Flexible entry routes into clinical academic medicine

Not every clinician follows a linear path from medical school to professor. Clinical academic medicine strongly values diverse experiences and career paths, actively supporting mechanisms to enter, return to, or increase research activity at various career stages.

Flexible and non-linear routes allow clinicians to combine research, innovation, and patient care, even if they have taken time in service, industry or other sectors.

Flexible working patterns

Clinical academia offers a range of flexible working patterns to suit different career goals and personal circumstances. Many clinicians choose to work part-time or less than full-time (LTFT), allowing them to balance clinical duties, research commitments and personal priorities, with many fellowships supporting contracts of around 60–80%.

Others pursue a portfolio career, combining clinical practice with roles in research, policy or innovation. For example, a consultant may also serve as a Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) investigator or sit on an NIHR committee.

Job-sharing or split roles are another option, enabling colleagues to share both clinical and research responsibilities, such as dual consultant appointments that include protected research time. Increasingly, clinicians are also engaging in cross-sector roles, moving between the NHS, academia and industry through joint fellowships or collaborative translational research posts, without stepping away from their professional practice.

Entry after specialty training (Post-CCT)

If you did not follow an integrated academic training programme, you can still start an academic career as a consultant.

• NIHR Advanced Fellowships support consultants developing independent research programmes.
• Wellcome Career Development Awards fund post-CCT clinicians who have a strong research proposal and track record.
• University–NHS Joint Appointments allow protected research time alongside full clinical duties.

The aims of these initiatives are to establish independent research programmes, gain leadership experience in research and contribute to patient care while building an academic profile.

Re-entry after a career break

Career breaks for family, illness or service roles do not prevent a return to academia. 

• NIHR and Wellcome Re-Entry Fellowships provide funding and mentorship for clinicians returning to research.
• Institutional bridging schemes may offer partial salary or research support to restart projects.

When applying, highlight transferable skills gained through clinical service, audits, quality improvement or leadership activities and document previous publications and research experience to strengthen your application.

Transitioning from clinical or research support roles

Clinicians already working in NHS service delivery, research trials or governance can step into academic roles.

• Research Delivery Fellowships support transition to independent research.
• Clinical Trials and Applied Health Research positions in Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs), Applied Research Collaborations or Clinical Trials Units can provide research leadership experience.
• Honorary academic appointments allow clinicians to publish, collaborate, and gain mentorship while in service roles.

These roles can help build credibility within research networks and offer a structured, supportive route to develop academic independence gradually, allowing clinicians to progress confidently toward establishing their own research careers.

Industry and translational research pathways

Clinicians interested in innovation, medtech or drug development can combine academic and industrial work. These opportunities provide access to cutting-edge innovation networks, the chance to shape translational research with a direct impact on patient care, and valuable experience in applied research, regulatory processes and commercialisation. 

• NIHR Industry Fellowships enable collaboration between NHS, academia and industry.
• Innovate UK Clinical Academic Partnerships support projects translating discoveries into patient care.

More about working in industry

Complementary academic roles in medicine