Alternative routes

“I started with small projects, learned through experience and gradually built the confidence to pursue a PhD.”

Dr Louise Johnson

Consultant Physiotherapist in Stroke and Principal Researcher at the University of Southampton.

“I didn't think I was particularly academic, but I was curious, and that grew into a research programme focused on improving care for people living with long-term conditions.”

Dr Lindsey Cherry

Associate Professor and Clinical Academic Podiatrist at the University of Southampton & Sea City Partnership.

“Value the encouragement people give you, don't wait for the perfect project.”

Laura Miller

Haematology Research Dietician and NIHR funded Doctoral Fellow at the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

“I wanted to support patients who are often excluded from research.”

Dr Jonathan Pool

Clinical Academic Music Therapist at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research.

“I wanted to make sure that in the next 20 years, we weren't still approaching these challenges in exactly the same way.”

Dr Jodi Allen

Clinical Academic Speech and Language Therapist at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London NHS Foundation Trust.

“I never intended to be working in research. I came into it through frustration.”

Jessica Pawson

Wellcome HARP Doctoral Training Partnership PhD student at the Centre for Bone & Joint Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London and Physiotherapist at Whipps Cross Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust.

Nursing, Midwifery & AHPs
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“The only way I could create the clinical academic position I was looking for was to find two jobs and cobble them together.”

Dr Jennifer Crow

Clinical Academic Postdoctoral Research and Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist at Imperial College London and University College Healthcare NHS Trust.

“I started my PhD out of frustration. There was so little evidence to help.”

Dr Hortensia Gimeno

Clinical Reader in Child Health at the Centre for Bone & Joint Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Associate Director for Therapies Research at Barts Health NHS Trust, and NIHR Advanced Fellow.