These unique BRC-funded internships are open to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and healthcare scientists, as well as NMAHPs (Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals), working at band 5-8a.
The internships fund one day per week over a 6-month period to make space for the above staff to undertake a work-based research project in their clinical area.
To apply for this funding your research project must align with any one of the BRC’s eight research themes.
For more information and guidance on the BRC themes contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for any general advice on the internship.
A Q&A session will be held on Teams on 19th July from 12:30-13:30pm and will have representation from the NMAHP Research Team, the BRC, Arts, and Clinical Education. To sign up to this please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
As part of our commitment to training the translational researchers of the future, the BRC funded four research internships for NHS health professionals from Newcastle Hospitals in 2022.
Ashley Shield is a community nurse who researched the best way to support his nursing colleagues to encourage better diets for older people.
The internship has been a fantastic opportunity. It has helped to develop research skills in writing, reviewing and thinking about projects. The time and space it gives you to engage with research is very valuable, your confidence in what you are doing improves and networking with others helps build a platform for developing your ideas into reality. Some people might think that research is too complex to do but it’s actually really practical and is about seeing a problem and thinking how can I do something about it. And nurses are well-placed to do that, we do it every day, looking at gaps and where we can improve. So taking this opportunity has been really rewarding.
The internship has been a fantastic opportunity. It has helped to develop research skills in writing, reviewing and thinking about projects.
The time and space it gives you to engage with research is very valuable, your confidence in what you are doing improves and networking with others helps build a platform for developing your ideas into reality.
Some people might think that research is too complex to do but it’s actually really practical and is about seeing a problem and thinking how can I do something about it. And nurses are well-placed to do that, we do it every day, looking at gaps and where we can improve.
So taking this opportunity has been really rewarding.
Charlotte Buckland, a frailty clinical specialist physiotherapist carried out a six-month research project focussed on ageing-related disease.
The NIHR/BRC internship not only provided me an exciting and accessible opportunity to develop and strengthen research capabilities and confidence, but also gave me access and mentoring by leading experts in the field of ageing syndromes and research.
Karen Hartley (pharmacist) and Stephanie Quinn (clinical scientist) also undertook internships – read their blog about their experiences and how the internships helped them develop – while working to help improve patient care.
I have really appreciated the time the internship has given me to expand my network by meeting others involved in research. It has given me to opportunity to dedicate some time to research and learn how I can incorporate this into my role.
I have really appreciated the time the internship has given me to expand my network by meeting others involved in research.
It has given me to opportunity to dedicate some time to research and learn how I can incorporate this into my role.