Ophthalmology Research Fellow Full Time NEW

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Ophthalmology Research Fellow

Start Date: asap

Contract Type: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Purpose for Fixed Term: Short term funding

This post is appointed on a fixed-term basis for the primary purpose of providing structured training and supervised clinical development. While the postholder will contribute to service delivery, the overarching purpose of the post is to provide defined educational opportunities, supervised clinical practice, and experience aligned to the relevant specialty training curriculum

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

University Hospital Southampton requires a part time Ophthalmology Clinical Research Fellow to work within our busy Ophthalmic clinical trial unit.

The position is available as soon as possible and ideally we would like it filled within 3 months of the interview date.

Ideally the candidate would hold MRCOphth or equivalent qualification and must have full GMC registration.

This post is an excellent opportunity for a clinician to develop their research and clinical experience in ophthalmology. It is expected that the appointee will publish research papers during their fellowship. The successful candidate will participate in ongoing clinical trials. They will gain exposure to complex medical retinal conditions and become competent in medical retinal injections.

Previous successful candidates have progressed to successfully obtaining a run through training post in ophthalmology after undertaking this fellowship.

No commitment to on call

For informal enquires please contact Professor Andrew Lotery on 023 8120 5049 or a.j.lotery@soton.ac.uk

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Act as an investigator in ophthalmic clinical trials

Assist in prescreening patients for clinical trials

For an overview of the position, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification document. This includes a detailed breakdown of the key responsibilities, role expectations, and the qualifications we are looking for. It outlines the essential criteria for the role and is designed to support you in preparing your application by helping you evaluate how your skills, experience, and professional background align with the requirements of the role.

Additional Information

Appointment will be made under local contractual terms and conditions of service for Trust appointed fellow doctors and dentists. Applicants requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship should ensure they meet the Home Office application criteria prior to submitting an application.

Successful candidates will have an educational framework equivalent to training grade doctors, and there will be a named educational supervisor assigned at the start of the post. The opportunity for Continued Professional Development (CPD) is highly supported and encouraged by the Trust, with options available to take study leave.

Grades for Trust appointed fellows will be paid a basic salary at a nodal pay point linked to the grade, at the rate set out in the National Medical and Dental pay circular. Basic salary plus any additional remuneration (as applicable) for hours set out in the doctors work schedule (e.g. additional hours, weekend allowance, and any hours which attract enhanced pay)

Salary will be assessed based on experience and skills. Eligibility criteria for appointment to a Nodal Point 5;

• Have a minimum of 6 years of Specialty training
• Hold relevant higher specialty exam (e.g FRCP, FRCA, FRCS)
• A portfolio of evidence that demonstrates they meet the criteria for progression (in line with the Curriculum for the speciality similar to deanery trainee)

Proposed interview date: 23rd June 2026

This vacancy closes on or before 27th May 2026

Person specification

Qualifications, Training & Experience

Essential criteria

• At least 12 months ophthalmology practice
• GMC registration with a licence to practise
• Appropriate knowledge base, and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems

Desirable criteria

• GCP training
• Experience of working in the NHS
• Publications, higher degree
• Research experience
• Teaching experience
• Knowledge of general ophthalmology
• Able to perform argon laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy
• Able to perform intra-vitreal injections
• Some experience of interpretation of fluorescein angiograms for age-related macular degeneration and other retinal disorders

Aptitudes and skills

Essential criteria

• Evidence and ability to work effectively in multi-professional teams
• Understanding of equality and diversity and how this affects patients, visitors and staff
• Evidence and ability to communicate and liaise effectively with patients and colleagues (verbal and written communication skills in English).
• Teaching skills.
• Ability to complete Audit.
• Ability to cope with stress.

Desirable criteria

• To show team spirit, leadership skills and organisational skills

Living Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together