Dr Alexander Oldroyd (MBChB, MSc, MRCP, PhD) is an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer at the University of Manchester and a rheumatology Specialist Trainee. His research focuses on myositis, in particular 1) the use of daily symptom data for clinical and research purposes, and 2) screening for myositis-associated cancer. Dr Oldroyd has progressed through the Academic Foundation Programme, an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship, and a Versus Arthritis Clinical Research Fellowship. Dr Oldroyd will provide an overview of the day-to-day professional life of being an academic clinician and tips for securing competitive research positions.