About the Project
The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) North Thames is now recruiting to its 2015 PhD studentships. NIHR CLAHRC North Thames is one of 13 CLAHRCs across England which have been funded to conduct high quality applied health research, focused on the needs of patients and the public to produce a direct impact on health and the way that health care/public health is organised and delivered.
Led by Professor Rosalind Raine (UCL), NIHR CLAHRC North Thames is a collaboration between 54 partners, including five world class universities (UCL, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the University of East London (UEL)). We also include 21 NHS trusts, eight local authorities and the Greater London Authority, clinical commissioning groups, UCLPartners, industry and organisations representing patients and the public. Further information about NIHR CLAHRC North Thames is available on the website:
http://www.clahrc-norththames.nihr.ac.uk/
NIHR CLAHRC North Thames invites applications to its 3-year PhD studentships which begin in September / October 2015 (exact date dependent on the individual university). Supervisors are drawn from across partner institutions and current PhD projects lie within our five NIHR CLAHRC North Thames themes:
• Methodological Innovation
• Optimising Behaviour and Engagement with Care
• Empowering Mental Health Service Users and Families
• Child & Adolescent Health
• Innovations in systems and models of health and health care
Studentship description:
Research Summary:
This project will establish the feasibility of using existing databases to “map entire care pathways” and follow patients when they move “horizontally“ (between organisations within the same sector) or “vertically” (between sectors, from primary to secondary and tertiary care or from health to social or community care) through the care system.
Specific issues that will be addressed relate to representativeness of included populations, completeness of follow-up across care sectors, and ability to adjust for differences in case mix (e.g. health and comorbidities) and context (e.g. socio-economic deprivation, family).
Methods to be used:
Descriptive statistical methods; multivariable regression / propensity score matching and related multilevel analysis techniques to adjust for case mix and context factors; imputation techniques to explore impact of missing information.
Person Specification:
MSc (or higher degree) in a relevant discipline (e.g. statistics, epidemiology, public health, or health services research). 1st or upper 2nd class Honours degree in a relevant subject.
Experience in analysing large and complex databases.
Supervisors:
Primary supervisor: Professor Jan van der Meulen, LSHTM ([Email Address Removed])
Training opportunities:
PhD students will be entitled to the full range of PhD training opportunities at their host institution. In addition, all PhD students benefit from training provided by the NIHR CLAHRC North Thames Academy. The Academy brings together PhD students from across the CLAHRC, to create a community of students training in applied health research. The Academy works alongside each host institution’s graduate training programme to equip students with the skills needed to work at the interface of academia and health services. Our doctoral programme focuses on practical aspects of applied health research, such as the skills required to undertake research in health care and public health settings, to engage patients and the public in research, and to navigate relevant ethical and research governance approval systems. In addition, we aim to provide students with an understanding of how their work fits in to current NHS structures, for example by facilitating short shadowing placements. PhD students will be expected to attend and present at scientific meetings aimed at disseminating the findings of CLAHRC research.
Eligibility
Due to funding restrictions applicants must be UK/EU nationals. Please refer to UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) for details of these criteria.
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Fees--finance/Home-or-Overseas-fees/
How to apply
If you have any questions about potential projects or would like to discuss these in more detail, you are encouraged to contact the appropriate supervisors at the email addresses shown above (in case of any difficulties in making contact, please email [Email Address Removed]).
Candidates should hold a Master’s qualification (or complete their Master’s by September 2015) in an appropriate discipline and have a minimum of a 2:1 or equivalent in their first degree. All applicants are required to have excellent written and verbal communication skills. They should also be willing to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary and multi-professional teams.
Your application should consist of a CV, contact details of two academic referees, and your first choice PhD, plus up to two other PhDs in order of preference. You must also include a personal statement (1,000 words maximum) describing your suitability for the selected project(s) including how your research experience and interests relate to the project(s).
Please send your application to Dr Susie Edwards, NIHR CLAHRC North Thames Manager ([Email Address Removed]).
Closing date for applications: 18 April 2015
Interviews: Beginning of May 2015 (exact date TBC)
PhD start date: 01 October 2015 (or earlier if required to coincide with the relevant institution’s PhD induction programme)
Duration: 3 years, full time
Stipend: £19,158 (£22,278 for Health Foundation funded PhDs indicated by *)
** All applicants are required to have excellent written and verbal communication skills. They should also be willing to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary and multi-professional teams.
(Only two of the Health Foundation Studentships will be funded)
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.
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