Position Details

College of Medical and Dental Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £38,619 to £65,955

Clinical Post

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to 4 years or CCT date, whichever is sooner.

Closing date: 8th May 2024

Please note: We are advertising 2 NIHR Clinical Lecturer posts in General Practice (4570) or Psychiatry (4572), however there is only one post available which will be awarded to the successful candidate at interview, from either speciality.

Background

This NIHR funded Clinical Lectureship in Psychiatry will be based in the Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham. Postgraduate qualifications (MD or PhD, and MRCPsych are essential).

Applicants must have a firm commitment to a career in Academic Psychiatry and a vision for what area this will likely be focussed on in the medium term. There are excellent opportunities for research focussed on clinical trials, psychopharmacology, experimental medicine, neuroimaging and cognitive/computational neuroscience, phenomenological psychopathology, epidemiology and mental health data science. The areas of major strength and investment for the IMH are mood disorders research and psychosis research and we particularly encourage applicants who are interested in focussing on either or both of these areas, as well as youth mental health.

Role Summary

Research in Mood Disorders

The Institute for Mental Health (IMH) at the University of Birmingham is a national centre for mood disorders research. The group is made up of senior clinical academics, and in 2023, and a membership of 13 post-docs, researchers, plus PhD/MSc students, and is expanding. The group is currently providing leadership in 5 nationally important multi-centre RCTs (e.g https://bit.ly/3e0zROZ) focussed on treatment for mood disorders. Research collaborations are with UK, European and Australian Centres of excellence. Group expertise includes RCTs for pharmacological and psychological treatments, data science, epidemiology (including secondary data analysis), developmental psychopathology, neuro-inflammation, evidence synthesis, biomarkers in bipolar disorder, ultra-high risk and early intervention in bipolar disorder, treatment resistant depression, affective psychosis, and emotional dysregulation transdiagnostically. The research is strongly clinically, and therapeutics focussed.

Suicide research is also a key research theme, and is particularly focussed on self harm and suicide in young people.

Key University of Birmingham internationally recognised researchers in this area are Professors Marwaha who leads mood disorders research, Broome, and Upthegrove, and Dr Maria Michail. They have a strong research track record with significant funding awards from the NIHR, MRC and Wellcome Trust, and have authored multiple high-impact publications in this area including in The Lancet, British Journal of Psychiatry, JAMA Psychiatry, and World Psychiatry. Professor Marwaha represents the IMH on the NIHR Translation Research Collaboration(TRC)-Mood Theme.

Research in Psychosis

The Institute for Mental Health at the University of Birmingham is internationally known for psychosis research, leads on a number of national trials, observational studies and experimental medicine studies. There are ongoing international collaborations with European and Australian research centres. Recent successes are the MRC funded PIMS study which uses an experimental medicine and data science to develop new treatments in psychosis, recent NIHR Biomedical Research Centre funding in Molecular Targets for psychosis. The group is also the only UK national centre for a US NIMH funded study led by Melbourne examining the early course of psychosis. The group has expertise in immune-psychiatry, experimental medicine, early intervention paradigms, randomised control trials testing the effectiveness of medications, ultra-high risk for psychosis studies, epidemiology, and prediction modelling. Key University of Birmingham internationally recognised researchers in this area are Professors Upthegrove and Broome. They have a strong track record of supervising academic staff, and have authored multiple high-impact publications in these areas, e.g. The Lancet Psychiatry, The Lancet Digital Health, The British Journal of Psychiatry, JAMA Psychiatry, World Psychiatry.

Research environment: The Institute for Mental Health

The Institute for Mental Health (now housed in our new Wolfson Research Unit for Youth Mental Health, Gisbert Kapp, Edgbaston Park Road, UoB Edgbaston campus) is an established research and training centre maximising the collaborative efforts of academics at the University of Birmingham and building on the strong existing partnerships with practice in the NHS, established through the Birmingham Health Partners. Its objective is to improve the care and outcomes of people with mental health problems, with a focus on youth and life course mental health. Our approach to mental health recognises its multi-dimensional nature and that a broad approach is required to understand the biological, psychological, anthropological, sociocultural and socioeconomic factors that shape individuals and population level mental health. Key themes include: Research excellence in discovery science and latest technologies informing best practice; Inter-disciplinary research and multi-sector engagement across the region and internationally; Focus on cognitive neuroscience, biomarker discovery, innovative service delivery and practice in the 0–25 age group; Strength in social policy and implementing research into practice, parity of physical and mental health care. We also host a number of PhDs and run a new MSc in Mental Health, into which medical students can now intercalate. We work closely with the University of Birmingham Centre for Human Brain Health and Centre for Developmental Science, and have access to state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities.

The ACL will join an established and high impact interdisciplinary programmes of research, be integrated with the mood disorders lab group or the psychosis lab and with support, lead a major research project. This could be in epidemiology, psychopharmacology, experimental medicine, clinical trials, prediction modelling, immuno-psychiatry, biomarkers, and understanding the development of the early phases of depression, bipolar disorder, and/or psychosis. 

A bespoke academic and clinical rotation plan will be developed with the ACL academic trainer, the IAT Psychiatry lead and Head of School tailored appropriately to their developing academic and clinical portfolio to support them in a successful application to a Clinician Scientist Fellowship, which the IMH has a track record in supporting.

