Unlocking Career Potential: The Crucial Role of Research Hospital Internships

GOSH connects multi–disciplinary teams of healthcare professionals and scientists to improve the lives of children and young people with rare or complex diseases. Hospital staff are often researchers themselves and there are more than 500 active research projects underway at any one time. Nonetheless, at the NIHR GOSH Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC), we understand that it’s not always easy to know how to get started and take the first steps into research.

Even if you have an idea, how do you get started? Where do you go for funding?

The goal of NIHR GOSH BRC Research Hospital Internships is to help nurses, allied health professionals, clinical scientists, pharmacists and other non-medical healthcare professionals to start this process and to develop their own research proposal. These internships also support participants to apply for research fellowships at the Pre-doctoral, Doctoral, or Post-doctoral level.

The Research Hospital Internships were launched over five years ago to equip staff with the necessary skills to be able to apply for research funding of their own. The Internship also helps build a network of peer support for researchers at similar stages. Since its launch, we have funded over 20 Internships across ten professions. We’re so pleased to say that this year we have funded the most varied and diverse range of staff than ever before, across five different hospital specialties.

We wanted to explore the stories and insights of NIHR GOSH BRC research hospital interns through their own words and experiences.

“In the initial two months of my internship, I have enjoyed having dedicated time for research. Motivated by a long-standing desire to delve deeper into research, this opportunity has granted me the ability to do just that. Encouragement from multiple team members fuelled my decision to apply, and the experience has seamlessly aligned with my expectations. This internship has enabled me to craft a PhD proposal, a milestone made possible only with the invaluable support I have received.” Lisa Edel, Respiratory Neuromuscular Physiotherapist.

“This unique opportunity, coupled with expert support and guidance, has driven me to develop a research idea with the potential to transform clinical care. My motivation stems from the desire to turn a clinical research question into a feasible project, securing funding and paving the way for a future in clinical academia. Though midway, I aspire to integrate research into my clinical work for the benefit of patients and families. May any success I achieve inspire colleagues to incorporate research into their clinical settings and embark on their own transformative internships." Anita Freeman, Clinical Psychologist.

“As a dedicated dietitian in dermatology and Epidermolysis bullosa (EB), I'm thrilled to be part of the BRC DCAF (Doctoral Clinical Practitioner and Academic Fellowship) research internship, a key step in crafting my PhD application. The internship has granted me extra time to focus on my research ideas and seek guidance from a supportive supervisory team. Connecting with like-minded clinicians pursuing similar goals has created an inspiring support network. With a history of publishing research papers, I felt compelled to elevate my skills for more impactful work in my patient group, making a PhD the natural next step. Already immersed in learning the intricacies of a PhD, I've reached out globally, connecting with researchers in the EB field to enhance my understanding of research methodology. My aim is to apply this knowledge to a compelling NIHR funding application for my clinical PhD project this year.” Natalie Yerlett, Principal Paediatric Dietitian.

If you’d like to find out more about our Research Hospital internships or when the next round of applications will open, please contact brc@gosh.nhs.uk.

The internships are just one part of a programme of work at the NIHR GOSH BRC and their Career Development Academy to support researchers at all stages of their careers, ultimately ensuring translation of research ideas into impact for children and young people with rare or complex diseases. You can find out more about our Career Development Academy on our website.