School of Life and Medical Sciences, University College London
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research PhD
Studentships
Applications are invited for PhD studentships as part of the NIHR School for Public Health
Research (SPHR), to be based within an appropriate department within the UCL School of
Life and Medical Sciences.
The two studentships available will focus on a topic of the student’s choice that fits within
core themes of work UCL is developing as part of the NIHR SPHR; young people, sexual
health and alcohol use; and ageing well.
Funding is available for 3 years to cover PhD registration fees (UK/EU), a stipend (at the rate
of £16,150 per annum), £5000 per annum for research and development costs, and a
Research Training Support Grants of £2000.
Start date: 25th September 2013
Deadline for applications: 12 noon, 10th July 2013
Relevant SPHR research in development includes:








Personalising preventive interventions in later life
Inequitable access to preventive and therapeutic health interventions for older people
Review of reviews in sexual health and young people
Development of integrated services for sexual health and young people in Local
Authorities
Sexual health interventions in schools
Young People's lifestyles, risk profiles and preferences for services in the third
National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal)
New technologies for reducing excessive alcohol use
The Alcohol Toolkit Study: Tracking key performance indicators of alcohol
consumption in England
For further information contact: Professor Anne Johnson, Research Department of Infection
& Population Health (anne.johnson@ucl.ac.uk) regarding research on young people’s sexual
health and alcohol use; or Dr Kate Walters, Research Department of Primary Care and
Population Health (k.walters@ucl.ac.uk) regarding research on ageing well.
NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR)
UCL is one of eight academic partners with excellence in applied public health research that
make up the NIHR SPHR. Launched in April 2012, SPHR will receive funding of £20 million
over five years to support the English public health system to develop into the future by:




narrowing the gap between the users and suppliers of research
increasing the evidence base for effective public health practice
undertaking applied translational research
considering local public health needs and evaluating innovative local practices with
potential for wider population benefit.
The School’s emphasis is on identifying interventions and approaches that work practically,
can be applied across the country and better meet the needs of policy makers, practitioners
and the public.
The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research
infrastructure of the NHS in England are positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility.
UCL members of the SPHR are based across a number of UCL School of Life and Medical
Sciences Institutes and departments including;
Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care
The Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care at UCL) is part of the Faculty of Population
Health Sciences within the UCL School of Life and Medical Sciences (SLMS). The Institute
comprises four Research Departments and associated MRC Units - each of which is based
at one or more sites across the UCL estate - as follows:
CHIME http://www.chime.ucl.ac.uk
Epidemiology and Public Health http://www.ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology/
Infection and Population Health http://www.ucl.ac.uk/iph/
MRC Clinical Trials Unit http://www.ctu.mrc.ac.uk/
Primary Care and Population Health http://www.ucl.ac.uk/pcph/
Its skills mix of epidemiological, clinical, statistical and behavioural science provides the
scientific basis to underpin an internationally competitive research programme focused on:
 Understanding the determinants of health & disease in populations & in patients in
clinical settings;
 Evaluating strategies for the prevention & treatment of physical & mental ill health;
and
 Teaching and capacity building in population health.
Our work ranges across the life-course from childhood through to old age. Our chronic
disease Epidemiology focuses on the social and biological determinants of health,
particularly in cardiovascular disease, and its Public Health implications. We undertake
research in Primary Care to improve health outcomes. In the field of Infectious Disease in
Populations, we investigate the transmission and control of HIV and sexually transmitted
infections (STIs), ’flu and tuberculosis. We have a strong research and teaching profile in
information and quality management to support clinical practice. We participate in many
national and international interdisciplinary collaborations, and have a large portfolio of
research linked to UCL’s Global Health Initiative. The Institutional Director is Professor
Andrew Steptoe. Further information on the Institute and Departments can be found at:
www.ucl.ac.uk/iehc
Research Department of Infection & Population Health
The aim of the Department is to reduce the population impacts of infection, and to promote
individual health by means of the prevention and treatment of communicable and noncommunicable disease. We work locally, nationally and internationally to realize this goal.
There are four groups: the Centre for Sexual Health & HIV Research (based at the Mortimer
Market Centre), the HIV Epidemiology & Biostatistics Group, the Health Psychology Unit
(both based on the Royal Free campus) and the Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology
(which is based at both Mortimer Market and the Royal Free). There is considerable joint
working across the groups, particularly on HIV. The Head of the Research Department is Dr
Richard Gilson, the Deputy-Head, Dr Andrew Hayward. The Research Department is part
of the Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care (Director: Professor Andrew Steptoe).
The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research
infrastructure of the NHS in England are positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility.
