Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Brain Tumour Research Fellowships

The closing date is 26 March 2026

Job summary

Applications are invited for the position of Brain Tumour Research Fellowships in Neurosurgery, at Leeds General Infirmary.

The successful applicant(s) will join a large and enthusiastic neurosurgical team, offering a comprehensive neurosurgical service to the people of West Yorkshire and beyond.

The role sits exclusively within the Neurosurgical Department which has three inpatient wards, a neuro HDU and dedicated neuro ICU. The Department offers the full range of neurological surgery, including neurovascular, skull base, neuro-oncology and spinal neurosurgery.

The successful candidate will also undertake a 6-month placement, working in clinical academia, under the supervision of Mr Ryan Mathew, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at University of Leeds. The successful candidate will also undertake a 6-month clinical placement working on the neurosurgical wards (including neuro critical care) and will, alongside the ACPs, provide the daily medical cover to the neurosurgical inpatients.

The successful candidate will contribute to a full shift pattern of on-call cover, including nights and weekends. This will include the assessment and treatment of acutely admitted neurosurgical patients. This on-call commitment is for the full 12 months of the role (ie it will continue during the academic rotation).

Main duties of the job

Clinical

Ward work. Attend daily business ward rounds, clerk routine admissions and to implement the instructions of the senior medical staff. Ensure that elective and acute patients are appropriately prepared for the operating theatre. Ensure that post-operative care in the adult ward and the High Dependency Unit is undertaken accordingly. Take part in the on call full shift system rota.

Operating

Under senior guidance, the Research Fellows will have the opportunity to perform some emergency and elective operations. Attendance at routine operating is encouraged.

Out-Patients

Research Fellows should attend the follow-up clinics are encouraged to attend new patient clinics primarily for teaching purposes.

Administration

Research Fellows assist in the preparation of discharge summaries and for coding data for audit purposes.

Teaching

Instructing nursing staff. Assisting of 5th year medical students during their neurosurgical clerkships is also encouraged.

Research

This role incorporates a 6-month full-time research rotation. This will be supervised by Mr Ryan Mathew and there will be the opportunity for lab-based and clinical project work. Potential projects will be discussed during the initial meeting.

Study and Training

This is a non-training post. However, the experience gained will be the same as the trainees. The post-holder will get equal access to training opportunities including access to theatres and clinics and neuro-HDU on an equal rotational basis.

About us

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS Trusts in the UK. The Neurosurgical Department sits within the Neurosciences CSU, which also includes: neurology, stroke medicine, orthopaedic spinal surgery and pain services. The Department caters to a catchment population of in excess of 3 million people.

Leeds has a strong reputation for training, indeed numerous previous post-holders have gone on to successfully secure training posts.

The senior medical staff are friendly and approachable and will provide career advice/support, educational supervision and are all happy to be directly approached by enthusiastic junior doctors. We make every effort to ensure that both training grade and non-training grade doctors are treated equitably.

Leeds Neurosurgery is a fantastic department in which to work and many of our former trainees now work here, as consultants!

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Details

Date posted

05 March 2026

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Doctor - other

Salary

£52,656 a year +OOH

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9298-MED-954

Job locations

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX


Job description

Job responsibilities

The position of Brain Tumour Research Fellow will suit any motivated and enthusiastic junior doctor; whether they wish to pursue a career in neurosciences or simply want to learn more about this fascinating specialty.

Working in such a busy department allows for the rapid acquisition and honing of practical skills (lumbar puncture, lumbar drain insertion, CSF sampling, arterial line insertion, etc) and we see the clinical confidence of our junior doctors skyrocket, when they join our team.

Junior doctors are actively encouraged to attend theatres, in order to broaden their knowledge and to get directly involved with neurosurgical procedures, during their time in Leeds.

The Department is led by 15 Substantive Consultant Neurosurgeons. The Neurosurgeons work with the Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeons to provide an integrated spinal service. The Neurosurgical Consultants each have a comprehensive general Neurosurgical commitment, as well as particular subspecialty interests.

Mr K Deniz (Clinical Lead) - Vascular and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Miss Chave-Cox - Paediatric, Oncology, craniofacial Neurosurgery

Mr J Goodden - Paediatric, Oncology and Spasticity Neurosurgery

Mr A Tyagi - Paediatric, Vascular and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Mr G Sivakumar - Paediatric, Functional & Oncology Neurosurgery

Mr I Anderson - Vascular and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Mr R Corns - Adult Oncology and Trauma Neurosurgery

Mr R Mathew (Academic Lead) - Adult Oncology and Academic Neurosurgery

Mr J Livermore (Junior Dr Lead) - Adult oncology and Spine Neurosurgery

Mr N Phillips - Pituitary and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Mr A Sheikh - Vascular, Pituitary and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Mr C Derham - Spinal Neurosurgery

Mr C Kellett - Spinal Neurosurgery

Mr D Pal - Spinal Neurosurgery

Mr S Selvanathan - Spinal Neurosurgery

Junior medical cover is provided by two tiers; higher surgical trainees (formerly known as registrars and senior clinical fellows) and lower surgical trainees (formerly known as SHOs and Research fellows).

