The NIHR’s mission is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. Of six core workstreams identified to achieve this goal, one is to train and support the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges.
The NIHR Academy
The NIHR Academy is at the heart of the NIHR and is responsible for the development and coordination of NIHR academic training, career development and research capacity development. It includes all NIHR-funded people working in the NHS, universities and registered charities in England.
The NIHR Exeter BRC is funded through the NIHR and as a result, Exeter BRC members have access to a variety of infrastructure support and development opportunities. As part of this, all individuals in receipt of NIHR funding are eligible to become an NIHR Academy member, entitling you to access to events, workshops and webinars held throughout the year. Event highlights include the annual NIHR Academy Members Conference and the NIHR Doctoral Training Camp.
The NIHR publish a monthly Academy Members’ newsletter, which also includes details of funding, career development and training. To sign up to the NIHR Academy Member newsletter, complete the NIHR Academy Consent and Contact Form.
NIHR research training awards
A wealth of NIHR research training awards are available at different levels and for different professional backgrounds. Explore them here.
Dr Jean-Claude Njabou KatteBeing part of the BRC opens up the possibility of working with collaborators in and outside of it and to be part of the NIHR Academy which is an excellent platform for training and networking with other early-career researchers.
NIHR funding opportunities
Explore current funding opportunities.
NIHR Academy Training Opportunities
NIHR Reviewer Development Scheme is for early career researchers who are new to reviewing or want to develop their skills further. The scheme offers members the opportunity to gain experience of peer review for NIHR funding programmes and in turn influence research commissioning. As a scheme member you will receive feedback on your reviews, have access to experienced reviewers’ comments and be notified of the committee’s decision about the research brief or proposal you have reviewed. You must be an NIHR Academy member and be in the final year at doctoral level or be postdoctoral.
NIHR Leaders Support and Development Programme seeks to maintain and improve the quality of leadership in health and social care research. The NIHR aim to do this by meeting the development needs of current leaders and early to mid-career researchers within the NIHR. Provision currently includes:
- Future-Focused Leadership Programme – flagship leadership programme for NIHR Leaders and NIHR Emerging Research Leaders.
- The NIHR Academy Mentoring Programme – offers post-doctoral NIHR Academy Members the opportunity to seek support for their academic and career development from a mentor drawn from our wide NIHR leadership community.
- Leadership Development Resources – A suite of flexible, online modular resources to support your leadership and management development.
Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration (SPARC) – up to £15,000 to undertake a bespoke short placement in another part of the NIHR infrastructure, to network, train in a specific skill or collaborate with other researchers/specialists. The scheme is designed to optimise and enhance the individuals research training as well as their CV and academic career. The SPARC competition opens annually in September/October with exact dates released closer to the time.
Visiting Speaker Award (VSA) – up to £3000 to support the costs of presenting your research in another part of the NIHR. This award provides early career researchers with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience presenting and debating their research findings, and encourages networking and collaboration within NIHR.