Careers in Methodology

Raising awareness of methodology careers in health and care research methodology

About us

Be a research methodologist and make a difference!

Improvements in health and care rely on highly skilled researchers with specialist skills in research methodology.

Research methodologies important in this field include information systems, ethics, epidemiology, trial management, statistics, economics, qualitative and mixed methods. We need to expand the numbers of researchers with these skills to raise the quality and scientific rigour of medical and health care research.

The methodology incubator is raising awareness of the importance of methodologists in health and social care research and of the career opportunities in this field.

The methodology incubator is focussed on careers and has strong links with the methodological research community through our work-streams and incubator members.

Join the Methodology Incubator

Join us to raise awareness of the diverse range of careers in methodology and help us promote opportunities methodologists to lead and co-lead research proposals.

LINK TO JOIN

Workstreams

Current Workstreams are: Qualitative Researchers, Paediatric Methodology, Career Pathways, Health Data Science, Value of Methodology, Awareness Raising, Internships and Training, Information Retrieval Specialists.

Information Retrieval Specialists

Overall objectives: Improving information retrieval methods to improve health, public health and social care research. To establish a community of […]

Qualitative Researchers

Aim: To support research capacity development and careers of qualitative methodologists including those who have an interest in mixed methods. […]

Paediatric Methodology

In the Paediatric Workstream of the Methodology Incubator, we seek to substantially advance research capacity and capability across child health. […]

Career Pathways

Aims: To attract people into rewarding careers in methodology Propose solutions to identify gaps in funded training Propose solutions for […]

Health Data Science

Aim: To set in motion the process of creating a body of trained investigators with an understanding of the applied […]

Value of Methodology

Aims:  Promote methodology careers in health and care research. Objectives: Highlight the impact of methodology, joining with team science and […]

Awareness Raising

Aims: To promote the importance of applied methodologists in team science. To promote the variety of interesting and rewarding careers […]

Internships and Training

Aim: To run a successful internship scheme that addresses the training needs for methodologists in order to advance their careers. […]

Events

CORE Information Retrieval Forum 2026

CORE Information Retrieval Forum 2026

CORE Information Retrieval Forum 2026

Date
29 Jan 2026

Time 9:00am - 6:00pm Location The Catalyst, Newcastle Upon Tyne NIHR Innovation Observatory and NIHR Methodology Incubator are joining forces once again to…

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CORE Conversations: Reflecting on 2025, Shaping 2026

On Thursday 30th January 2025, NIHR Innovation Observatory and NIHR Methodology Incubator joined forces to bring the first ever CORE Information Retrieval Forum to The Catalyst in Newcastle. ‘CORE’, standing for Community, Opportunities, Research and Experience, is exactly what was delivered through a mix of keynotes, panels, presentations and plenty of networking!

This unique day was a celebration of innovation in the field, designed for people who specialise in information retrieval, systematic…

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Professional Development for Research Methodologists

We invite expressions of interest to attend an in-person event in York on Tuesday 1 July (10:00-15:00), which will focus on providing networking opportunities for research methodologists and an opportunity to discuss career development.

 The event has been organised by the NIHR Methodology Incubator Careers workstream, led by Professor Catey Bunce, Honorary Professor of…

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Review of the labour market for health economists on behalf of the UK Health Economist’s Study Group

Commissioned by the UK Health Economists’ Study Group, this review considers key trends in the labour market for health economists based on an analysis of job adverts over the last seven years and surveys of employers and employees in late 2024.

From these two perspectives, we consider variations by career stage, sector, and region in experiences of recruiting, retaining and promoting…

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