Clinical Fellow in Ageing Research​ ​

Job id: 086588. Salary: £43,923 to £63,152 per annum, excluding London Weighting Allowance (paid additionally in line with national contract terms).

Posted: 20 March 2024. Closing date: 10 April 2024.

Business unit: Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. Department: Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology.

Contact details:Dr Carly Welch. [email protected]

Location: St Thomas Campus. Category: Research.

The Fellow will be part of the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology. The Department is based at St. Thomas’ Hospital in the School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine at King’s College London. The Fellow will have an honorary contract of employment with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. The Fellow will undertake recruitment of older patients undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgery (with or without subsequent systemic anti-cancer treatment) to a clinical study with follow-up assessments postoperatively. The study is part of a global initiative in experimental and translational medicine to accelerate interventions to prevent and treat loss of resilience amongst older people. The Fellow will receive training and supervision in the conduct of musculoskeletal ultrasound, electroencephalography assessment (not including interpretation), and comprehensive assessment of older people across multiple settings. The full study protocol and ethical approval will be finalised prior to commencement of the Fellow to this post.

The Fellow will work alongside a team of experienced clinical and biomedical researchers, a project manager, and research nurses. Prior research experience will be beneficial but not a requirement of this post, and clinical staff with minimal previous research experience will be supported through all processes of research conduct and project management. The study will involve the collection of specimens for complex biological investigations including microbiome analysis, inflammatory profiling, and underlying hallmarks of ageing. There may be opportunities for the Fellow to obtain experience in undertaking laboratory studies through secondment at the University of Birmingham, dependent on the interests of the Fellow.

The Fellow will also have the opportunity to work on further studies within the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology including the possibility to obtain further training in the collection of fat and muscle biopsies. The Fellow will be supported to undertake a higher degree (e.g., MD or PhD) during this post, should they wish to do so, which will involve synthesising and interpreting the results of studies that they will be directly involved with. Doctoral supervision will be provided by Dr Carly Welch in this instance. The Fellow will be supported to develop their own research interests, and to obtain experience in further methodology including systematic review or data linkage.     

This post will be offered on an fixed-term contract for two years. 

This is a full-time  post – 40 hours per week

• Work alongside a team of experienced researchers and offer clinical expertise to assist with the identification of patients and initial approach, with honorary employment within Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
• Attendance at lower gastrointestinal cancer multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Liaison with clinical teams (including surgery, oncology, geriatric medicine, or general practice) as required, including the communication of incidental findings identified during the course of research.
• Completion of research procedures at study visits including musculoskeletal ultrasound, electroencephalography assessment (not including interpretation), and comprehensive assessment of older people across multiple settings.
• Medical support for patients at study visits.
• To liaise with all members of the department including research nurses, administrative, statisticians, operational and laboratory staff, as well as external collaborators and their teams.
• The post holder will be part of the research team within the department and will be expected to interact with other members of the team and department on a daily basis.
• Take part in regular academic meetings in the department and present results and reports.
• The role is based in an office and clinical environment.
• The role holder should show good listening and accuracy skills which are important when dealing with research participants, professional services staff, students and members of academic staff.
• Opportunity to register for higher degree (e.g., MD or PhD) and convert results of research in the form of scientific presentations and publications.
• Opportunity to develop own research ideas.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Applicants should submit a supporting statement to outline how they meet the essential and desirable criteria for this post alongside an up-to-date CV. Applicants who are successfully shortlisted will be invited to attend for interview and will be notified of the outcome of their application following this. Interested applicants should contact Dr Carly Welch [email protected] to discuss further.

Medical staff who are currently employed within a national training programme will be required to obtain approval for Out Of Programme for Research (OOPR) from their health education training board and the relevant training college. This employment has approval within a GMC-approved site and will include honorary employment at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.