Senior Research Fellow in Rheumatology | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

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

Job Title

Senior Research Fellow in Rheumatology

Start Date

1st September 2026

Contract Type

Fixed term

Duration

12

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.

Senior Research Fellow in Rheumatology - 12 months fixed term contract with available starting date of September 2026.

The Southampton NIHR Clinical Research Facility (CRF) are looking to recruit a Clinical Research Fellow in the field of Rheumatology. Due to the projected Rheumatology Research workload in 2026-27 this post is open to those training in, or wishing to develop a clinical career in Rheumatology.

Your time will be spent on research service provision providing medical support and cover to adult Rheumatology studies occurring in the CRF. The post will be appointed for up to 1 year in the first instance, depending on candidate needs. Where appropriate, funding may be extended by fixed term periods where performance and academic progress is considered satisfactory.

-Good communication skills as this is essential in maintaining trust with our research participants.

-Demonstration of excellent team work as this role requires working and communicating with a wide range of individual from different teams (e.g. pharmacy, lab, admin, nursing etc).

-Must have completed Foundation training (or equivalent) and be able to function independently, with support as/when required and specific to the individual’s level of previous experience.

For further information regarding this post please contact: Professor Chris Edwards -cedwards@soton.ac.uk

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.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

-Join a team of research fellows supporting other research within the CRF.

-Depending on their previous knowledge and experience, the fellow will have roles in managing, coordinating and safety governance for specific studies.

-Be responsible for specific study-related medical decisions within their expertise, providing medical cover for studies and study visits, as well as out of hours advice and emergency cover (on a rota) as part of the 24 hour cover for participants on research studies.

-Work in teams with research nurses, allied health professionals and project management to plan and deliver primarily vaccine studies, with opportunity for involvement in other non-vaccine and non-covid studies as appropriate.

-Be supported by the more senior fellows in the CRF and the Principal Investigators of the respective studies in these activities.

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

26th June 2026

This vacancy closes on or before 12th June 2026

This advert closes on Friday 12 Jun 2026