This position forms part of the lower surgical trainee cohort, however there will be the opportunity for suitably experienced doctors to step up to the higher surgical trainee cohort, subject to the availability of any higher positions and demonstration of outstanding performance at the lower surgical trainee level.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The position of Brain Tumour Research Fellow will suit any motivated and enthusiastic junior doctor; whether they wish to pursue a career in neurosciences or simply want to learn more about this fascinating specialty.

Working in such a busy department allows for the rapid acquisition and honing of practical skills (lumbar puncture, lumbar drain insertion, CSF sampling, arterial line insertion, etc) and we see the clinical confidence of our junior doctors skyrocket, when they join our team.

Junior doctors are actively encouraged to attend theatres, in order to broaden their knowledge and to get directly involved with neurosurgical procedures, during their time in Leeds.

The Department is led by 15 Substantive Consultant Neurosurgeons. The Neurosurgeons work with the Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeons to provide an integrated spinal service. The Neurosurgical Consultants each have a comprehensive general Neurosurgical commitment, as well as particular subspecialty interests.

Mr K Deniz (Clinical Lead) - Vascular and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Miss Chave-Cox - Paediatric, Oncology, craniofacial Neurosurgery

Mr J Goodden - Paediatric, Oncology and Spasticity Neurosurgery

Mr A Tyagi - Paediatric, Vascular and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Mr G Sivakumar - Paediatric, Functional & Oncology Neurosurgery

Mr I Anderson - Vascular and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Mr R Corns - Adult Oncology and Trauma Neurosurgery

Mr R Mathew (Academic Lead) - Adult Oncology and Academic Neurosurgery

Mr J Livermore (Junior Dr Lead) - Adult oncology and Spine Neurosurgery

Mr N Phillips - Pituitary and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Mr A Sheikh - Vascular, Pituitary and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Mr C Derham - Spinal Neurosurgery

Mr C Kellett - Spinal Neurosurgery

Mr D Pal - Spinal Neurosurgery

Mr S Selvanathan - Spinal Neurosurgery

Junior medical cover is provided by two tiers; higher surgical trainees (formerly known as registrars and senior clinical fellows) and lower surgical trainees (formerly known as SHOs and Research fellows).

This position forms part of the lower surgical trainee cohort, however there will be the opportunity for suitably experienced doctors to step up to the higher surgical trainee cohort, subject to the availability of any higher positions and demonstration of outstanding performance at the lower surgical trainee level.

Person Specification

Eligibility, Fitness to practice, and Language Skills

Essential

  • Be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practise from, the GMC at intended start date
  • Eligibility to work in the UK.
  • Advanced Life Support Certificate from the Resuscitation Council UK or equivalent (as required to complete Foundation competences) by intended start date
  • All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues demonstrated by one of the followi
  • Applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English.
  • Achieved the minimum score of 7 across all 4 of the following categories in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in a single sitting within 24 months at time of applicati
  • Achieved the minimum Grade B across all 4 of the following categories in the Occupational English Test (OET) in medicine in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application Listening, Spea
  • If applicants believe they have adequate communication skills, but do not have evidence in one of the above forms, they must provide alternative supporting evidence of language skills

Experience

Essential

  • Prior experience of working as a doctor in the NHS system for at least 12 months (excluding a clinical attachment or observership).
  • 12 months experience after full GMC registration or equivalent, and evidence of achievement of foundation competences, in line with GMC standards / Good Medical Practice; including:
  • make the care or your patient your first concern
  • provide a good standard of practice and care
  • take prompt action if you think that patient safety, dignity or comfort is being compromised
  • protect and promote the health of patients and of the public
  • treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity
  • work in partnership with patients
  • work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients interests
  • be honest and open and act with integrity
  • never discriminate unfairly against patients or colleagues
  • never abuse your patients trust in you or the publics trust in the profession.
  • Evidence of achievement of FY1 and 2 competencies in medicine or Surgery (as defined by the curricula relating to Core Medical training or Core Surgical Training)

Desirable

  • Prior experience working in neurosurgery or other allied specialty

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Evidence that career progression is consistent with personal circumstances
  • Evidence that present achievement andperformance is commensurate with totality of their period of training
  • At least 2 years experience in medical/surgical specialities by the time of intended start date
  • Communication Skills: Demonstrates clarity in written/spoken communication & capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation Able to build rapport, listen, persuade & negotiate
  • Problem Solving & Decision Making: Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems/make decisions, indicating an analytical/scientific approach
  • Empathy & Sensitivity: Capacity to take in others perspectives and treat others with understanding; sees patients as people Demonstrates respect for all
  • Managing Others & Team Involvement: Able to work in multi-professional teams & supervise junior medical staff
  • Ability to show leadership, make decisions, organise and motivate other team members for the benefit of patients through, for example, audit and quality improvement Projects
  • Capacity to work effectively with others
  • Organisation & Planning: Capacity to manage/prioritise time and information effectively

