The Department of Psychiatry and the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health intend to appoint the inaugural Professor of Women's Mental Health. This statutory Professorship will be held jointly between the two departments and carries the additional role of Founding Director of the newly established Oxford Centre for Women's Mental Health. The successful candidate will also hold a Professorial Fellowship at Wolfson College.
The Oxford Centre for Women's Mental Health is a major new cross-divisional initiative funded through the University's Strategic Research Fund. Established in response to urgent global calls to address the persistent women's health gap, the Centre will be the first interdisciplinary centre of its kind dedicated to advancing research, education and policy in women's mental health. Bringing together expertise from across the biological, clinical, psychological, social, cultural and structural determinants of health, the Centre will position Oxford as the leading global authority in women's mental health research and policy influence.
The appointee will provide intellectual and organisational leadership for the Centre, developing and delivering an ambitious strategic vision for interdisciplinary research, education, engagement and global impact. They will lead an internationally recognised programme of research in women's mental health, secure substantial external funding, build major national and international partnerships, and foster a collaborative and inclusive research culture. The Professor will play a leading role in shaping the University's research strategy in this area, contribute to teaching and curriculum development, supervise postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and support the development of future generations of academic and clinical leaders.
Applications are welcomed from outstanding researchers across a broad range of relevant disciplines, including psychiatry, psychology, epidemiology, women's health, public health, neuroscience, social sciences, anthropology, medical humanities, health policy, data science and related fields. Candidates will have an internationally distinguished research profile, a substantial record of high-quality publications, and a proven ability to attract significant research funding and lead ambitious interdisciplinary programmes. They will demonstrate experience of academic leadership, partnership-building, research translation and societal impact, together with a commitment to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment.
This post is open to both clinically qualified and non-clinical candidates. Applicants for a clinical academic appointment must be medically qualified, GMC registered (or eligible for registration), and able to hold an honorary consultant contract with the relevant NHS Trust.
The Department of Psychiatry, the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, and Wolfson College are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from candidates currently underrepresented in senior academic leadership roles, particularly women, candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, and those with diverse experiences and perspectives.
The University has engaged McLean Partnership to support this appointment. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Dr Graham Little at McLean via email at
[email protected]. All enquiries will be treated in strict confidence and will not form part of the selection process. Further information, including the detailed role description, person specification and application process, is available from McLean Partnership.
The closing date for applications is 12:00 noon (UK time) on Monday 31 August 2026.
