HCP Research
Internship Programme 2026 

NIHR Sheffield BRC HCP Research Internship Programme

The NIHR Sheffield BRC is proud to support 12-month internships for aspiring research leaders across
our collaboration as part of the wider Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Healthcare Professionals Research Internship Scheme.

Have you thought about following a clinical research path?

Traditionally there have been limited opportunities for health professionals and research delivery staff outside of medicine and dentistry to become more research active, either by engaging with, supporting or conducting research. We are therefore inviting expressions of interest from budding researchers to take part in the BRC stream of the research internship programme. Successful candidates will be released one day a week for one year and funding will be provided for backfill their usual role. 

Who can apply?

This programme is suited to aspiring research leaders, those interested in pursuing a clinical academic career, or those who simply want an opportunity to find out more about research. We are keen to support those completely new to research as well as those currently working in research delivery roles. You might already have a research idea, although this isn’t essential.

If you have an interest in applying for the scheme, please do not hesitate to get in touch to confirm your eligibility. NIHR Sheffield BRC will consider applications from:

• Health professionals or Research Delivery Staff, including but not limited to nurses, midwives, radiographers, medical physicists, engineers and computer scientists.

• Employed by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust or The University of Sheffield 

How long will it take?

You will be offered a one day per week, 12-month secondment commencing November 2026 (dates TBC).

What can my project focus on?

The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Stream is ideal for those healthcare practitioners and research delivery staff with an interest in Neurosciences, Cardiovascular Disease, Infection & Immunity, or Imaging & Engineering. The successful candidates will be provided with additional support by joining the NIHR Sheffield BRC Interdisciplinary Training Academy (BTA). The NIHR Sheffield BRC retains a focus to support candidates in their academic career progression. We would therefore particularly welcome applications from all healthcare professionals (including nurses and midwives, radiographers, medical physicists and engineers) aiming to progress to NIHR-funded predoctoral or doctoral fellowships. Please contact the BRC Academic Career Development Coordinator for an informal discussion and advice (michelle.king45@nhs.net)

If you have a project idea or proposal, you will be asked to outline this in the application. However, this is not a requirement to apply to the scheme. If you are keen and enthusiastic to learn and develop, you will be supported to develop a research idea and design a small project to carry out in your ward or clinical area. 

Previous project titles include:

1. The development of multi-dimensional electrical impedance spectroscopy for the tongue as a potential biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

2. How do perceptions and confidence to engage in exercise change in long covid patients before and after a supported exercise group in the long covid hub

3. Advance care planning for people with motor neuron disease: A service evaluation.

Example project proposoal 

Improving How We Assess and Treat Wounds in Community Care

Pressure sores, diabetic foot ulcers, and leg ulcers and other long-term wounds are common and can be costly and difficult to treat. Good wound care depends on assessing the wound properly, choosing the right dressings, and making sure patients follow their care plans. However, differences in how care is delivered can lead to slower healing. In community settings, challenges like limited access to specialists and inconsistent record-keeping can make outcomes worse. Using digital tools and standard ways of working could help improve consistency and support decision making.

The aims of this project are as follows:

• Look at how effective a standard way of assessing wounds is when supported by a digital documentation tool in community healthcare.

• See whether this approach improves healing times, the quality of recordkeeping, and patients’ confidence in managing wounds.

• Understand what helps or gets in the way of using structured approaches to wound care in everyday practice.

This study will run for 9 months and involve two groups of patients. One group will receive the new approach (a standard assessment process plus a digital tool for recording wounds), while the other group will continue with usual care for comparison.

We will collect measurable data such as:

• How long wounds take to heal

• How often and how consistently records are kept

• Whether the right dressings are being used

This information will be collected at the start and at regular points during the study. I will also gather feedback from patients through interviews and group discussions to understand their experiences, how easy the tool is to use, and any challenges they face 

in adopting it. This project aims to find out whether a more structured approach and digital support can improve wound care in community settings. The results could help shape guidelines, make care more consistent, and reduce healing times and costs. It could also support wider use of digital tools to improve both patient care and staff efficiency, ultimately improving quality of life for people with chronic wounds.

Other streams of the STH Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Healthcare Professionals Research Internship Scheme are available: 

• The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF) stream. Ideal for those currently working in research delivery or those working in band 5 or 6 clinical roles. Please contact Abida Nazir (abida.nazir@nhs.net) for more information. 

What support will I receive?

In the first instance, you should discuss this opportunity with your management team. You will need to ensure you have their full support and we will need confirmation they are prepared to honour the commitment of your protected time of 1 day per week for 12 months. During the internship, you will receive close clinical academic supervision, mentorship and support. You will also have taught sessions to support theoretical learning.

How do I apply?

Please apply here - NIHR Sheffield HCP Research Internship Application  – Fill in form

Application deadline: 5pm on Friday 3rd July.

Please ensure that you allow sufficient time to have the relevant discussions with your management team. Forms submitted after the closing date deadline will not be considered.

Interviews: 6th and 7th August (if you are unavailable on these days please let us know).

What steps can I take following the internship?

By the end of your internship we will support you to develop your next steps. This could include identifying ways to remain involved in and champion research within your role, explore other ways to pursue research, or a plan to develop as a potential future clinical academic. We will support and signpost you to ways to progress with this and perhaps apply for a pre-doctoral, doctoral or post-doctoral fellowship.