PhD Studentship: Communicating with vulnerable populations during extreme events
To Start: September 2014
Award
As part of the new National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in
Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPRHPRU) at King’s College London, we are offering a three
year full-time studentship to work on a project exploring the likely reactions, information needs and
appropriate communication strategies for groups who may be particularly vulnerable during an
emergency. This PhD studentship will sit within the ‘Improving the behavioural impact of emergency
communication’ theme of the EPRHPRU which focuses on the need to pre-empt and inform public
behavioural responses during major incidents and emergencies.
Project
The ability of individuals to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a major incident or emergency
depends on a variety of factors that often fall outside of the individual’s immediate control. For
example, ‘The severity and longevity of the event, the efficiency of the warning systems, the victim’s
health status, and his or her access to resources are a few of the factors influencing an individual’s
response and recovery capacity’ (Fernandez et al. (2002), p. 67). Additionally, research exploring the
ability of risk communication to increase the likelihood of public compliance with official health
advice during emergencies indicates that risk communicators must understand and address issues
such as an individual’s capability, motivation and opportunity to respond. These issues are poorly
understood in respect to individuals who have impaired mobility or sensory and cognitive
difficulties.
This study will explore the likely reactions and information needs of groups who may be particularly
vulnerable during an emergency. Focussing on the needs of an aging population, we will consider a
range of functional needs (physical, sensory and cognitive difficulties) that may be generalised to
other ‘at risk’ groups. We will use interviews and scenario-based focus groups with older adults,
carers and charities in order to explore the impact of issues such as social isolation, mobility
problems and dementia on the needs and ability of older adults to engage with public health advice
during a crisis. In doing so, we will adopt an asset-mapping approach to identify the specific
resources and networks that participants have available to help them cope with emergencies,
allowing us to better tailor advice to this group during a crisis. These activities will inform the
development of and testing of novel communication-based interventions and guidance targeted at
reducing the impact of major incidents on older adults, particularly for those living with long-term
illness and/or dementia, or at risk of social isolation.
Funding for this studentship is being provided by the School of Social Science and Public Policy (SSPP)
at King’s College London. Funding for the project work is being provided as part of the NIHR HPRU in
Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPRHPRU). The student will benefit from the
multidisciplinary expertise of this team, who will provide applied and theoretical insights from
domains including health psychology, social psychology, liaison psychiatry, organisational psychiatry,
risk assessment, risk communication, emergency response and public health. The student will sit
within the Department of War Studies
(http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/warstudies/index.aspx) at King’s College London. Dr. Julia
Pearce will act as the primary supervisor. The student will also benefit from joint supervision and
support from Dr. Brooke Rogers, Dr. Richard Amlôt (Public Health England) and Dr. James Rubin
(KCL).
Entry Requirements
Master’s degree with Distinction (or overseas equivalent). A Masters with Merit may be considered
only where applicants can demonstrate practical knowledge and expertise. Experience and
knowledge from the behavioural sciences, expertise in the areas of risk perception and risk
communication, and/or experience of working with vulnerable populations is desirable.
Qualifications which have been gained outside the UK will be checked by the Admissions Office to
establish equivalency with these standards before an offer is sent and applications will need to
demonstrate at interview that their background and experience, general education and scholarship
are appropriate. All applications need to possess an adequate level of English proficiency.
Award types and eligibility
One scholarship will be available to a successful candidate commencing his/her studies in September
2014. The scholarship will cover course fees (Home/EU rate) and a tax free stipend (approx. £15,863
p.a.). An additional six months of funding is available in order to facilitate ‘rapid research’ during an
emergency occurring during the lifetime of the studentship and/or to enable the PhD student to
publish findings after completing the PhD. Overseas students and those not meeting residency
criteria may apply for this award but would be required to pay the balance of fees over the
Home/EU rate. English language competence criteria apply – read more about them and other
application information here .
How to apply
Applicants must complete and submit an application form to Julia.Pearce@kcl.ac.uk by 12pm
(UK/GMT) on 25th July 2014. .
Deadline: 25th July 2014 at 5pm (BST)
Interviews: Week commencing 4th August 2014
Start of PhD : 22nd September 2014
References must be received by the deadline for the applicant to be eligible.
Contact
If you have any queries or require further information please email Dr. Julia Pearce
(Julia.Pearce@kcl.ac.uk) or Dr. Brooke Rogers (Brooke.Rogers@kcl.ac.uk).