Clinical PhD Studentship – Can light exercise reduce sedentary behaviour among cancer patients?

Applications are invited for a clinical PhD studentship to start in October 2015. You are required to be a registered medical practitioner holding a licence to practice and possessing MRCP or equivalent. The project will be based in the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine at Loughborough University. The student will collect data at Leicester NHS Hospitals in collaboration with the University of Leicester/University Hospitals.

The successful candidate will develop and test the feasibility and effectiveness of a self-led light exercise programme based on the capabilities of cancer patients with colorectal, lung or breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The unique focus here is on encouraging light physical exercise suited to the needs and capabilities of the cancer patient rather than the type of activity. The study will also test the feasibility of delivering the light exercise programme as a ‘prescription’ by oncologists who will make an initial assessment of suitable exercise, frequency, duration and intensity using the tools developed by the study. Oncologists are best placed to ‘prescribe’ and monitor adherence during treatment as they are most likely to see the patient.

The studentship provides a clinical salary over 3 years at the appropriate level for the appointed candidate along with any associated fees. International (non EU) students may apply but will need to find the difference in fees between those for a ‘UK/EU’ and ‘international’ student themselves.

General information about the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine can be found at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/microsites/research/ncsem-em/. General information about the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences can be found at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehs/.

For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Dr Fehmidah Munir, Reader in health Psychology, [Email Address Removed] or Dr Samreen Ahmed, Consultant in Medical Oncology [Email Address Removed]

To apply, please complete the online application using the following link: https://lucas.lboro.ac.uk/web_apx/f?p=100:1

The closing date for applications is Friday 31st July 2015

Interviews will take place week commencing 25th June 2015

Please quote the following reference when applying: SSEHS/FM