PhD Research Studentship: The influence of air pollution on mental and cardiovascular health of young people living in London

MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow
Ethnicity and Health Programme

£13,726 stipend pa
3 years or 1+3 years

Supervisors: Dr Oarabile Molaodi, Professor Seeromanie Harding and Professor Frank Kelly

We invite you to apply for a PhD studentship within our Ethnicity and Health programme.

You will examine the impact of exposure to ambient air pollution and noise levels on ethnic differences in cardiovascular and mental health in the DASH cohort and gain an understanding of the complex interplay between ethnicity, environment and the development of chronic disease. You will learn and apply statistical methods to analyse longitudinal data and have the experience of working with a multidisciplinary team.
The key objectives will be to:

• Gain an understanding of the complex interplay between ethnicity, environment and the development of chronic disease.
• Review the literature on the influence of air pollution and noise on cardiovascular and mental health and develop the social-ecological conceptual framework underpinning the thesis.
• Investigate the influence of air pollution and noise levels on ethnic differences in trends in measures of cardiovascular and mental health in the DASH longitudinal study.
• Explore the role of potential modifiers, including individual and area deprivation, distance from residential postcode to roads, airports etc.
• Develop skills in analysing longitudinal data, managing complex data sets and using Geographical Information Mapping software.
• Gain experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment.

You should have a good (1st or 2:1) Honours degree or a Masters degree in public health, epidemiology, social sciences, statistics, medical statistics, or a related discipline with a substantial element of quantitative methods. You should also have an understanding of health inequalities and be able to demonstrate experience of using statistical software such as SAS, Stata or SPSS.

Those without a Masters degree in a relevant discipline will receive a 1+3 years award, with the requirement that they successfully complete a Masters at the University of Glasgow during their first year, before proceeding to register as a PhD student. We welcome candidates who also have a Masters degree in a relevant discipline to receive a 3 year studentship.

Prospective candidates are invited to informally visit the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit by appointment by contacting Dr Oarabile Molaodi or call 0141 357 3949.

For full studentship details visit www.sphsu.mrc.ac.uk/jobs and to get an insight into student life at the MRC please visit http://www.sphsu.mrc.ac.uk/about/being-a-phd-student-at-the-unit.

If you would like to apply, please send a covering letter and CV to Nicola Durkin ([Email Address Removed]) stating in your letter why you would like to be considered for this studentship and how you meet each of the criteria listed in the Person Requirements.

Please supply the details of two academic referees. Closing date: 19th June 2013 at noon. Interviews will be held on 3rd July 2013. Appointment will be made subject to suitable academic references.