Department of Applied Health Research
The Department of Applied Health Research is part of the Research Department of
Epidemiology and Public Health within the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care. The
Department evaluates health care, population health interventions and strategies to improve
the organisation and widespread implementation of health care and public health. It focuses
on the interventions, programmes and pathways which are most likely to have a substantial
impact on health improvement and on reductions in health and health care inequalities. The
Department‘s interests span health economics, public health, health services and national,
local and individual measures to improve health for all social groups. The Head of the
Department is Professor Rosalind Raine, Professor of Health Care Evaluation.
Research Department of Primary Care & Population Health
The Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health is part of the UCL Institute
of Epidemiology and Health Care and is headed by Professor Irwin Nazareth. The
Department’s strategic aim is to deliver high quality teaching in community-based primary
care and public health and to undertake a programme of internationally competitive multidisciplinary research addressing the management and prevention of disease in individuals
and populations in areas which are of priority to the health of the public.
Mental Health Sciences Unit
The Mental Health Sciences Unit is part of UCL’s Faculty of Brain Sciences and is directed
by Professor Michael King. Mental Health Sciences specialises in clinical research,
psychiatric epidemiology, molecular genetics, health services research and randomised trials
of complex treatments in primary and secondary health care. Research is increasingly
bridging the translational gap between neuroscience and applied clinical research.
PRIMENT Clinical Trials Unit is directed from Mental Health Sciences and the Research
Department of Primary Care and Population Health This expertise in mental health trials at
UCL extends to methodological developments of complex interventions, the design of trials
to evaluate them, the statistical and health economics aspects of such evaluations, and the
implementation of evidence arising from the trials.
Health Psychology Research Group
UCL’s Health Psychology Research Group (www.ucl.ac.uk/health-psychology/researchgroup) is led by Professor Susan Michie. Its focus is on designing and evaluating
interventions to change behaviour, drawing on psychological evidence and theory. It has a
strong multi-disciplinary and translational emphasis. It is linked with the British Psychological
Society's Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness and sits within the Department
of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology which has a large research programme as
well as postgraduate and professional training programmes. Health Psychology at UCL has
close connections with the Faculty of Population Health Sciences. There is excellent support
for staff and students, with a variety of seminars, training and conference opportunities.
PhD Research Topics
Candidates are expected to generate their own research ideas in discussion with potential
supervisors, but the topic and approach proposed should be in line with SPHR’s applied
public health focus and address one or more of the core research strands of the School.
These are: young people, sexual health and alcohol use; and ageing well.
The exact topic will be agreed between the candidate and UCL members of the SPHR.
Applications that show an awareness of the value and importance of involving patients, the
public and the end users of evidence within the research project will be favourably received.
The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research
infrastructure of the NHS in England are positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility.
Candidates are invited to contact Professor Anne Johnson or Dr Kate Walters prior to
submitting an application in order to discuss their research ideas and compatibility.
Examples of current research projects underway by SPHR can be found here:
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/scharr/sphr/asm2012.
Supervision: UCL is a centre of research excellence that brings together academics at the
forefront of public health research, exceptional facilities, a passion for pioneering crossdisciplinary research and world-class professional development training. UCL has the best
academic to student ratio in the UK (1:10), compared with the UK average of 17.8 (Times
2013). This enables us to provide outstanding individual support to our students. The
university also offers outstanding facilities for research students. Students will have access
to a wide range of academic activities across population health sciences, mental health and
psychology. It is expected that the student would also benefit from the networks offered by
the wider SPHR collaboration.
Publication and wider dissemination: It is expected that the results of the PhD research
will be publishable in good quality, peer-reviewed academic journals and communicated at
conferences. In addition, the research would be expected to generate outputs that are
tailored to public health practitioner and policy making audiences.
Eligibility & funding
This studentship is open to those wishing to undertake a Postgraduate Research degree
who have already completed appropriate research training (usually through obtaining a good
Master’s degree in a relevant subject).
Due to funding restrictions applicants must be UK/EU nationals and have been resident in
the UK for three years immediately prior to starting a PhD to be eligible.
The studentship covers the full cost of the tuition fees (for European Union students) and
provides an annual, tax-free maintenance stipend of £16,150 Further funds, up to a
maximum of £5,000 per annum, are available to cover research costs. The recipient will also
receive a Research Training Support Grant of £2,000 to cover additional expenses related to
their research, such as travel, conferences, books and other miscellaneous items.
Application process
Please submit a 2 page CV including details of two academic or professional referees; a
covering statement outlining your motivations for training in applied public health research;
and a 1 page outline of your proposed research. Applications should be submitted
electronically to Ms. Kay Stratton (k.stratton@ucl.ac.uk) and please state ‘NIHR SPHR
Studentship – General’ as the subject of the email.
Deadline for applications:
12 noon, 10th July 2013
Interview dates:
19th July 2013 General studentships
Start date:
25th September 2013
The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research
infrastructure of the NHS in England are positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility.