"Clinical Research Fellow – RESPOND"

Clinical Research Fellow – RESPOND

INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

Location: John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford

Contract type: Fixed term until 31 July 2026

Hours: Part-time 0.5 FTE

About the role

We are looking for a Clinical Research Fellow to work on the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) RESPOND Programme. This was a 5-year project to develop and trial methods for improving responses to deteriorating postoperative patients. The post will be primarily based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, but may involve travel to Trusts around England. The RESPOND programme is focused on emergency laparotomy and will measure Failure to Rescue (mortality associated with postoperative complications) as the primary outcome. The intervention comprises a bundle of four Human Factors initiatives to improve teamwork and system reliability, which recently underwent evaluation in a 24 hospital randomised Stepped Wedge trial.

About you

The postholder will be working closely with Professor Peter McCulloch and his team at the Patient Safety Academy and Quality, Reliability and Teamwork Research Unit. Specifically, they will be working to supervise data collection, cleaning and analysis and helping in the writing up and publication of the results. This will involve visiting sites to gather data and remote support via Teams calls. Experience of involvement in clinical research, would be useful. Publication will be an important part of the role, and candidates should have experience of successfully writing scientific articles. The postholder will receive on the job training in Human Factors, Quality Improvement techniques and theory.

The postholder will have clinical experience in surgery to at least CT1 level, will hold GMC registration with a licence to practice, and will have some background in research or evidence of research training. You will have proven ability to communicate at an academic level, the ability to conduct projects semi-autonomously, and the ability to work well as part of a team.

This part-time 0.5 FTE post is fixed term until 31 July 2026, with the possibility of renewal for up to one year.

Application Process

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online. You will be required to upload a supporting statement, setting out how you meet the selection criteria, a curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of two referees as part of your online application. Please quote reference NDSA975 on all correspondence.

Only applications received before noon on Thursday 12 March 2026 can be considered.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 18 March 2026.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity

We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. No applicant or members of staff shall be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Contact Person: Shelley Hammond

Vacancy ID: 185094

Closing Date & Time: 12-Mar-2026 12:00

Pay Scale: CLINICAL RESEARCHER (NEW SCALE) (E63)

Contact Phone: 01865 612269

Contact Email: recruitment@nds.ox.ac.uk

Salary (£): Grade E63.5 £73,992 per annum

NDSA975 RESPOND Clinical Fellow - Job Description (1045.5 KB)