Senior Fellow in Paediatric Research

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Senior Fellow in Paediatric Research

Start Date: September 2026

Contract Type: Part time - Fixed term

Duration: 24 months

Purpose for Fixed Term: Short term funding

This post is appointed on a fixed-term basis for the primary purpose of providing structured training and supervised clinical development. While the postholder will contribute to service delivery, the overarching purpose of the post is to provide defined educational opportunities, supervised clinical practice, and experience aligned to the relevant specialty training curriculum

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

NIHR Funded Project on Ethnicity Data in Childhood Cancer. Hidden disparities: Understanding recording of ethnicity in healthcare data for children with cancer in England.

We are looking for a Paediatric Research Fellow to join our team from September 2026, contributing to a national NIHR funded project Hidden Disparities – Understanding Recording of Ethnicity in Healthcare Data for Children with Cancer in England. The study aims to improve how ethnicity data is collected and understood for children with cancer across England. This role will be working one day a week for 24 months.

This role is ideal for someone who brings both quantitative and qualitative research skills, strong analytical/data science skills, experience working with children and young people and a genuine commitment to health equity. You will be part of a supportive and collaborative research team from across England with expertise in paediatric oncology, statistics, epidemiology and health psychology. Your work will have national impact – directly shaping how childhood cancer services record and use ethnicity data. The role offers an exceptional opportunity to develop your research portfolio and build networks that may support progression to a higher degree.

There will not be a clinical component attached to this role and candidates will be expected to obtain appropriate approval from their Training Programme Directors or equivalent.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS

is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Working As Part Of The Hidden Disparities Team

• Lead the development and submission of the project’s ethics application and ensuring ongoing ethical compliance throughout the study
• Lead day to day delivery of both work packages including data collection, analysis, and participant recruitment alongside the Hidden Disparities Qualitative Research Fellow
• Work closely with multiple children’s cancer centres across England to support the identification and recruitment of eligible participants for the study
• Contribute to qualitative interviews and focus groups with patients, parents and healthcare professionals.

Prepare high quality written outputs including reports, manuscripts and conference abstracts.

Contribute to co production workshops with children, young people, and families.

Present findings to academic, clinical and patient facing audiences.

Uphold the highest standards of ethical research, safeguarding and cultural sensitivity.

For an overview of the position, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification document. This includes a detailed breakdown of the key responsibilities, role expectations, and the qualifications we are looking for. It outlines the essential criteria for the role and is designed to support you in preparing your application by helping you evaluate how your skills, experience, and professional background align with the requirements of the role.

Additional Information

Appointment will be made under local contractual terms and conditions of service for Trust appointed fellow doctors and dentists. Applicants requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship should ensure they meet the Home Office application criteria prior to submitting an application.

Successful candidates will have an educational framework equivalent to training grade doctors, and there will be a named educational supervisor assigned at the start of the post. The opportunity for Continued Professional Development (CPD) is highly supported and encouraged by the Trust, with options available to take study leave.

Grades for Trust appointed fellows will be paid a basic salary at a nodal pay point linked to the grade, at the rate set out in the National Medical and Dental pay circular. Basic salary plus any additional remuneration (as applicable) for hours set out in the doctors work schedule (e.g. additional hours, weekend allowance, and any hours which attract enhanced pay)

Salary will be assessed based on experience and skills. Eligibility criteria for appointment to a Nodal Point 5;

• Have a minimum of 6 years of Specialty training

Hold relevant higher specialty exam (e.g FRCP, FRCA, FRCS)

A portfolio of evidence that demonstrates they meet the criteria for progression (in line with the Curriculum for the speciality similar to deanery trainee)

Proposed interview date: 11th May 2026

This vacancy closes on or before: 26th April 2026

Person specification

Qualifications, Training & Experience

Essential criteria

• GMC registration with a licence to practise
• Experience working in paediatric oncology
• Good Clinical Practice
• Appropriate knowledge base, and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience handling large datasets
• NHS Experience
• Experience of using NViVo for qualitative data analysis
• Publication record in health research or related field
• Experience of work related to ethnicity, culture, identity, health beliefs, communication and healthcare experiences
• Experience and competence in quantitative health data analysis
• Experience working with ethnically diverse or underrepresented communities
• Experience working with interpreters
  
  

Aptitudes and skills

Essential criteria

• Evidence and ability to work effectively and independently in multi-professional teams, with a positive attitude to colleagues and students
• Understanding of equality and diversity and how this affects patients, visitors and staff
• Demonstrates the ability to understand complex problems, applying expertise to resolve them and adapting existing methods with originality to deliver effective solutions.
• Ability to follow ethical research guidelines when working with vulnerable populations, such as children and seriously ill patients, while engaging with ethnically diverse communities in a respectful and inclusive manner.
• Ability to effectively contribute to management and administrative processes

Evidence and ability to communicate and liaise effectively with patients and colleagues (verbal and written communication and listening skills in English).

General IT literacy skills, particularly Excel

General knowledge of research Governance

Understanding of relevant Health & Safety issues

To be available to participate in fieldwork as required by the specified research project.

The post will involve travelling to other sites in the UK.

The post holder will be expected to attend and present at conferences, research meetings, seminars and training

Desirable criteria

• Ability to translate a strategic overview into operational plans
• Ability to develop original techniques/methods
• Ability to supervise work of junior research staff, delegating effectively
• Presentation record at regional and/or national meetings/conferences
  
  

Living Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together