, you will have access to professorial merit pay opportunities. Clinical Fellows may be eligible to apply for NHS Clinical Impact Award or the appropriate equivalent.

The Nuffield Medical Fellowship will cover the full salary of the Fellow for the duration of the award. The Fellows will be employees of the University of Oxford, and their salary will align with the appropriate University of Oxford pay scales for non-clinical and clinical (consultant) researchers.

The Fellowship will also fund a generous package of research expenses including, but not limited to, research assistant salaries, postgraduate (DPhil) studentships, consumables, equipment, facilities access charges, visa and relocation costs, training, travel and conference attendance. The Fellowship will also provide departmental overheads at 80% of the Full Economic Cost (FEC) of the research programme.

The maximum funding available to each Fellow is approximately £500,000 per year of direct costs (including the Fellow's salary but excluding overheads), plus an annual inflationary measure. The funding distribution may vary across the years, but is expected to average £500,000 per year over the course of the Fellowship.

There is flexibility to reallocate budget between cost categories to meet the evolving needs of the Fellowship programme, provided that the original research objectives of the Fellowship remain unchanged. If a Fellow wishes to significantly revise their vision for the Fellowship, this must be reviewed and approved by the Trustees and department during the annual review process.

If a Fellow has previous research grants that will be ongoing at the time of starting the Fellowship, their host department can support with transferring these grants to Oxford wherever possible and appropriate.

Fellows are expected to apply for additional external funding to expand their research programme at Oxford during the course of the Fellowship.

A sample list of approximate costs for staff and students at the University of Oxford has been prepared for reference.

At Stage 1 of the application process, applicants are not required to prepare a costing. However they should refer to this list of costs when developing their research vision for the Fellowship, to inform the scale of what will be affordable under the Fellowship within £500,000 per year of direct costs.
At Stage 2 of the application process, the applicant's host department will support them to develop a detailed costing for the first five years of the Fellowship.

Additional information on some categories of direct costs is below. If you have questions about the eligibility of specific costs, please refer to the FAQs on the Homepage in the first instance. To seek additional information please contact nuffieldmedicalfellowships@medsci.ox.ac.uk.

Nuffield Medical Fellow’s salary

The salary package will cover basic pay, the University's contributions to tax and pension as the employer, the UK Apprenticeship Levy, annual incremental pay progression (if applicable), and any locally recognised allowances including Oxford University weighting. See the sample list of approximate costs for staff and students linked above for details of Fellows' salary.

Visa/work permit costs

The cost of visa application and work permits required for the Fellow to take up their post at the University of Oxford can be requested as part of Year 1 costs of the Fellowship. Costs associated with visas for the Fellow’s partner and dependent children (if they will be in the UK for more than 6 months) and the Immigration Health Surcharge may also be requested.

If a Fellow wishes to recruit staff from overseas whose salaries will be funded by their Fellowship, they can include visa or work permit costs for these staff to enable them take up their post in Oxford.

Relocation

Costs associated with the Fellow's relocation to Oxford may be requested in-line with University policy for new starters, as part of Year 1 costs of the Fellowship. Expenses can include removal of household effects (non-work related), travelling expenses and professional expenses (such as the sale or purchase of a property).

Salary costs for support staff

Fellows can ask for full salary costs for staff to support them in completing their Fellowship project. Staff members will typically be research assistants or technicians, however administrative or project management staff will also be considered. Staff salaries can be funded in collaborating partners (within or outside the Commonwealth partner institution) where this is essential to deliver the research programme. See the sample list of approximate costs for staff and students linked above for details of salaries for support staff who are based in Oxford.

PhD studentships

Postgraduate student costs (including course fees, College fees and stipend) can be requested for up to two students to complete an Oxford DPhil project lasting three years. See the sample list of approximate costs for staff and students linked above for details of estimated costs of DPhil studentships in Oxford

Studentships will start in October (start of the University academic year) and must be planned to complete within the initial 5 year term of the Fellowship.
If the Fellow successfully applies in Year 4 to extend their Fellowship to 8 years, they may request an additional one or two studentships provided that the students can complete a 3-year project before the end of the extended Fellowship.

Travel

Costs associated with travel and subsistence may be requested where they are related to delivering the goals of the Fellowship, e.g. visits to collaborators, meeting or conference attendance, etc. for the Fellow and their team.

Fellows are expected to be based in or around Oxford for the duration of the Fellowship. Costs for commuting or travel that is not essential for delivery of the Fellowship cannot be funded.

Disability-related adjustment support

If the Fellow or a member of staff working on the Fellowship is disabled or has a long-term health condition, they can ask for costs related to reasonable adjustments to carry out the project.

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