Clinical Doctoral Fellowship in Integrated Physical Health Services for Older Adults
A prestigious NIHR-funded PhD opportunity for clinical professionals to co-develop and evaluate innovative health services for older adults with complex mental health needs.
Best for:Best for fully qualified clinical professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or allied health professionals) with a passion for translational research and a commitment to improving care for older adults through integrated health services.
Overview
This Clinical Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Leeds offers a fully funded PhD opportunity for experienced clinical professionals—doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or allied health professionals—to advance research in integrated care for older adults. Based at the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences and Bradford Royal Infirmary, the role focuses on co-designing and assessing a unified physical health service for older patients with complex mental health challenges. The fellowship aligns with NHS policy priorities, including the Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework, and provides tailored doctoral training alongside clinical research. Successful candidates will collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment, contributing to cutting-edge health policy and practice while pursuing a clinical academic career.
What you'll do
- Co-develop and evaluate an integrated physical health service for older adults with complex mental health problems across inpatient and community settings.
- Conduct innovative clinical research aligned with NHS 10-Year Plan priorities, including the Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework.
- Develop a bespoke doctoral training plan in collaboration with supervisors and institutional resources to meet individual career goals.
- Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with a vibrant cohort of PhD students and healthcare professionals.
- Contribute to policy and practice improvements in healthcare delivery for older adults with complex needs.
- Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present research at national/international conferences.
- Participate in clinical training and professional development opportunities to advance clinical academic career trajectory.
Requirements
Degree required: Fully qualified clinical professional with a pre-CCT (Postgraduate Certificate in Training) qualification in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, or allied health professions (e.g. physiotherapy, occupational therapy).
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; proficiency sufficient for academic research and clinical practice (no formal test specified).
Instruction: English
- Proven experience in clinical practice with older adults or complex mental health populations.
- Strong commitment to clinical research and academic career progression.
- Ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary research environments.
- Experience with co-design methodologies or service evaluation preferred.
- Familiarity with NHS policy frameworks and healthcare service improvement initiatives.
- Must be a fully qualified clinical professional (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or allied health professional).
- No specific nationality restrictions, but visa sponsorship may apply under Skilled Worker or Global Talent routes.
- No age restrictions, but experience in clinical practice is mandatory.
- No prior PhD required (PhD will be awarded upon completion of fellowship).
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-19
Applicants must submit their CV, cover letter, and a research proposal outlining their approach to the fellowship project via the University of Leeds job portal. Three academic references are also required. Further details and the application form are available on the University’s job website.
- CV
- Cover letter
- Research proposal (describing approach to the fellowship project)
- Three academic reference letters
Contact
Dr Lucy Beishon· Lead Supervisor
Create a free profile to unlock your personal match score, the full requirements, funding details and how to apply — in English or Persian.