About the Academy of Medical Sciences

The Academy of Medical Sciences is the independent, expert voice of biomedical and health research in the UK. Our mission is to help create an open and progressive research sector to improve the health of people everywhere.

• We support researchers with innovative funding and career development opportunities.
• We help create a more sustainable environment for delivering outstanding research.
• We help researchers to work with academia, public, policymakers and industry to make the greatest difference to health.

Our strengths are:

• A Fellowship of the most influential scientists in the UK and worldwide
• An inspiring community of emerging and established research leaders
• A vibrant and growing global network of partnerships and collaborations
• An ability to influence policy by connecting the insights of our Fellowship, researchers, patients and public
• The involvement of patients and the public in shaping our work
• A talented and committed staff team who embody our values
• Our Royal Charter and charitable status

Find out more about the Academy by visiting our website: https://acmedsci.ac.uk/about

The Academy of Medical Sciences and the University of Edinburgh are pleased to open applications to their new postdoctoral policy immersion scheme.

Under this scheme, University of Edinburgh Postdoctoral researchers will have the opportunity to undertake a fully funded 12-week policy immersion placement at the Academy of Medical Sciences, the UK’s National Academy for biomedical and health research.

This new postdoctoral policy immersion scheme builds on the more than 10 years of successful PhD student policy internships run by the Academy, and we are delighted to offer this new scheme specifically tailored for postdoctoral researchers.

The scheme is designed to give successful candidates first-hand experience of the medical science policy and communications environment, to gain insights into how research can impact on policy, and to build valuable networks with the UK’s most eminent medical scientists and key science and health stakeholders.

The details of the scheme, and how to apply, are set out in the job pack below. In brief, Postdoctoral researchers will be supported by a fully funded 12-week stipend, including relocation expenses to London for the duration of the immersion. Throughout the 12-weeks, the successful candidate will lead on the delivery of a bespoke project that will expose them a range of activities supporting evidence-based policy. All eligible candidates will be assessed through a competitive application process.

Interviews for this opportunity will be conducted remotely. We would expect successful candidates to relocate to London for the period of their immersion, with the cost of this relocation and associated travel covered by the scheme. Given the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19, successful candidates will be kept closely informed on any potential impacts on their immersion period, and how these can be mitigated or managed. The Academy of Medical Sciences is currently working in an agile way with staff working both from home and from our Central London offices.

What the scheme provides

The scheme will

• Provide researchers and emerging leaders with a deeper understanding of medical science policy

• Contribute to the exploration of medical science in its wider cultural context by helping to build bridges between the scientific community and policymakers.

• Enable researchers to work at the interface between medical science and policymaking.

• Allow successful candidates to build valuable contacts with senior scientists and policymakers, and expose them to the wide range of public, charitable and commercial organisations involved in UK medical science.

Details of the immersion scheme can found in the job pack which is attached at the bottom of this page.

The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Monday 20 June 2022. Interviews will be conducted in the weeks commencing 20 and 27 June 2022.

Please contact Lorraine Jackson ([email protected]) or Dr James Squires ([email protected]) with any queries related to this scheme.

Application procedure

Please submit your applications through the Cezanne online portal.

Candidates are asked to supply:

• A short covering letter briefly describing their reasons for applying and any experience they have had in science policy or communication, or related fields.

• Any relevant institutional permission from their administration office including written permission from their line manager (if relevant, you should also seek permission from your funder before applying).

• Expression of preference as to the timing of the immersion.

• A two page CV.

Eligibility

The scheme is open to all University of Edinburgh Postdoctoral researchers. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and specialisms, and working in the biomedical or health sciences is not a prerequisite for applying.

To be eligible, the candidate’s University of Edinburgh employment contract dates must cover the period of the immersion.