Introduction
The process of starting a research or education post can seem complex. This sheet is just a guide- most importantly, do speak to advisors and previous fellows to get their advice, at least a few months in advance if possible. The SpR tutor will be able to let you know when posts are available.

Issues to be arranged prior to arriving:It’s much more efficient

  • Arrange Hon Research Fellow Contract with UCL

The process for applying for an honorary contract is as follows:

1. Send a covering email addressed to Prof. Winslet

(), copied to , detailing the reason for the request, focusing on research and/or teaching commitments within the Division. Also include details of the period to be covered.

2. Attach a full CV, to include your date of birth and home address.

The Dept of Surgery has tightened up enormously as they are charged for each contract given and will only allow honorary status where they deem appropriate (i.e. suitably eminent individuals; those with teaching

responsibilities; or researchers on long-term placements within the Division so as much detail as you feel…

  • Faye Crick 02076796338 sits opposite Alison and is the human resources rep. for Surgery. She can help with the ID/computer ID etc
  • Information Technology (IT) see below
  • Consider likely supervisor /mentor /advisor (there can be more than 1!) It’s fine to have an ‘overall ideas’ persons to start and then have 1-2 others in the specifics of your project. You need to arrange a regular meeting (Monday/Tuesdays best) with Rob Stephens to discuss progress etc every 3 months. Please fill in the appraisal form available on the fellows page.
  • Consider general area of research

Laboratory/Clinical/Pain/Cardiac/Outcomes/ICU/Education/ Obstetric/Altitude/Anything else!

  • Arrange day with R + D Dept
  • Arrange day with Ethics Committee
  • Know a reference manager (Refman/Endnote/Free Software)
  • Stats course (UCL or ICH)
  • Stats Package (SPSS/Stata/ Free Software)
  • Good Clinical Practice Course click to link..
  • Medline Search course/ speak to Librarian

  • Ask around……….talk to lots of people about ideas+ pitfalls

Monty MythenProf of Anaesthesia @UCL, Head of R and D UCLH

Gareth AcklandConsultant, has PhDClinician Scientist

Lesley BromleySenior Lecturer @ UCL

Rob Stephens Consultant, recent Fellow Education/

Ramini MoonesingheResearch FellowPostop

Suellen Walker Senior Lecturer/Consultant @ GOSH/UCL/

Brigitta BrandnerConsultant Anaesthetist Pain
Sarah Chieveley-WlliamsConsultant Anaesthetist Education/

Roman Creggacademic SpR

Jane Lowry academic

Steve Harrisacademic SpR

Dave Walker Consultant Anaesthesia + ICUECHO,

Ask/chat to anyone else- this is just a start for pointers- it is not exhaustive list!

Courses to be bookedin advance (Research Fellows know how to book) once you have a UCL ID

  • ‘Reference Manager’ (or EndNote)– Takes 1afternoon @ UCL
  • Statistics course @ UCL Takes 1 week
  • ‘SPSS course’ @ UCL. Takes 1-2 days = a statistical package
  • Laboratory course, if lab work is planned/contemplated
  • Whittington teaching course (‘TIPS’) course
  • Good Clinical Practice Course
  • anything else you feel useful/relevant to you (eg CPEx course)

Funding issues

  • A tricky one!...... best to chat to someone directly!
  • You can have a ~1 year ‘research fellow’ post @ centre for anaesthesia, in programme (ie counted to your training), with your BASIC salary paid at the same rate as SpR. Of course this will mean a paycut as 0-30% of your salary normally comes from out of hours work. Usually you do ‘on calls’ @ UCLH

Or

  • You can get an ‘academic SpR’ number starting at year 3 ST level, that gives you 1 year (total, broken up into 3-6 month blocks as you wish) of BASIC salary (during your research time)

Or

  • Get a formal grant for your salary Eg Gareth Ackland has 5 year Academy Med Sciences Grant.
  • You can be an ‘Private Critical Care Fellow’ – doing Private ICU shifts.

Based at thePrincess GraceHospital

or the London Clinic londonclinic.co.uk

These pay a regular wage for ICU shifts leaving time for research.

Contact Rob Stephens for advice

  • You can get extra money

From work in the private sector. This is not guaranteed (ie there are several people also doing it), but the options are

  • Harley St ICU on calls
  • Fellows @ London Clinic or Princess Grace
  • Wellington Humana (near RegentsPark) ICU

You can do formal Locums with an agency

You can do NHS ICU shifts eg @ UCLH or Marsden

From the centre for Anaesthesia – there is some cash for conferences, small bits of equipment

From running a course - you can get a small amount of cash for this (eg to go to conference etc)

Suggestions for the first 3 months…

  • Come to the 5:30 Tuesday research meetings every other week.
  • Regular meeting with supervisor.. to discuss ideas/aims/difficulties
  • Decide on broad project – For discussion - produce a side of A4 outlining proposal and basis of a discussion document.
  • Present to department previous literature/review of current knowledge
  • Familiarity with IRAS Integrated Research Application System– (the national Ethics application process) including attending ethics committee meeting- start this process immediately as it takes a while – others (in the list above) can advise
  • Write a review article-this might form the basis of your background reading for your project(in a general subject or ideally in a specialist one). The advantage of this is that you’ll be an ‘expert’ in it, it’s something under your control (unlike a clinical study etc) and might form the basis for a grant/thesis introduction.
  • ? take a teaching session for Med students/SHO’s – contact the education fellow
  • ? attend ethics committee meeting/Hospital drug formulary meeting

Ideas for work in general

  • Formal research proposal, which will form basis of a major grant application and a plan for extended full time research leading to higher degree
  • A defined primary research project to be completed over the 12 months which is tightly supervised and may form the basis of ongoing work for future fellows.
  • High quality audit which would be considered for publication and presentation
  • Multiple case reports, small invited articles and letters to the editor – should be considered by all in addition to ongoing works.
  • Participation in FRCA course lecturers, vivas and OSCE`s
  • Converting/changing the website, adding articles

Information technology issues

Once Alison has the forms signed you can arrange with her to come over to UCL to get….

  • UCL Computer username/password

You have to change the UCL password every 6 months -

( otherwise it’s a nightmare!

  • Register for phone password changes via the ‘User Authentication Service’ visa the link above
  • The library @ ICH has a store of programmes you can securely put onto your computer (eg laptop)

SPSS

Reference Manager

Microsoft Office

Antivirus

  • The UCL electronic journals are at

Doesn’t work on some computers: don’t know why

Put in your UCL (not ICH) username/password

  • ICH Library ( has useful resources for IT help
  • You can book a quick 20 min session with the ISU @ ICH on for specific ‘how to’ issues
  • has useful info about IT and other issues

Rob Stephens