One of the aspects that initially drew me to infectious diseases was how intrinsically research is embedded within clinical care. During my FY1 year, working through the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw first-hand how high-quality clinical research (such as RECOVERY) could rapidly influence patient management and outcomes.
As my interest in infectious diseases developed, so too did my interest in contributing to research. However, as an IMT working in a hospital without a large academic research unit (and without protected academic time or an academic supervisor), the prospect of completing research projects felt daunting. I was uncertain where to begin, who to approach, and how to ensure I didn’t stumble into the pitfall of spending hours on something without tangible academic outcomes!
I think that is what really drew me to the BIA’s Mentorship Scheme. The opportunity to hear directly from clinicians and researchers and gain their guidance, perspective, and practical advice when it comes to completing infection research.
The scheme matched me with a mentor taking into account my own academic and clinical interests. We met for several informal video calls, which provided a valuable space to discuss their career journey, the approaches to balancing clinical and academic commitments, and practical strategies for developing a research profile. These conversations were particularly helpful in demystifying academic training applications and in understanding how to identify feasible and realistic research projects alongside clinical training.
One of the most tangible outcomes of this mentorship was the opportunity to work on a review exploring novel diagnostic technologies in neurological infections. With my mentor’s guidance and support, this developed into a first-author publication. Beyond the academic output itself, the process was an important learning experience, from shaping a research question, to writing for publication, and navigating peer review.
More broadly, the mentorship programme really showed me the value of structured, supportive mentorship in infection training. This was especially valuable as a trainee outside a “traditional” academic environment, where informal exposure to research opportunities can be limited.
The BIA ERC Mentorship Scheme offers an invaluable opportunity for early career clinicians and researchers to gain insight, confidence, and direction. For those considering a research-active career in infection (particularly those without ready access to academic infrastructure) mentorship can play a huge role in demystifying academic training pathways, as well as be a way in which research opportunities can arise!
Cansu Ozdemir
4th Year Medical Student
Through the mentorship programme, I gained a thorough understanding of the research process, from conducting literature reviews and critically appraising papers to drafting and revising a manuscript. My mentor and I worked closely together and successfully published my first ever paper! Alongside this, I was able to explore the training pathway for infectious diseases and gain a clearer picture of the career progression and what the speciality actually entails.