Seema Singh- Insights from a recent successful applicant

Applying for an NIHR

fellowship:

My PhD experienceSeema Singh

Renal Dietitian

NIHR Clinical doctoral research fellow

Clinical Academic Training Programme for Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals

Why I decided to do a PhD

Career choice:

Researcher or manager

Service delivery

Quality of care

Theory & practice

Patient contact

Clinical Outcomes

Changing practise

My project idea: Modifying dialysis delivery Triggered by reason for clinical referral

Rationale based literature review

Correct cause rather than effect

Simple uncomplicated design

Design choice & recruitment

Help from renal team

Development of skills

Research project

Keep design simple

Background reading

Demonstrate patient benefit

Incorporate patient reported outcomes

Involve patients in design

Peer-review your project design

Completing the application form

Past research experience

Use additional info section to sell yourself

Suggest agreed or possible collaborations

Advertise use of patient involvement

Support career intentions

Supervisors – accessible & approachable

Get help with costing & finance form

Allow plenty of time

Interview

5 min presentation with 15 min questions

Practice practice and practice again

Prepare list of possible questions

study design

recruitment

patient benefit

supervisors

career intention

…. and rehearse answers!

Timelines

April 2010 June 2010

Application deadline

Invited for interview

Sept 2010

Interview

Nov 2010

Notification

Mar 2011

Thesis submission

Commencement of Fellowship

Feb 2015 May 2015

Viva

But worth it!

The challenges : Organisation is key!

New experiences

Acquiring & mastering new skills

Novel project & unexpected findings

Esteem indicators

Networking

Involvement in external initiatives

Good support is crucial