The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Oxford and Thames Valley aims to develop the research skills of health, public health and social care professionals and researchers in Oxford and Thames valley area by:
- Supporting growth in applied health and care research
- Supporting career development across professions and disciplines
- Promoting equity of access to training
- Supporting the development of the next generation of applied health and care researchers.
Each year we are able to supply a small number of internship awards, typically up to a maximum of £20,000, to support individuals looking for an opportunity to experience the research process within an established team of leading health researchers - or to develop their research skills following completion of a PhD. Small awards would be considered for shorter training opportunities such as research or masters course modules.
Internships are typically offered in partnership with Health Education England (HEE), Oxford Brookes University, or the NIHR Oxford Biomediacl Research Centre
The internship award programme supports research capacity building in applied health and care research in the region. These awards are intended to introduce people working within health or care organisations to research with the aim of supporting them to become leading independent researchers in the future.
These awards are open to health, public health and social care staff employed on a full or part-time basis, if all costs remain within the maximum funding envelope.
Proposals should align with ARC Oxford and Thames Valley themes:
- Changing Behaviours for Better Health and Preventing Disease
- Helping Patients to Manage Their Own Conditions
- Mental Health across the Life Course
- Improving Health and Social Care
- Applied Digital Health
- Novel Methods to Aid and Evaluate Implementation
The ARC-OxTV undertakes applied research. Research projects are likely to involve work with patients or patient data, completing clinical studies, real-world evaluations, qualitative research or systematic reviews.
https://www.arc-oxtv.nihr.ac.uk/our_work
How can the funding be used?
Successful applicants can use the award to cover costs including salary backfill, incidental costs, research and clinical supervision, and training costs. Suggestions on how the budget can be spent are presented below;
1. Salary backfill - it is recognised that this may form the main budget expenditure. The most appropriate backfill arrangements should be decided by you and your team/line manager.
2. Training – It is essential to have supervision throughout the award. Ideally this support should be from a partner organisation within the ARC Oxford and Thames Valley.
Some training would be expected, though would not normally exceed 50% of the total budget.
If you have any further questions, would like advice or support with an application, or directing to appropriate members of the ARC-OxTV contact our training lead, Dr Katherine Tucker: Katherine.tucker@phc.ox.ac.uk
Application process:
Please submit an application and completed checklist (see below) and all corresponding documentation to: arc_oxtv@phc.ox.ac.uk by 5:00 pm on Friday 21st April 2023.
Key dates: Closing date for applications: | Friday 21st April 2023 (5pm) |
Interviews: Online | Friday 11th & 12th May 2023 |
Award period: | Usually September 2023 onwards. |
Internship case study
Emily is a manager in a local authority within the early help sector. She is completing an internship at the NIHR Oxford and Thames Valley Applied Research Collaboration (ARC).
Emily’s social care experience helped her identify a research question which aims to improve care services.
A key part of Emily’s research has been to gain a fuller understanding of how different services identify children who have experienced adversity. She is investigating how systems could work more cooperatively to support this group of children earlier.