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

Job Title: Junior Clinical Research Fellow - Neurology

Start Date: November 2026

Contract Type: Fixed term

Duration: 14 months

Purpose for Fixed Term: Covering Maternity Leave

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

Further details about the role can be found in the job description below.

Main duties of the job
As part of our team, you will work collaboratively with colleagues, helping to deliver excellent services and ensuring the highest standards of patient care. This fellowship is a great training opportunity for those looking to augment their neurology experience or wishing to develop a clinical and/or research interest in the clinical neurosciences. The post is 50% clinical and 50% research, providing research experience in multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system, and general clinical neurology experience.

You will join a distinguished neuroscience research team working across the Trust and University, studying inflammatory and haemorrhagic brain conditions. The group publishes multiple four-star manuscripts annually. Research benefits from a dedicated clinical research facility, a wet laboratory with biochemical, molecular and histochemical capability, image-processing workstations, and access to high-performance supercomputing, a research-dedicated MRI scanner, and other facilities. You will join the CRN Wessex Research Fellow programme, within the Southampton Academy of Research (SoAR), to gain the necessary skills to deliver high-quality portfolio research activity throughout their future career.

The post would be suitable for those aiming to develop a research or clinical career in the clinical neurosciences. It is most suited for candidates applying between Foundation and IMT, or between IMT and neurology speciality training.

About us
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 30% lower than London and 17 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.

Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the delivery of safe, effective, and patient-centred care while working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation.

This is a split research and clinical post that aims to:(1) provide research training to the post-holder while supporting neurology studies taking place at UHS(2) provide clinical training to the post-holder while supporting clinical service needs in the Wessex Neurological Centre.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role, including responsibilities, requirements, and essential criteria.

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)

Proposed interview date: TBC

This vacancy closes on or before 15th September 2026

Person Specification
Qualifications, Training & Experience
Essential

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• GMC registration with a licence to practise
• Completion of Foundation Programme or equivalent
• MRCP

Desirable

• Experience of working in the NHS
• Neurology experience
• Completion of Core Medical Training or equivalent
• Research degree
• Experience of working on clinical trials
• Experience of working with multiple sclerosis patients
• Research publications

Aptitudes and skills
Essential

• Evidence and ability to communicate and liaise effectively with patients and colleagues (verbal and written communication skills in English).

Living Trust Values
Essential

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).