WEHI offers a range of training opportunities for clinicians and medical students to develop skills in medical research.

Clinician-scientists are key members of our multidisciplinary research teams. Their first-hand clinical expertise enables clinician-scientists to identify important questions that can be addressed by research; and within the laboratory clinician-scientists drive research towards better detection, prevention and treatment of diseases.

Close links to the clinic, and support from WEHI’s Clinical Translation Centre, enable clinician-scientists to oversee the translation of WEHI’s research from the laboratory to the clinic.

Clinician-scientist training opportunities

We encourage medical students and clinicians at all levels of their career to consider research training at WEHI, which is the University of Melbourne’s Department of Medical Biology. Opportunities for training include short-term placements as well as programs such as clinician PhD studies.

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Medical Student Vacation Scholarships

WEHI offers opportunities for undergraduate medical students to undertake paid research placements over a 4-week period between November and February.

Vacation scholarships allow medical students to get hands-on experience in medical research, contributing to the work of leading research teams at WEHI. Students can be placed in a range of research disciplines, such as cancer, infection and immunity, neurological disorders, genetics and computational and structural biology.

Eligibility and selection criteria

• Be currently enrolled in an Australian undergraduate medical degree
• Be currently in years 2 to 4 of their degree*
• Be available between November and February for their full-time placement
• Have approached potential supervisor/s to discuss research project and placement

* First year students can apply if they have completed an Honours degree

If you have attempted to contact a potential supervisor, but have been unable to secure a placement, please email cdt_coordinators@wehi.edu.au to enquire regarding alternative opportunities.

How to apply

• Applications open: Friday 9 June, 2023
• Applications close: Friday 4 August, 2023

To start your application, please complete the following form: WEHI Medical Student Vacation Scholarship Application Form 2023

Please ensure you upload all required documentation, in order to be considered.

Outcomes will be announced by the end of September.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Contact

For all other enquiries, please contact cdt_coordinators@wehi.edu.au.

Clinician PhD studies

A PhD is the highest level of research training degree. Clinician PhD students at WEHI undertake original research projects, with support from leading researchers, clinician-scientist mentors and the Clinical Translation Centre.

Learn more about WEHI's clinician PhD program.

MACH Track

MACH-Track is a new program organised by the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health, in which WEHI is a partner. It allows promising recent medical graduates to integrate career development in research, including PhD studies, with completion of postgraduate specialist or generalist training.

Learn more about MACH-Track or contact WEHI’s Clinical Translation Centre for more information.

Clinician postdoctoral placements

Clinicians with a PhD can undertake postdoctoral research at WEHI. Please apply directly to laboratory heads in your area of interest, or contact the Clinical Translation Centre to discuss your opportunities.

Benefits of clinician scientist training at WEHI

WEHI offers specific programs for clinician scientists to support their professional develoment and career progression. These include mentoring, career advice and support for maintaining thieir clinical involvement.

Clinician mentoring

All incoming medical students and clinicians are offered the opportunity to join the WEHI clinician mentor program. Generally, a new clinician PhD student will be paired with a mentor who is a final year clinician PhD student or postdoc of a similar discipline. Group peer support sessions for all clinician students are also offered to provide guidance, support and networking opportunities.

Clinical session support

To support clinician PhD students and postdocs remaining clinically engaged during their research tenure, WEHI offers clinician session support to selected applicants when other funding options are not available. This scheme considers the value offered to the applicant and their host laboratory from the proposed clinical engagements. Please contact the Clinical Translation Centre to discuss this opportunity.

Learn more about clinical translation at WEHI

Research highlights

• How two decades of WEHI research underpinned the development of a new anti-cancer agent
• Discovering the genetic causes of a debilitating eye disease
• Updating evidence-based guidance for managing iron deficiency
• Trials to prevent unnecessary chemotherapy for cancer
• Delivering hope for dementia: research program overview

Clinician-scientist news

• Queen's Birthday honour for clinician-scientist Professor Andrew Roberts AM
• Clinician-scientist collaboration with a consumer leads to discovery of a genetic cause of immunodeficiency
• Clinician PhD student profile: Dr Andrew Baldi
• Professor John Wentworth: delaying type 1 diabetes in children

Contacts

Clinical Translation Centre: ctc@wehi.edu.au

Student and academic administration: Scientific Education Office, education@wehi.edu.au