Clinical Academics
Clinical academics are qualified doctors who combine working as a clinician (junior doctors, GPs or consultants) with research and teaching responsibilities. Clinical Academics are substantively employed by the University of Cambridge and will hold an honorary clinical contract with the relevant NHS Trust/Body where clinical work is undertaken. Clinical Academic appointments are co-terminous, therefore they are an integrated appointment between the University and relevant NHS Trust/Body. Clinical academics will also have teaching responsibilities. The split of time is determined at the start of the recruitment process.
Grade
Clinical Lecturer – Junior Doctor
Assistant Professor (Previously called University Lecturer) – Clinical Consultant (equivalent to Grade 9)
Associate Professor (Previously called University Senior Lecturer) – Clinical Consultant (equivalent to Grade 10)
University Professor (Previously called Reader) – Clinical Consultant (equivalent to Grade 11)
Appointment Process
Approval
Agreement in principle from the Regius is required to recruit to posts at this level.
An Exceptional Case for Recruitment form is required if the post is fully or part funded by UEF or sustainable external trading sources, College funds, trust funds, donations, endowment funds or other non-Chest sources.
The academic Business Case is prepared by the Head of Department (this must be submitted with the ECR and the advert and Further Particulars or Fellowship award letter, individuals CV including the names of 3 referees) and sent to the Recruitment Adviser who obtains the relevant approvals.
Cases for clinical appointments need to be submitted to the relevant NHS Trust/Body for consideration with the Academic Business Case. Departments (with the Trust) need to fill in the MDWC financial proforma and MDWC Case of Need for the Medical and Dental Workforce Committee (MDWC). It is the responsibility of the BOM/Academic to work with the Ops Managers and the Finance Teams within CUH to get these completed then the Ops Manager within the Trust will be responsible for sending completed forms to Beverley Collins to get a case to be considered at MDWC.
Recruitment, Selection and Interview
For open recruitment, a departmental interview should be arranged and the shortlisted candidate(s) should be invited to attend either a local interview or invited to give a seminar on their research to a selected panel. This process is administered by the department/unit.
For a fellowship, a departmental interview is not mandatory.
Faculty of Clinical Medicine Selection Committee
Regardless of whether this is open recruitment or a fellowship, clinical or non-clinical, candidates need to attend a formal interview with the Faculty of clinical Medicine Selection Committee for all established posts.
This process is administered by the Recruitment Adviser, School of Clinical Medicine.
For established appointments, alongside the standing Selection Committee members there would be the departmental representatives which comprises of:
- Clinical appointment – Head of Department or nominated deputy and two representatives from the speciality, one of which must be from the clinical service, again nominated by the Head of Department or Business and Operations Manager
- Non-clinical appointment – Head of Department of nominated deputy and one representative from the speciality
- University Professor appointment – in addition to the departmental representatives, a representative from an external HEI should be present.
For Principle Research Associates and Director of Research posts, the Selection Committee will comprise:
- Head of the School of Clinical Medicine (or nominated Deputy)
- Head of Department / Unit
- 2 x senior academics (from the Faculty Promotions Committee) (HR will invite)
- 1 x external academic (department to suggest)
- 1 x specialist in the field (department to suggest)
- Clinical School HR Representative (usually Recruitment Adviser)
Once a date and panel members are confirmed, a formal invite will be sent to the candidate who will be asked to give a 5 minute presentation (without slides) on current and future research plans.
CLs, Assistant/Associate Professors and University Professors are appointed by the Selection Committee where the standard panel composition applies.
To discuss this process in more detail contact the Recruitment Adviser with any questions at cshrclinical@admin.cam.ac.uk.
Quick links and documents
Departmental Interview Process
