NMAHP Researcher Development Institute (RDI) Research Internship Opportunity

NMAHP Researcher Development Institute (RDI) Research Internship Application

• Are you interested in finding out more about how Research influences your practice?

• Are you a Nurse, Midwife of Allied Health Professional (NMAHP) working at band 5-8a?
  
• Or Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technician or Healthcare Scientist whose project idea aligns with the BRC’s eight themes

• Do you have questions about practice in your area that you could turn into a project leading to improved patient care, increased knowledge and/or innovation in your area?

• Would you like to learn more about Clinical Academic Careers or opportunities to work within Clinical Research?

Did you answer yes to any of the questions above? Then the NMAHP RDI Research Internship Scheme may be for you!

Newcastle’s Research Internship scheme has been successfully contributing to a positive culture of research by supporting NMAHPs to develop their research awareness and critical thinking through an innovative 6-month development programme.

About the internships

This year we are delighted to offer three different internship options:

1. Own Project. Funded by the Researcher Development Institute (RDI), this is an opportunity to undertake your own project, using our established stream from charitable funds for Nurses, Midwives and AHPs in bands 5-8a.

Please contact [email protected] for more information

2. Obstetric Sonographer. We are delighted to offer the opportunity for an experienced obstetric sonographer from any professional background, funded by the Researcher Development Institute (RDI). The successful applicant will join the well-established Reproductive Health and Neonatal Research Delivery team as an intern, and will be provided with opportunities to develop clinical research delivery skills and an understanding of research governance and research processes.

As an intern you will be fully supported by the team with mentorship provided to conduct a project aligned with local priorities. Submission of individual project ideas is strongly encouraged but not essential for application.

For application enquiries including suggestions for projects, please contact [email protected] or [email protected] for any general advice on the internship.

3. BRC Funded. A unique BRC funded stream, open to Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Healthcare Scientists, as well as NMAHPs, working at band 5-8a. To apply for this funding your research project must align with any one of the BRC’s eight themes.

Please contact [email protected] for more information and guidance on the BRC themes, or [email protected] for any general advice on the internship.

What does the research internship entail?

Regardless of which internship you apply for, the programme funds one day per week over a 6-month period to make space for you to undertake a work-based research project in your clinical area.

This includes a short placement within the Directorate of Clinical Research, where you will shadow staff who provide research opportunities to patients and care for them during participation in a range of clinical trials and research studies.

You will have the opportunity to benefit from a range of internal and regional research training and learning opportunities including Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training and the opportunity to shadow an NHS REC committee.

Following feedback from our RDI fellows, from September 2024, we are now able to offer a small £1k pot of funding, in addition to the salary backfill.

This pot will fund activities in support of your project or your research related development during the fellowship. This might include, but not limited to, patient and public engagement expenses, training courses or conferences.

Please use the ‘project costs expenses for RDI fellowships’ excel calculator and supply this with your application if you plan to use this fund. This funding is subject to discussion and agreement.

The remaining time will be spent undertaking a project, either of your choosing in your own clinical area OR one of our themed projects, including those specific to BRC and Obstetric Ultrasound using research methodologies.

You will be supported by an identified research mentor and buddied up with a previous intern to support you through the programme. You will have access to regular meetings with your intern peers facilitated by the Trust Lead for NMAHP Research.

You will also have the opportunity to share your progress, results, and experiences of participating in the programme.

In addition to your own project-specific opportunities, you will have access to the following generic learning opportunities and training:

• Information about the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR) and the NHS research landscape including clinical academic pathways and research delivery careers.
• Working within a partner organisation in the Newcastle Health Innovation Partners (NHIP) Academy there will be access to a range of other opportunities.
• Mentoring from a dedicated research active clinician to enable you to build networks, draw on perspectives beyond your team and plan for your future career.
• Introductions to a range of resources available to support research including accessing local and regional training opportunities.
• Peer support through participation at regular Internship meetings to discuss progress and experiences.

What we would like to see from you in return:

• Attendance at support meetings and engaging with your Mentor and buddy.
• Acting as a role model and championing research within your clinical environment
• Developing a plan for your next steps; whether that is formal education, exploring options to apply to research fellowships or funding applications, interest in a clinical research delivery career, or simply being able to influence research knowledge and awareness within your clinical area by acting as a champion for research.
• A written report (in the style of a journal article) and/or poster presentation and abstract submission to a relevant conference to enable you to share the progress and outputs of the internship (to be agreed with your Mentor). This will also enhance your academic writing skills and confidence in presenting.
• Depending on the internship, opportunities to present the work to an appropriate audience of peers and/or academic colleagues may arise.

Who can apply

• For the own project internship you must be employed by Newcastle Hospitals as a band 5 – 8a Nurse, Midwife, or AHP.
• The BRC funded internship is open to Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Healthcare Scientists, as well as NMAHPs, working at band 5 – 8a. To apply for this funding your research project must align with any one of the BRC’s eight themes.
• You do not need to have had any research training prior to applying for this but you should have a genuine passion for finding out more about and getting involved in research.

How to apply

1. Please complete the expression of interest form (below) and submit to [email protected] by 26 November 2024 Midday. Please ensure you have discussed your intention to apply with your line manager and gained support to do so – this should be mentioned in your application.

• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview, which will be held via ‘Teams’ on the 14 January 2025 with an expectation that the applicants will be informed of the outcomes and internships will commence soon after.

A Q&A session will be held on Teams on 21 October 2024 1-2pm and will have representation from the NMAHP Research Team, BRC and Obstetric Ultrasound. Please click here to sign up.