Get Experience in Applied Research (GEAR)

Move Up a Gear at IPC

Programme details

The Institute of Public Care (IPC) is a research and development centre at Oxford Brookes University. We provide applied research and evaluation, consultancy, and training to help NHS trusts, government bodies, local authorities, charities, and commercial organisations make a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing.

We launched our Get Experience in Applied Research (GEAR) Programme in 2022 – offering free training and opportunities for paid, project-based work experience in consultancy and applied research for postgraduate students and early career academics from an ethnically diverse background, who are under-represented among our staff.

We are delighted to offer our GEAR programme again in the academic year 2024/25. 

Deadline for applications is 30th September 2024.

We would like to hear from you if:

  • You are a PhD student or early career academic in any subject at Oxford Brookes (e.g. a post-doctoral student, research assistant, or associate lecturer);
  • You have an interest in health and social care issues in the UK;
  • You have capacity to engage in bite-sized project work with us at any point during the academic year; and
  • You are from a minority ethnic background.

You do not need any previous experience of consultancy or applied research in health and social care.

Our work covers a variety of areas such as social care and support for older people and adults with disability, health inequalities, early intervention and social work with children and families, adoption, and a range of activities such as evidence reviews, service and workforce development, and cost analysis in these sectors. For more information on what we do, visit our website. 

The GEAR programme offers participants a range of invaluable opportunities, including:

  • Mentorship (subject-specific for project work), coaching and other 1:1 support from an experienced IPC colleague.
  • Free training resources in applied research and evaluation methods relating to public services for people, for example interviewing vulnerable service users or professionals working in health and social care, rapid evidence reviews, designing online surveys etc.
  • Opportunities for paid, bite-sized work in applied research and consultancy with IPC.

By joining the GEAR programme, participants can enhance their research skills, gain practical experience, and build a strong foundation for a successful career in health and social care research and consultancy.

If you have any questions about the programme, please contact Agnes Turnpenny at aturnpenny@brookes.ac.uk. If you are interested in applying, please fill in this short GEAR application form and Agnes will contact you to arrange an introductory conversation. 

Programme Feedback

It was amazing, a really great opportunity. It’s been a privilege to work with IPC. I did some really useful training on undertaking qualitative interviews and then I was offered and completed 3 sets of paid project work for IPC: interviewing vulnerable parents and facilitating focus groups with health and social care managers. Through the work with IPC, I gained valuable experience in applying research skills. I also got an exposure the UK health and social care system. I was able to talk with lots of patients and service users, also professionals about their experiences. It gave me experience in managing my time and communications with different people. I learned a lot. I got lots of help from the people I worked with at IPC – they were very helpful and supportive. I have since gained two research roles at Oxford University and a local hospital supporting clinical trials there. The work at IPC really helped my CV."
Roomana
Roomana
"I have absolutely loved it. To be given an opportunity to do the taster sessions, to be involved in a paid project. I’m really happy with the whole process. I have felt very supported, provided with lots of tools… It helped, so I wasn’t as nervous as I might have been doing it [interviews]. It’s also really useful for my career progression to be involved. Having that grounding and understanding. It will all help."
Rachel
Rachel
"You put me at my ease in the first months… the comms, the training, meeting up to discuss the project. That open communication was what I needed, and the flexibility which allowed me to say yes and be involved in project work [alongside other teaching and research commitments]. I have really enjoyed working in this way where you give guidance and we have a discussion before going into the project work. The project work itself – it’s already on my CV. It adds an extra layer of experience I typically wouldn’t get otherwise and it feeds into the direction I’d like to go in my career."
Chiko
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Connect with IPC

For more information about the GEAR programme, please contact Agnes Turnpenny. We look forward to helping you take the next step in your research career.

Email
01865 951906

Dr Agnes Turnpenny,
Consultant

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