Dr Stephen Hutchins

My name is Stephen Hutchins and I am a Senior Lecturer in Orthotics at the University of Salford. I qualified as an orthotist in 1978 and was a full time clinician for 16 years before entering academia.
I am still involved in clinical work as well as teaching and research. I have an MSc by research and also a PhD in orthotics. I have a number of publications in various topics but mostly linked to rehabilitation for such patients as those suffering from stroke, spinal cord injury and lower limb musculoskeletal disorders as well as vascular disease. I therefore have fairly broad research interests.
I’ve also previously been granted an NHS Research Fellowship. I gained both of my research degrees whilst doing my full time job and so understand the tensions between getting the research done and maintaining a balance between that and the clinical need of your employer.  I see my role as a mentor being one which will listen to your concerns and offer guidance and support when needed. The UK needs talented clinical researchers such as yourselves and I feel that it is important that your research career can progress now that you have been granted a further research award.