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Wolfson Institute of Population Health
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  2. NIHR School for Primary Care Research
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  4. SPCR PhD Studentship

SPCR PhD Studentship


The internal admission for 2023 Studentships is now closed. The next studentship will be announced in the Spring 2024. 

Background information

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) welcomes expression of interest from postgraduates with an excellent track record to apply to the School for Primary Care Research. 

The Studentships offer traditional project-specific training in areas of particular importance to primary care and are awarded to applicants from diverse academic backgrounds including e.g., medical statistics, social sciences, health economics, and health psychology. 

Eligibility

  • You must meet University requirements including a first or upper second-class honours degree in a subject relevant to academic primary care, or a postgraduate degree from a UK University. Overseas qualifications of an equivalent standard will be considered.
  • You are expected to complete a PhD/DPhil relevant to some aspect of primary or community care during the award period.
  • Part-time study may be an option, and should be discussed with your prospective supervisor.
  • Students with overseas status are welcome to apply, and are eligible for the standard studentship, but are advised of higher overseas university fees and will need to fund the remainder of these fees (above the home fees award).
  • Be available to take up the award in October after you apply in the Summer (other arrangements may be possible on a case-by-case basis).

Award amounts 2023 rates

  • PhD Studentship awards include home student fees and an annual tax-free stipend of £19,668 including London weighting, and up to £6000 research and training costs. (2023 rates)
  • PhD Studentship award available for research at QMUL each year of the current School of Primary Care Research (2021 – 2025)

Research Areas

Proposed projects should be relevant to the aims of NIHR SPCR and compliant with overall NIHR remit for personal awards.

We welcome Expression of Interest within the following research areas: 

  • Analysis of the effectiveness/cost-effectiveness of healthcare and public health interventions, patient safety, health policy, and inequalities in health and resource allocation Contact: Prof Trevor Sheldon 
  • Other long-term conditions, including diabetes and living with and beyond cancer and multimorbidity. Contact: Prof Stephanie Taylor  
  • Cardiovascular disease and inequalities in health service provision and the Discovery integrated data programme across London. Contact: Prof Chris Griffiths
  • Oral health and Primary Dental Care access and organisation. Contact: Professor Manu Raj Mathur 
  • Economic Evaluation of healthcare interventions and pathways, decision analytic modelling, efficiency and equity Contact: Prof Borislava Mihaylova
  • Health Related Quality of Life Research, Evaluation of the implementation of health policy and medical intervention, Incentive design for healthcare providers. Contact: Dr Yan Feng  
  • The development of complex interventions and digital health for the delivery of healthcare, self-management and prevention of long-term conditions, health inequalities and issues of ‘digital exclusion’, patient and public involvement in medical research and education Contact: Dr Jamie Ross

  • Dementia prevention, diagnosis and health inequalities Contact: Dr Charles Marshall

  • Health and inequalities relevant to obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease across the life course. Machine learning and AI-based algorithm for disease diagnosis and prediction of atrial fibrillation and heart failure Contact: Professor Jianhua Wu 

  • Ethnic inequalities in cardiometabolic disease, pharmacoepidemiology, health data science using large scale real-world observational and genetic data. Contact: Professor Rohini Mathur

  • Health equity/health inequality, HIV and sexual health Contact: Dr Sara Paparini

How to Apply in 2024

Prospective applicants should get in touch with a potential supervisor to discuss their research project idea.

Please do so by initially contacting the relevant academic contacts suggested above. Please keep Juliet Henderson copied in on your email correspondence. 

The application itself should be made via the QMUL online system

When you submit, please ensure that you also inform Juliet Henderson of your intention to be considered for the award.

For your online application please select "Semester 1 (September Start)" and include the following "supporting documents" alongside those requested in the guidance:

  • 1 side of A4 outlining your research proposal
  • CV 
  • A recent piece of written work
  • A supporting statement (1 paragraph) from your prospective supervisor

Timeline general

Second week in February 2023 Launch PhD

Mid February to Mid June 2023  Interested candidates approach QM supervisors and discuss their PhD ideas. Supervisors advise on their application and if they have capacity to supervise candidates. Candidates inform juliet.henderson@qmul.ac.uk of their intention to apply and let her know once s/he has applied. 

2nd week in June 2023 (exact date TBC) Deadline to receive your full application through the QMUL online system

Early July 2023 Candidates are interviewed by a panel at Queen Mary. One candidate will be supported by Queen Mary to proceed

Late July 2023 Successful applicant from Queen Mary University applies to central SPCR team

July to October 2023 Successful candidate will be supported to commence PhD

October 1st 2023 Commence PhD

 

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