Deadline: 11/07/24
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is launching the 4th round of the Population Health Career Scientist Awards (PHCSA), funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
The NIHR PHCSA is a UK-wide initiative that wishes to develop and enhance research expertise in the most important areas affecting population health by supporting the next generation of independent public health research leaders. The initiative will support independent researchers who are emerging as future leaders in research focused on the wider determinants of health.
The PHCSA will support senior researchers to make the next step to Reader/Professor level in their host institutions within the NIHR’s remit. There is a desire to attract applicants representing the wide range of disciplines which undertake research in areas which impact the determinants of health.
Aim and Scope
- They wish to support and develop the next generation of public health research leaders in order to strengthen capacity in areas of strategic focus, in particular the wider determinants of health. While the aim of the PHCSA will build on previous similar initiatives such as the Public Health Career Scientist Award that supported the transition of senior researchers to Reader/Professor level and complements the NIHR advanced fellowships which provide a vehicle for researchers to transition between career stages, there is also a desire to attract researchers from outside the disciplines more usually associated with public health research to include the wide range of disciplines which undertake research in areas which impact the determinants of health, for example:
- environmental science
- mathematics
- architecture
- engineering
- geography
- education
- social sciences
- social policy
- arts
What will the PHCSA support?
- To ensure that NIHR research takes place in the areas and communities of greatest need, it is anticipated that a range of applications will be funded across the UK including in institutions that have not yet established an international reputation for public health research but are based in areas where the need to develop capacity and capability is very apparent. Similarly, they are very keen to encourage applications from non-traditional public health disciplines, particularly where existing strong collaborations with more traditional disciplines can be evidenced. However, the primary drivers of funding these awards will be the quality of applicants and the ability to demonstrate the importance and relevance of the proposed research.
- Each PHCSA will be for a period of 5 years (full-time equivalent) and will provide funding to cover salary and research expenses.
- It is envisaged that the scheme will be run over subsequent fellowship rounds (next call likely April 2025) to achieve a cohort of leaders in population health research encompassing both geographical and/or theme coverage. All award-holders would be expected to participate in NIHR Academy activities as part of the wider ‘family’ of personal award-holders.
Eligibility Criteria
- The PHCSA is a UK-wide initiative open to applicants from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The term ‘local authority’ has been used consistently as ‘shorthand’ in this document to mean local government organisations and equivalent structures throughout the UK that plan and commission services to improve population health both directly and indirectly.
- Individual applicants will need to be based in an eligible Higher Education Institution (HEI) or equivalent in the UK and will be expected to have explicit support from their host organisations over the duration of the award either in the form of funding or resources ‘in kind’ (e.g. research assistant support/PhD students to the Fellow if successful). Once available, please read the guidance notes for further information on how to apply.
- Candidates are expected to either be starting to establish themselves as an independent researcher in a public health or non-traditional public health discipline, or are already established as an independent researcher but are not yet recognised as an international leader in their field. Due allowance will be given to those whose career has been affected by either a late start or interruption for personal or family reasons, including the pandemic. Standard NIHR eligibility criteria apply.
- Applicants should have a track record of holding research funding and be able to show they have made important contributions in their area of research. They should also be able to demonstrate the commitment to work in partnership with local authorities to develop a research culture and a willingness to develop and mentor less research-active individuals.
For more information, visit NIHR.