Training and careers group

The training and careers group (TCG) is responsible for developing the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) strategy for non-clinical and clinical training, careers and skills. The TCG takes a broad, long-term perspective on MRC’s role and strategy in meeting skills shortages, the academic needs of trainees, clear career pathways, and the skills needs of the future.

It assists MRC in coordinating the research training strategy with other organisations including the National Institute for Health Research, industry, professional organisations and the other research councils. The group liaises with MRC research boards and the other overview groups to ensure training and research strategies are aligned.

Membership from 1 April 2023

  • Professor Rosalind Smyth (Chair), University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
  • Professor Marina Botto (Clinical Panel Chair), Imperial College London
  • Professor Matt Lambon-Ralph (Non-Clinical Panel Chair), University of Cambridge
  • Dr Robin Buckle, MRC, permanent member
  • Professor Diana Eccles, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton
  • Professor Adrian Liston, Babraham Institute
  • Professor Rickie Patani, Institute of Neurology, University College London
  • Professor Louise Wain, University of Leicester
  • Professor Umberto D’Alessandro, MRC Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  • Professor Rachel Upthegrove, University of Birmingham
  • Professor Elizabeth Patton, The University of Edinburgh
  • Professor Ryan Hicks, AstraZeneca

See the training and careers group conflicts of interest register.

Contacts

Dr Jennifer Anderson – Head of Training and Careers

Email: jennifer.anderson@mrc.ukri.org

Projects, bodies and committees:

  • MRC Training and Careers Group
  • UKRI Research Careers Network
  • Clinical Academic Training Forum (CATF)

Dr Tom Beattie – Programme Manager for Doctoral Strategy

Email: tom.beattie@mrc.ukri.org

Patch:

  • MRC doctoral training policy and strategy
  • MRC Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP)
  • Industrial CASE studentships (iCASE)
  • oversight of all MRC-funded PhD students and opportunities

Projects, bodies and committees:

  • MRC training and careers group
  • various DTP and centres for doctoral training advisory boards and steering committees
  • UKRI/cross-council groups on doctoral training
  • AMS mentoring and career development programme

Dr Samantha Moore – Programme Manager for Clinical Careers

Email: samantha.moore@mrc.ukri.org

Patch:

  • strategy for clinical careers
  • transition to independence fellowships (Clinician Scientist Fellowships)
  • transition to leadership fellowships (Senior Clinical Fellowships)
  • clinical academic research partnerships (CARP)

Projects, bodies and committees:

  • MRC training and careers group
  • Clinical Academic Training Forum (CATF)

Dr Charles Evans – Programme Manager for Clinical Careers

Email: charles.evans@mrc.ukri.org

Patch:

  • strategy for clinical careers
  • clinical research training fellowships (CRTF)
  • MRC Deputy Lead for UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) scheme

Projects, bodies and committees:

  • MRC training and careers group
  • AMS starter grants for clinical lecturers

Dr Grace Belshaw – Programme Manager for Non-Clinical Careers

Email: grace.belshaw@mrc.ukri.org 

Patch:

  • strategy for non-clinical careers
  • transition to independence fellowships (career development awards)
  • transition to leadership fellowships (senior non-clinical fellowships)
  • MRC lead for UKRI future leaders fellowships (FLF) scheme
  • oversight of new investigator research grants (NIRGs)

Projects, bodies and committees:

  • MRC training and careers group
  • various FLF committees and project areas

Jamie Kerr – Panel Manager for Non-Clinical Fellowships

Email: jamie.kerr@mrc.ukri.org 

Competitions:

  • non-clinical fellowships (career development awards, senior non-clinical fellows)
  • clinical academic research partnerships (CARP)

Zoe Walker – Panel Manager for Clinical Fellowships

Email: zoe.walker@mrc.ukri.org

Competitions:

  • clinical fellowships (clinical research training fellowships, clinician scientist fellows, senior clinical fellows)

Annie McKeown – Panel Manager for Studentships and Transition Support

Email: anne.mckeown@mrc.ukri.org

Competitions:

  • MRC doctoral training partnerships (DTP)
  • transition support award

Projects, bodies and committees:

  • Secretariat for MRC training and careers group
  • MRC studentship reporting and data capture
  • UKRI FLF scheme (MRC-related applications only)

Last updated: 20 December 2023

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