ECAT-i PhD Fellowships for Health and Care Professionals 2026 intake

Grade UE08: £50,253 to £61,759 per annum

CMVM / Edinburgh Medical School

Full-Time: 35 hours per week

Fixed-Term: 6th August 2026 for up to 5 yearsVacancies: 5  

ECAT-i (Edinburgh Clinical Academic Track – inclusive) is the University of Edinburgh’s prestigious academic track for health professionals. 

These posts provide research opportunities for registered health and care professionals, including:  allied health professionals (art therapists, chiropodists/podiatrists, dieticians, drama therapists, music therapists, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, osteopaths, paramedics, physiotherapists, prosthetists and orthotists, radiographers, and speech and language therapists) chiropractors, clinical psychologists, dentists, dental hygienists, dental nurses, dental therapists, general practitioners, healthcare scientists (in life sciences, physiological sciences, physical sciences and biomechanical engineering, and bioinformatics), health visitors, midwives, non-medical public health specialists, nurses, optometrists and dispensing opticians, osteopaths, pharmacists, social workers, pharmacy technicians and practitioner psychologists.

Joining the ECAT-i programme involves undertaking a Wellcome PhD for Health Professionals in a world-leading research centre at the University of Edinburgh. The programme aims to build on the principles of research excellence and mentorship developed during the successful ECAT Wellcome Clinical PhD Programme, with a strong emphasis on research inclusivity and a positive research culture.

We are seeking to recruit up to five outstanding health and care professionals for the August 2026 intake.

The Opportunity:

Funding is provided for a preparatory period (typically three months full-time) when selection of supervisors and planning of the PhD project are optimised with the support of the ECAT directors before beginning the three-year PhD project.  Following the PhD, salary funding may be available for up to two years of postdoctoral research.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• You must demonstrate a commitment to a research career.
• You must be academically ready to undertake a PhD.
• You must be registered to practice in the UK with the relevant professional body.
• You must have the support of your health board, where relevant. 

Click to view a copy of the full job description (opens in new tab)

Application Information

Please ensure you include the following documents in your application:

• CV
• Cover letter (500 word supporting statement) 

Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check required.

As a valued member of our team you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits.

Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab).

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role.  This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 20th October 2025.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

Interviews will be held in person in Edinburgh on 2 & 3 December 2025.

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.