Become a Supervisor

What features of good placements are you looking for in project proposals?

Features of good AI project placements include: appropriate composition and skills-mix of the hosting team and supervisor, concrete and credible timelines, opportunities to acquire skills and knowledge highly relevant to the clinical AI curriculum, embedding the fellow deeply in the team, and opportunities for publication and presentation.

Who can be an AI project supervisor on a project proposal?

An AI project supervisor must be a senior team member of a team working on the deployment and/or evaluation of clinical AI technology in the NHS.

What are the requirements for the composition of the hosting team?

The hosting team must be multidisciplinary in composition, with dedicated capacity for the deployment and/or evaluation of clinical AI tools in the NHS. Previous track record of successful AI deployment is especially useful in demonstrating the suitability of the team.

Are project proposals quality assured?

Yes. The quality assurance criteria are included transparently in the submission template. Projects are released to candidates for matching only after being quality assured.

Does the project proposal have to cover every part of the curriculum of the NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI?

No. The educational aims of the project need to meet most of the learning objectives of 3 of: Regulation & Standards, Validation & Evaluation, Integration & Systems Impact, Strategy & Culture. If a project is primarily focussed on scoping or building an AI tool (and is unlikely to reach clinical deployment in the fellowship year), it is unlikely to meet the learning objectives of a fellow and unlikely to pass quality assurance.

What if there’s more than one project going on at my site during the fellowship year?

This is a good indicator of the fellow being exposed to different parts of the AI lifecycle and is strongly encouraged. Document other projects in the field 'Fallback work if primary project is disrupted'.

What if my project requires highly specialised baseline skills/knowledge/background as a minimum?

If a project is so specialised as to be undeliverable without particular essential skills/knowledge/background, please contact the faculty regarding the suitability. It is strongly recommended that skills/knowledge/background are listed as desirable in your proposal, as the field of clinical AI is still emerging and additional requirements reduce the chances of a project being successfully matched.

Can the same supervisor/site submit multiple different project proposals?

Yes. Use a new template per proposal.

Can the same project proposal be eligible for different regional pools?

Yes. Specify all the NHS Trusts/sites from which a fellow could join the project, and it will be entered into each appropriate pool.

Do supervisors participate in the recruitment of fellows?

Yes. Supervisors are invited to participate in interview panels for the recruitment of fellows to their regions. This is optional but highly encouraged.

How does project matching happen?

Applicants will rank the projects they are eligible to be matched to. The highest scoring applicant from the interview stage in each regional project pool will be matched to their highest ranked project. The next highest scoring applicant is matched to their highest ranked project remaining, etc. until all posts are filled.

Do all proposed projects receive a fellow?

No. For example if more project proposals for a regional pool are received than the number of posts to be allocated, there will be projects that do not receive fellows.

What is the experience level and calibre of fellows?

All joining fellows meet the Essential criteria of the Person Specification, and many fellows will also meet the Desirable criteria.

What is a nominated applicant with a sponsorship arrangement?

Nominated applicants are NHS applicants who have ringfenced funding from a sponsor for their post, so their entry to the programme is non-competitive — unlike competitive applicants, who are shortlisted and ranked for competitive posts that are already attached to funding. These applicants still interview for posts and are held to the same standard of appointability as other candidates. Their sponsor must confirm funding to the faculty by 11 Dec 2026. These applicants may have a project that is specifically reserved for them on the fellowship. Document this arrangement on your project proposal only if it has already been agreed with the nominated applicant and the faculty.

What are the responsibilities and the time commitment for a supervisor?

After a fellow is matched to their project, a supervisor must organise a Letter of Access or honorary contract for their institution, and any other resources (hardware, software, IT accounts etc.) required for the fellow to work on the project. The supervisor must organise a suitable induction period and project orientation for the fellow upon joining the team. After the fellow joins the team, it is expected that there is 1hr of direct supervision per week from either the supervisor or another senior team member. Over the course of the fellowship, the fellow and the supervisor must have 3 formally documented attachment meetings and co-develop the fellow's Personal Development Plan.

What are the finances associated with hosting a fellow?

The hosted fellow continues to be salaried by their existing employer. The addition of a skilled clinical team member with training in clinical AI is the benefit realised by the hosting team. The fellow's time is released for 0.4 FTE for the duration of the attachment for fellowship activities, which includes their AI project. There is no financial transaction to the host team. It is the supervisor's responsibility to arrange access to relevant local resources (hardware, software, IT accounts etc.) for the fellow to successfully complete the project.

What is the duration and intensity of the placement?

The placement must align to the educational year of the NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI: August to the following August. Fellows work for 2 days a week on their attached projects during this time, minus pro rata leave, and other fellowship-associated educational activities.

What happens if the original timelines and deliverables change on the project?

The project proposal is a roadmap, and if the plan for the project changes, this should be clearly documented with the fellow's input and submitted to the faculty. If the project changes to such a degree that the learning objectives of the fellow are affected, this will need further discussion.