Fellow 17 (project 3.17)

General practitioner (GP) shortages have reached critical levels across Europe, with over 40% of GPs in the UK considering leaving the profession within the next five years. This shortage is compounded by increasing international mobility within the healthcare workforce, although little research has been done to explore the factors driving GP migration. Job dissatisfaction, particularly driven by diagnostic uncertainty, burnout, and poor work-life balance, are among the leading causes of GP turnover. 
Despite this, evidence on effective strategies to retain GPs remains limited. Current interventions often fail to address the root causes of burnout or focus on individual-level solutions rather than systemic factors. This research aims to fill this gap by integrating qualitative and quantitative data to develop performance intelligence systems capable of identifying factors influencing GP retention, wellbeing, and productivity. 
The project will also explore how these strategies can be scaled across different healthcare contexts, ensuring that interventions are adaptable and inclusive, contributing to a more sustainable and equitable healthcare workforce. 

This research will employ a robust analytical framework to generate quantitative insights on factors at personal, practice, and health service levels linked to general practitioners’ turnover. Secondly, this research will investigate the qualitative perspectives from GPs on concepts such as ‘resilience’ and ‘health-promoting environment’, along with key drivers for leaving the profession. The study will co-develop new indicators of GP turnover and integrate them into data intelligence tools, such as actionable dashboards, to effectively communicate findings across key stakeholders, including clinicians, policymakers, and healthcare managers. This research should aim to inform on workforce retention strategies among GPs in the UK and the EU. The project includes secondments for a substantial portion of the recruitment period to leading UK and international organizations, providing opportunities to learn from best practices and apply cross-contextual insights. 

The Clinical Informatics and Health Outcomes Research Group (CIHORG) is the home of the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC), one of the world oldest sentinel networks as well as involved in a wide range of observational and interventional research.  
The RCGP is the largest professional body for GPs in the UK, with over 54,000 members aiming to maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards. The RSC has been involved in the sentinel surveillance of respiratory disease, including influenza and COVID-19, for over 50 years. It is a long-standing collaboration between the RCGP and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).   
The RSC collected pseudonymised data from 2,000 general practice network members and is used for disease surveillance and research. CIHORG has direct links to the RSC member practices who record high quality data, collect virology, serology and other samples, and recruit practices into research projects. 

• A Master’s degree in health services research, epidemiology, public health, health economics, applied statistics, biomedical sciences, or a medical degree with relevant experience. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in quantitative methods and experience with programming tools such as R, Stata, Python, or similar. An interest in acquiring new data science and programming skills is required. 
• A strong interest in health services research, with experience and enthusiasm for engaging with stakeholders across healthcare systems. 
• An excellent academic track record, with scientific curiosity and a commitment to rigorous research. 
• Fluent written and spoken English

In addition, the following experience would be helpful, but not essential: 

• Practical knowledge of health services operations, through management, clinical experience, or field research in healthcare institutions. 
• Previous involvement in health services research projects. 
• Experience with project management, including coordinating tasks, managing timelines, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to achieve research objectives. 
• Demonstrated adaptability, curiosity, problem-solving skills, and leadership capabilities. 
• Experience in studying European healthcare systems, particularly in the context of health system performance assessment

We are seeking a highly motivated and resourceful aspiring researcher to join our interdisciplinary team for cutting-edge doctoral research. This position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of health services research, epidemiology, and data science, engaging with clinical and managerial stakeholders to create meaningful impact within healthcare systems.

This 3-year PhD position is funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Horizon Europe Guarantee scheme and will be embedded in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions of the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101168576.  You will be appointed as fulltime PhD for 3 years with the University of Oxford. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) programme offers a highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions. The successful candidates will receive a salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for early-stage researchers. Exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment. In addition to their individual scientific projects, all fellows will benefit from further continuing education, which includes internships and secondments, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences.  

Be aware the contracts include social security coverage providing at least sickness and parental benefits, invalidity and accidents at work and occupational diseases, covering the fellows in every place of implementation of HealthIntelAct activities. As these will be paid by the employer and depend on country-specific regulations, the final net salary that each fellow will receive may differ. 

See recruitment procedure. You can apply using the online application form. For more information about the position you can contact simon.delusignanpa@phc.ox.ac.uk and bernardo.meza-torres@phc.ox.ac.uk at CIHORG. 

This position is based in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, the UK’s top-ranked university for primary care research. The department is internationally recognized for its excellence in primary care and health services research, with a strong focus on addressing pressing public health challenges through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches. Joining our department provides access to world-class resources, expert mentorship, and a vibrant academic community dedicated to improving health outcomes globally. 
All doctoral degrees for fellows based at the University of Oxford will be awarded by the same institution.