The successful ACL will join another ACL and 2 ACFs in mental health.

Two major research awards offer further multiple opportunities to prospective candidates. The first of these is the Mental Health Mission Midlands Translation Centre (MTC) which in Birmingham is focussed early psychosis, treatment resistant depression and children and young people’s mental health. Further initial information can be found here: https://www.mentalhealthmtc.co.uk/. The second is the Oxford Biomedical Research centre award where UoB are partners to this focussed on the same areas as the MHM.

Academic Lead for the Psychiatry ACL programme

Professor Steven Marwaha (S.Marwaha@bham.ac.uk) 

Academic Lead (University) for the IAT Programme

Professor Kristien Boelaert, IAT Lead, University of Birmingham (k.boelaert@bham.ac.uk). 

Main Duties

Research

The Clinical Lecturer will have a developing research record that is complimentary to the focus of the IMHs major strengths. There will be strong encouragement in common with other research active staff in the Institute for Mental Health that the ACL should attempt to obtain funding for his/her research activities during the course of the post.

We will provide an excellent academic training environment for the ACL. To assist, they will be aligned and be mentored by one of the IMH senior academics. Their academic training will account for their current skills and the broad area that they wish to work within, and they will be invited and supported to join national and international research led organisations. We will also organise advanced methodological training in whichever research area they are focussed on, aligned with the IMH strengths. For the right candidate we will seek to embed them in the IMH in the medium term by aiming to create and securing funding for a Clinical Senior Lecturer post.

Clinical Responsibilities

The post will be hosted by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust (BSMHT). The ACL will spend 50% of their time with the IMH and 50% completing their clinical training. We will develop a bespoke ACL academic and clinical training programme with the successful candidate. The overall aim will be successful completion of the CCST, as well as developing academic leadership, and building publication and grant record so that the person is ideally placed to obtain a clinical senior lectureship. 

As well as having access to a broad range of clinical placements in the West Midlands Postgraduate School of Psychiatry, the ACL can also take advantage of higher specialist training in Forensic Psychiatry, CAMHS, Addictions, Adult, Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. It will be our aim for the ACL to spend some time with a variety of the Birmingham Clinical Academics (Marwaha, Upthegrove, Broome, Day)) during their higher clinical training, together with a further 30+ PIs in the IMH.

Teaching Responsibilities

With discussion the ACL will take advantage of teaching opportunities in undergraduate medical students, The IMH Mental Health MSc, psychology students and in the teaching of MRCPsych within the West Midlands.

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust has teaching status, and this reflects the close relationship between the Trust and Birmingham University in all aspects of education, research and, development. The Trust include two clinical teaching academies (CTA) of University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences and Aston Medical school of Aston University and we are now one of the largest teaching Academies in the UK. This gives us an unprecedented opportunity to inspire around 500 4th year medical students in the region each year to become skilled practitioners in psychiatry, advocates for their patients with mental illness, and to plant seeds to develop the next generation of high-quality psychiatry workforce in the Midlands.

The current Head of Clinical Teaching Academies is Dr Erin Turner, supported by deputy heads of academies and SATus (Senior Academy Tutors). The BSMHT Director for Medical Education is Dr Ruth Scally. Dr Jayne Greening is the Head of West Midlands Postgraduate School of Psychiatry.

Job Plan 

The job plan will be constructed with the candidate depending on their stage of clinical and academic training and development but will involve at least 50% protected academic time.

Publications, presentations and grant applications

Candidates will be able to demonstrate publications in relevant high impact journals consistent with their training to date and academic trajectory. Candidates will be able to demonstrate presentations in national and international conferences and a history of grant application commensurate with their training to date.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Evidence of achievement of Foundation competences or equivalent.
• Candidate must be at ST3 or above.
• Must hold a higher degree (MD, PhD or equivalent) in a relevant subject area.
• Evidence of good progress in clinical training and that completion of specialty training* may be accommodated either during or after the 4 year period of the NIHR CL award (*Not applicable to fully qualified GP candidates).
• Evidence of commitment to GMC specialty. 
• Intercalated honours degree and/or additional qualifications e.g. MSc etc.
• Demonstration of acquisition of the level of knowledge and skills necessary for the achievement of Foundation and clinical (matched to the entry level) competencies or equivalent.
• Demonstration of the potential for scientific independence and the ability to lead a research team.
• Potential to become a leader in chosen field.
• Knowledge of the centre hosting the research and how this is best placed to support the research, education and training needs.
• Prizes or distinctions.
• Presentation of work at a national or international meeting.
• Significant publications in peer reviewed journals.
• Demonstration of understanding, and commitment to, an academic career.
• Indication of medium and long-term career goals.
• Demonstration of educational reasons for applying for the Clinical Lectureship Programme.
• Evidence of team working skills.
• Evidence of leadership potential.

* All candidates should have submitted their final thesis to be eligible to apply and must have been fully awarded their higher degree in order to be able to take up the post (prior to September 1st 2025).

OH/DBS required 

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health and DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Prof. Steven Marwaha, email: S.Marwaha@bham.ac.uk or Prof Matthew Broome, email: M.R.Broome@bham.ac.uk

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.