NIHR Population Health Career Scientist Award

The NIHR is accepting applications to the Population Health Career Scientist Award (PHCSA). This is a UK-wide initiative to enable senior researchers to make the next step to Reader or Professor level in their host institutions.

We wish 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.

As the need to tackle wider preventable risk factors and determinants of health receives wider recognition, there is an expectation that the research supported through this award will be of importance and relevance to local government, ideally with explicit support from local government colleagues.

We are looking for applicants representing a wide range of disciplines which undertake research in areas that impact the determinants of health, for example:

• environmental science
• mathematics
• architecture
• engineering
• geography
• education
• social sciences
• social policy
• arts

This is a 1-stage, commissioned funding opportunity. To apply you should submit a full application.

Eligibility

You can apply for the PHCSA if you are from England, Wales, Northern Ireland or 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.

You must be based in an eligible higher education institution or equivalent in the UK and will be expected to have explicit support from your host organisation over the duration of the award. This should be either in the form of funding or resources ‘in kind’, for example research assistant support or PhD student to the Fellow if successful.

You are expected to be either starting to establish yourself as an independent researcher in a public health or non-traditional public health discipline, or already established as an independent researcher but not yet recognised as an international leader in your field. If your career has been affected by either a late start or interruption for personal or family reasons, including the pandemic, due allowance will be given. Standard NIHR eligibility criteria apply.

You should have a track record of holding research funding and be able to show you have made important contributions in your area of research. You 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.

If you imminently expect, or a process has been started, to progress to a Professorial position, then it is unlikely you will be eligible for this award and may wish to consider another NIHR Fellowship option. It is your responsibility to inform the PHCSA team if your professional situation changes or develops over the course of the application timeline.

See our PHR Programme page for details about the overall programme remit and eligibility criteria.