East of England NIHR Health and Care Professional Internship Programme

The NIHR Health and Care Professional Internship Programme funds a wide range of predoctoral research internship opportunities available across 12 regions in England.

Internships funded through this programme give registered health and care professionals the opportunity to develop research knowledge and skills that can enhance practice, build research delivery expertise or begin a practitioner academic career.

The new NIHR Health and Care Professional (HCP) Internship Programme has increased eligibility and scope as part of the NIHR Academy’s expanded portfolio.

This programme will;

Provide three years of funding at a regional level (three one-year cohorts)
Provide tailored learning and development to registered health and care professions (not including doctors and dentists)
Support individuals across the full range of research related career aspirations
Develop collaborative partnerships and networks between organisations at a regional level
Embed a positive and inclusive research culture within health and care services.

A graphic with four boxes in different colours on it. In each box there is a line of text - 1. Stepping into research 2. Growing into research 3. Research delivery leadership 4. Clinican/ Practitioner academic leadership

The NIHR HCP Internship for the East of England is hosted by the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with the University of East Anglia and Anglia Ruskin University as the Primary Academic Partners.

Applications are now open

Please see below for our application guidance document and the form to use to make an application for Cohort 2. You'll also find links to videos which give more information about the internship.

Application guidance document

Application form

Cohort 2 - Launch webinar

Cohort 2 - Research Internship Pathway 1 & 2 Webinar

Cohort 2 - Research Internship Pathway 3 & 4 Webinar

Cohort 2 - Manager's briefing

Promotional webinars & internship information for Cohorts 1 & 2

Please see below for links to webinars and our Frequently Asked Questions document

Cohort 1 - 2025-2026 - Webinar 1

Cohort 1 - 2025-2026 - Webinar 2

Timescales for Cohort 1

Cohort 1 brochure

For more information please view

East Of England NIHR HCP Internship Programme FAQs

Programme aims

Programme pathways

A graphic which has four boxes on it, giving the information in the text below.

The internship supports flexible entry depending on experience and aspirations, structured around four progressive levels:

1. Stepping into Research

Ideal for those new to research, this pathway introduces foundational research concepts, national training resources (e.g. NIHR Learn), and how research improves care quality and outcomes.

2. Growing into Research

Supports deeper understanding of integrating research into daily practice, through activities such as literature reviews, shadowing, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training.

3. Research Delivery Leadership

Designed for those with prior research exposure, this pathway includes opportunities to shadow senior researchers, attend ethics panels, and engage in research management and infrastructure.

4. Clinician/Practitioner Academic Leadership

Targeted at those considering formal academic research careers. Interns will be supported in research design, methods, academic development, and career planning.

A graphic which says 'What level do I need to be to apply?' with a grey arrow pointing to the right with three blue dots on. The dots each have a line of text - the first is 'I have no understanding, experience or research skill at all' the second is 'I am interested and have some awareness but I am not sure what to do next' and the third is ' I would like to apply for a PhD at some point'.

What is available through this award?

Interns will have access to a wide range of resources, experiences and support, including:

Tailored learning & development plans
Formal learning: Webinars, workshops, short courses (face-to-face & online)
Bespoke placements: Opportunities across clinical trials units, academic institutions, research parks, and more
Mentorship & supervision: One-to-one guidance from experienced clinical academics, researchers, and practitioners
Peer support & alumni network: A strong community of practice for networking, collaboration, and shared learning
Career conversations: Individualised guidance on career progression and academic opportunities
Academic credit opportunities: e.g. credit-bearing modules such as UEA’s Research Practice Portfolio
Specialist opportunities may include: Global Health Research Training, Public and Patient Involvement & Engagement (PPIE), Writing for Publication Support, NIHR Learn, MOOCs, Cambridge BRC PPIE Virtual Training, Access to evaluation, QI and research scholarship programmes.

Eligibility & Funding

Where can I find out more?

Alternative offers

Applications for Cohort 2 are due to open on 1 June 2026

Please click on the image below for a version that can be enlarged.

Timescales for Cohort 2

For application support please contact -

Mehar Shiju

Deputy Programme Director - EoE NIHR HCP Internship. Research and Evaluation Associate - James Paget University Hospital

Email

eoeNIHRinternship@jpaget.nhs.uk

Meet the team

Meet the core team

Our EoE HCP partnership is made up of a number of organisations; hosted by The James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with primary academic partnership from the University of East Anglia and Anglia Ruskin University.

The core team are:

A table giving names of those involved in the programme including Programme Director Professor Claire Whitehouse and Deputy Programme Director Mehar Shiju. If you would like more information about the core team please contact Mehar as detailed above, email eoeNIHRinternship@jpaget.nhs.uk

Current collaborator group partners