Applications open for the CSO WISE Fellowship

Applications are now open for the Chief Scientific Officer’s WISE Fellowship programme, organised by NHS England. This is a 12-month initiative launched in partnership with WISE.

This highly prestigious and competitive programme offers the mid-career female healthcare scientists the chance to receive bespoke leadership development training and receive mentoring by senior leaders in healthcare, industry and academia, as well as speaking and ambassadorial opportunities through the CSO and WISE networks. There is also the opportunity to join senior leaders at NHS England healthcare science advisory meetings and to attend both the WISE and Chief Scientific Officer conferences in 2019.

This programme offers four candidates a career development programme including leadership skills training and mentoring to support their career development. This programme is run in collaboration with WISE.

What our members have said

IBMS members have twice been successful in this programme.

Lead Biomedical Scientist Michelle Martin joined the CSO WISE Fellowship programme in 2016.

She said, “The CSO WISE Fellowship is my greatest professional achievement to date. Chief Scientific Office (CSO) and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) launched a fellowship. NHS England announced the four successful recipients of the first Chief Scientific Officer’s (CSO) Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Fellowship scheme. Following a highly competitive selection process I was one of the successful fellows.”

Advanced Practitioner Healthcare Scientist Dr Joanne Horne was one of the four successful Fellows for 2017.

She commented, “I am absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as one of the CSO WISE Fellows for 2017. I hope that the Fellowship can provide me with the tools to further promote and develop opportunities within cellular pathology for the scientific workforce. I can’t wait to get started!”

IBMS President Alison Geddis is a firm supporter of the CSO Wise Fellowship programme.

She said, “Through this programme members can gain more personal and profession confidence, earn a greater understanding and awareness of their personal strengths and get valuable guidance on planning the next steps in their career. This fellowship programme recognises the significant contributes women have made in STEM fields and seeks to develop four outstanding candidates’ potential. I cannot stress enough how important it is for women to take every opportunity, especially when it’s challenging.

I want to encourage all our female members who are in the middle stages of their careers to put themselves forward and apply.”

Eligibility

To be considered for this programme you must:

• Be a practising healthcare scientist and have a minimum of five years’ experience in your field
• Work in an NHS Trust or private provider of NHS diagnostic services in England
• Have your employers consent to be released on full pay for the required dates as detailed in the timeline
• Agree to the terms and conditions of the Fellowship, including attendance on the training and network days

For more information on how to apply, see the WISE website. The deadline for applications is 13 May.