We are looking to appoint a motivated and enthusiastic Clinical Research Fellow (50% research 50% clinical) to join the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and research team from September 2023 at Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust campus, Imperial College. This post is suitable for a clinician interested in gaining research experience in a one-year post or for those wishing to pursue a research higher degree. This post is for a fixed-term of 12 months and extendable depending on academic and clinical progress. The postholder will hold a 200 Doctor's contract with Chelsea and an honorary contract with Imperial College London.

The role also carries a 1B on call commitment.

The post holder will be expected to contribute to the tier 2 rota (Middle Grade ST4- 8, Clinical Fellow). They will have excellent clinical skills, evidence based knowledge and understanding to provide holistic care for premature and acutely sick newborns and their families. There will be numerous opportunities for clinical and research training and development to enhance and support professional development. The postholder will be supported by supervision from the clinical and academic teams.

For further details regarding the respective studies / informal visits please contact:

Dr Shu-ling Chuang, Consultant Neonatologist Shuling.Chuang@nhs.net

Dr Cheryl Battersby NIHR Clinician Scientist c.battersby@imperial.ac.uk

Main duties of the job

The research programme focuses on a life course approach and encompasses body composition, multi-centre clinical trials and population based epidemiology. The UK National Neonatal Research Database is based at Imperial College and contains population data on all babies admitted to neonatal units across England, Wales and Scotland since 2007.

The successful applicant(s) will be offered a choice of projects:

• Leading an observational study examining analgesia during surfactant administration and its association with clinical outcomes, using national data collected as part of the OPTISURF study https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/12/e038959.long
• Leading an observational study examining management of term babies at risk of early onset infection, using postnatal ward data collected through the POOL study https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/1/e040684
• Leading an observational study using the National Neonatal Research Database focussing on babies born preterm and/or with surgical conditions www.neowonder.org.uk
• Effect of diabetes in pregnancy on body composition and cardiac remodelling in childhood using whole body and cardiac MRI. Follow up of a cohort
• Effect of early postnatal nutrition on body composition and cardiac remodelling in childhood in very preterm infants, using whole body and cardiac MRI. 

About us

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provide services from two main hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East.

We have over 6,000 members of staff that arePROUD to Carefor nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children's, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.

We're one of the safest and best performing Trusts in the country. We're also one of the top trusts to work for - our staff say they're engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.

Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing around 10 million a year in our estate. We are currently spending c. 25 million on expanding our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and redevelopment of our children's unit at West Middlesex - in partnership with our charity, CW+ and generous donors.

The Chelsea and Westminster neonatal unit has an international reputation for research led by Professor Neena Modi. Together with Professor Chris Gale, two clinical senior lecturers (Dr Sabita Uthaya, Cheryl Battersby), and 11 NHS consultants, the unit runs a very active research programme.

Job description
Job responsibilities

For detailed job description and main responsibilities please refer to the job description and person specification

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential 

• Degree in medicine
• Medical qualification with registration at the General Medical Council
• Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, or equivalent experience
• Neonatal Life Support (NLS) qualification

Experience & Knowledge
Essential 

• Experience in neonatal intubation and resuscitation
• Experience working in a tertiary neonatal unit

Desirable 

• Intercalated research degree
• Experience working in a tertiary neonatal unit

Skills & Abilities
Essential 

• Competence in key neonatal procedures e.g. iv cannulation in preterm babies, cranial ultrasound scan
• Excellent organisational skills with demonstrable ability to work to targets
• Computer literate, practical knowledge of all Microsoft Office packages
• Good relationships and communication with patients
• Good working relationships with colleagues
• Good written and oral communication skills

Desirable 

• Evidence of relevant academic & research achievements , e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements
• Evidence of active participation in audit and/or risk management

Personal
Essential 

Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team

• Empathetic
• Supportive of junior colleagues 

BMJ Ref: BMJ-109770/289-WCD-SCF-023-A