Qualifications

Essential

  • MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

Clinical, Academic, and Personal Skills

Essential

  • Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems
  • Ability to prioritise clinical need
  • Ability to maximise safety and minimise risk
  • Recognition of, and ability to undertake the initial management of, an acutely ill patient
  • Demonstrates understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues
  • Demonstrates understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety, and clinical quality improvement initiatives
  • Demonstrates knowledge of evidence-informed practice
  • Evidence of having personally undertaken audit project(s)
  • Evidence of having personally published original research paper(s)
  • Ability to provide complete details of employment history

Desirable

  • Aptitude for practical skills, e.g. manual dexterity
  • Successful completion of relevant skills course(s),
  • Research and audit skills:
  • Evidence of relevant academic and research achievements, e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements
  • Evidence of involvement in an audit project, a quality improvement project, formal research project or other activity which:
  • focuses on patient safety and clinical improvement
  • demonstrates an interest in and commitment to the specialty beyond the mandatory curriculum
  • Teaching: Evidence of interest in, and experience of teaching
  • Evidence of feedback for teaching
  • Instructor status (or a recommendation for instructor status) in an advanced life support course (ALS, ATLS, EPLS, APLS) or equivalent course
Person Specification

Eligibility, Fitness to practice, and Language Skills

Essential

  • Be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practise from, the GMC at intended start date
  • Eligibility to work in the UK.
  • Advanced Life Support Certificate from the Resuscitation Council UK or equivalent (as required to complete Foundation competences) by intended start date
  • All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues demonstrated by one of the followi
  • Applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English.
  • Achieved the minimum score of 7 across all 4 of the following categories in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in a single sitting within 24 months at time of applicati
  • Achieved the minimum Grade B across all 4 of the following categories in the Occupational English Test (OET) in medicine in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application Listening, Spea
  • If applicants believe they have adequate communication skills, but do not have evidence in one of the above forms, they must provide alternative supporting evidence of language skills

Experience

Essential

  • Prior experience of working as a doctor in the NHS system for at least 12 months (excluding a clinical attachment or observership).
  • 12 months experience after full GMC registration or equivalent, and evidence of achievement of foundation competences, in line with GMC standards / Good Medical Practice; including:
  • make the care or your patient your first concern
  • provide a good standard of practice and care
  • take prompt action if you think that patient safety, dignity or comfort is being compromised
  • protect and promote the health of patients and of the public
  • treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity
  • work in partnership with patients
  • work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients interests
  • be honest and open and act with integrity
  • never discriminate unfairly against patients or colleagues
  • never abuse your patients trust in you or the publics trust in the profession.
  • Evidence of achievement of FY1 and 2 competencies in medicine or Surgery (as defined by the curricula relating to Core Medical training or Core Surgical Training)

Desirable

  • Prior experience working in neurosurgery or other allied specialty

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Evidence that career progression is consistent with personal circumstances
  • Evidence that present achievement andperformance is commensurate with totality of their period of training
  • At least 2 years experience in medical/surgical specialities by the time of intended start date
  • Communication Skills: Demonstrates clarity in written/spoken communication & capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation Able to build rapport, listen, persuade & negotiate
  • Problem Solving & Decision Making: Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems/make decisions, indicating an analytical/scientific approach
  • Empathy & Sensitivity: Capacity to take in others perspectives and treat others with understanding; sees patients as people Demonstrates respect for all
  • Managing Others & Team Involvement: Able to work in multi-professional teams & supervise junior medical staff
  • Ability to show leadership, make decisions, organise and motivate other team members for the benefit of patients through, for example, audit and quality improvement Projects
  • Capacity to work effectively with others
  • Organisation & Planning: Capacity to manage/prioritise time and information effectively

Qualifications

Essential

  • MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

Clinical, Academic, and Personal Skills

Essential

  • Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems
  • Ability to prioritise clinical need
  • Ability to maximise safety and minimise risk
  • Recognition of, and ability to undertake the initial management of, an acutely ill patient
  • Demonstrates understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues
  • Demonstrates understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety, and clinical quality improvement initiatives
  • Demonstrates knowledge of evidence-informed practice
  • Evidence of having personally undertaken audit project(s)
  • Evidence of having personally published original research paper(s)
  • Ability to provide complete details of employment history

Desirable

  • Aptitude for practical skills, e.g. manual dexterity
  • Successful completion of relevant skills course(s),
  • Research and audit skills:
  • Evidence of relevant academic and research achievements, e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements
  • Evidence of involvement in an audit project, a quality improvement project, formal research project or other activity which:
  • focuses on patient safety and clinical improvement
  • demonstrates an interest in and commitment to the specialty beyond the mandatory curriculum
  • Teaching: Evidence of interest in, and experience of teaching
  • Evidence of feedback for teaching
  • Instructor status (or a recommendation for instructor status) in an advanced life support course (ALS, ATLS, EPLS, APLS) or equivalent course

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX


Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX


Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Neurosurgeon

Ryan Matthew

ryan.matthew@nhs.net

01133923297

Details

Date posted

05 March 2026

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Doctor - other

Salary

£52,656 a year +OOH

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9298-MED-954

Job locations

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX


Supporting documents

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