Academic and Research Careers

Academic careers can include medical education and training, research and clinical work; also managerial and representative roles. Competition for funding and pressure for innovative idea mean that academic medicine holds some uncertainties, but this is balanced by intellectual stimulation, variety and autonomy.

The Foundation Programme includes some Academic Foundation Posts, which are recruited locally within a national timeline. All available posts can be viewed on the UKFPO website, which also has an excellent downloadable resource explaining academic pathways and competencies. In specialty training, integrated academic pathways via Academic Clinical Fellowships or Lectureships offer a training route which combines clinical training with academic research. In Wales, such posts are recruited under the Wales Clinical Academic Track (WCAT) Scheme.

Early and proactive involvement in academic medicine is key to strengthening CV and portfolio evidence for applications in this area, so from medical school onwards you need to build up involvement in teaching, audits, research projects, conferences and postgraduate/intercalated study.

Publications

Useful publications include:

• New academic training pathways for medical and dental graduates: a guide to programs starting on or after 1st August 2007.
  Academic Medicine Pathways

• Medically and dentally qualified academic staff: recommendations for training the researchers and educators of the future.
  Medically and Dentally Academic Staff Report

The BMA also have a handbook for careers in academic medicine, available for members.

Organisations and Information Sources for Academic Medicine

• National Coordinating Centre for Research Capacity Development provides information about recruitment to academic training posts.
• The Academy of Medical Educators is a professional body which also outlines a key set of standards
• Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) and the Junior Association for the Study of Medical Education (JASME) websites have information, events and communities concerned with medical education.
• Academy of Medical Sciences has information about careers in academic medicine and biomedical science, required qualifications and funding sources.
• British Medical Association has a webpage for Medical Academics with information on events, publications and discussion papers.
• UK Clinical Research Collaboration focuses on research careers.
• Association of Medical Research Charities is a membership organisation of medical research charities in the UK, most of whom are key funders

Other Sources

You can also search for academic opportunities on websites such as:

• BMJ Careers - see the careers advice section for a range of discussion and information articles on academic career pathways
• Jobs.ac.uk is a searchable website devoted to advertising academic jobs.
• Wellcome Trust - offer Research Training Fellowships, Intermediate Clinical Fellowships and Senior Research Fellowships