University of Lincoln RIF Studentships 2014
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Title
Physical Activity, Ageing and Embodiment: Investigating contested memories of
being a physically active older adult
Project Reference
RIF2014S-21
Project Summary
The School of Sport and Exercise Science and the Health Advancement Research
Team (HART) at the University of Lincoln are inviting applications from outstanding
students for a doctoral studentship in physical activity and exercise experiences in
older adults.
Demographically, the UK population is ageing. People aged 60+ are projected to rise
from 20% to almost 30% of the population by 2031. Concern about the ability of
healthcare services to manage age-related health and wellbeing is widespread.
Physical activity promotion has been used to encourage older adults to maintain
healthy lifestyles. Nonetheless, the impact of physical activity interventions has been
modest over the long-term and participation in physical activity remains low,
particularly in programmes which tend to ‘treat’ old age as an illness and ignore the
subjective, lived elements of ageing.
The PhD studentship will address a national and international need to improve
physical activity and exercise participation amongst older adults from a
multidisciplinary perspective, integrating philosophy, sociology and health promotion.
The precise topic and methodological framework will be open for discussion,
however the supervisory team is particularly interested in exploring how older adults’
biographical narratives of exercise and health are influenced by shared memories
amongst groups of older adults; and to investigate the manner in which older adults’
embodied, biographical narratives influence their present-day perceptions of what it
actually means to be active as an ageing body.
Applications are particularly welcome from candidates with research experience in
the sociology of sport, embodiment, health or ageing. Applicants should have a firstclass degree as well as having, or being in the process of completing, a Masters
degree in sociology, sports studies, health care or a related background. The
candidate should also have experience of qualitative research approaches and a
research interest in embodiment issues, physical activity and exercise.
Supervisory Team
1. Dr Adam Evans, Senior Lecturer, Lincoln School of Sport and Exercise Science.
http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/adevans
2. Dr Jacquelyn Allen-Collinson, Reader in the Sociology of Sport, Director of the
Health Advancement Research Team (HART), University of Lincoln.
http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/jallencollinson
3. Joanna Blackwell, Healthy Lifestyle Director at the City of Lincoln Council and
Lecturer in the Lincoln School of Sport and Exercise Science.
http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/jblackwell
Informal Enquiries
For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Adam Evans by email:
adevans@lincoln.ac.uk) or telephone: +44 (0)1522 886352
Eligibility
All Candidates must satisfy the University’s minimum doctoral entry criteria for
studentships of an honours degree at Upper Second Class (2:1) or an appropriate
Masters degree or equivalent. A minimum IELTS (Academic) score of 7 (or
equivalent) is essential for candidates for whom English is not their first language.
Funded Studentships are open to both UK/EU students unless otherwise specified.
How to Apply
Please send a covering letter outlining your interest and proposed approach (up to 1
page A4) with an accompanying CV to studentshipscss@lincoln.ac.uk by close of
day on 18th April 2014.
Candidates will be notified w/c 5th May of the outcome of the process and if invited to
interview, these are anticipated to take place w/c 26h May.