We are launching a new fellowship to support research into strengthening equity and diversity in healthcare improvement.

Improving equality, diversity and inclusion in healthcare is a key priority. A key imperative arises from the marked differences that are evident in access, quality, experiences and outcomes of services for people from different socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds – including, for example, race/ethnicity, disability, socio-economic status and sex/gender – yet improvement efforts have not always paid enough attention to issues of equity. Further challenges of equity also arise in relation to the diverse workforce of NHS. At the same time, the data needed to identify and act on problems is variable in quality, inclusivity, and completeness.

THIS Institute welcomes fellowship applications with projects to address issues to strengthen equality, diversity and inclusion to improve healthcare. The call covers all areas of equality, diversity and inclusion, and applications relating to single or multiple protected characteristics, as defined by the 2010 Equality Act, are welcome. We would also value improvement research focused on poverty, employment and other socioeconomic dimensions and the interplay between different forms of disadvantage. The scope of this fellowship is deliberately broad to allow for new thinking and ideas. Applications should target one of four priority areas:

• Improving improvement through attention to equity, inclusion and diversity.
• Equity, inclusion and diversity in access.
• Inclusion, diversity and equity in the NHS workforce.
• Data, methods and measurement relating to equity and improvement.

We are seeking applications from researchers with relevant expertise at any level from post-doctoral to professor. Applications are invited from individuals currently in post at UK universities or other research-intensive environment (eg charity, non-profit think tank or NHS organisation).The successful applicant will remain employed by their own university or organisation and will be part of a vibrant professional learning community supported by THIS Institute.

This fellowship should be completed in 24 months, or up to a maximum of 36 months if part-time. Projects delivering in shorter timelines also encouraged. It is expected that the fellowship will begin in summer 2023.

What we offer

Each award will include salary costs (at the agreed proportion of FTE) and research expenses directly relevant to the project up to a maximum of £220K.

It is expected, at a minimum, that a university or organisation will use the funding to pay for:

• Salary costs for the fellow including all on-costs (superannuation, NI and apprenticeship levy).
• Research costs (eg items of small equipment, data access, transcription costs, meeting costs, and expenses for service-user participants).
• Participation costs and expenses. Please consider the costs for engagement with a diverse range of participants and stakeholders. Examples might include costs for translation services, accessibility support etc.
• Dissemination and publication costs, for example open-access publications.

The appointed fellow will be offered a professional development programme which will be discussed on award and customised to the specifics of the fellow’s needs, commitments, and fellowship duration. The programme may include, for example, membership of a learning set, coaching, and/or mentoring. Full engagement with the agreed programme will be expected.

Who can apply?

THIS Institute is looking to support researchers from a wide range of relevant backgrounds and disciplines, and at different stages of career (from post-doctoral to professor).  Given the historic under-representation of health service/improvement researchers from ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and other minoritised groups, we hope to see a broad range of applicants to this call.

Candidates from any UK university or research-intensive environment (eg charity, non-profit think tank or NHS organisation) may apply to the scheme. Applicants should be already in post in their employing organisation and will remain employed by their own organisation. More than one application per organisation can be submitted.

Applicants should have a PhD in a relevant discipline or, exceptionally, equivalent postgraduate research experience. If in clinical specialty training, applicants will be responsible for making their own arrangements with the relevant deanery or Local education and training board, or equivalent, where appropriate.

Applicants should be sufficiently post-doctoral (or equivalent) to able to lead a project independently while sustaining excellent relationships with diverse stakeholders.

All applications must be submitted via our fellowship management system. All applications should have organisational support and be approved by a budgetary authority/finance office. For further information please refer to the guidance for applicants.

We are committed to supporting a diverse range of applicants throughout the application and selection process.

What we’re looking for

• Experienced and skilled researchers who can lead the project independently while working collaboratively.
• This call is intended for research and/or evaluation studies (not quality improvement projects), and should be conducted to appropriate standards of scientific rigour and ethics.
• Projects should have thoughtful and embedded stakeholder engagement, including appropriate staff, patient and public input and attention to under-served groups.
• A diverse range of methodological and theoretical approaches may be relevant to this call, but all must use sound research principles and methods.
• Applicants may have a clinical or non-clinical background.
• Applicants should have a PhD in a relevant area or, exceptionally, equivalent postgraduate research experience.
• Good publications record for stage of career, including peer-reviewed outputs.

How to apply

All applications must be submitted via our fellowship management system. All applications should have organisational support and be approved by a budgetary authority/finance office. For further information please refer to the guidance for applicants.

We are committed to supporting a diverse range of applicants throughout the application and selection process.

Application stages

Before you apply

We encourage you to check that your application is eligible and competitive by reading the guidance for applicants. Applicants will be required to agree to THIS Institute’s standard Themed Fellowships Award Conditions at the time of application. If you have questions about the fellowship, please contact fellowships@thisinstitute.cam.ac.uk. We will also be holding a webinar on 17 January 2023 so you can find out what a high-quality application looks like and talk to our fellowship team. Following the webinar we can offer a single opportunity to talk through your fellowship proposal with our fellowship team.

1. Submit your application

All applications must be submitted online through the Fellowship Management System by 12 noon on Wednesday 8 March 2023. Late submissions will not be accepted.

2. Review and shortlisting

Applications will be checked initially for eligibility and completeness, and assessed by an expert panel against the selection criteria included in the guidance for applicants.

3. Interview

Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview.

4. Final decision

All applicants will be notified of the funding decision.

Frequently Asked Questions