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Epidemiology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships
We have 145 Epidemiology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships
As a PhD student in Epidemiology, you’ll be conducting in-depth research about prevailing concerns in public health. Your research can span from finding the origin of diseases to developing innovative tools for prevention and intervention.
What’s it like to do a PhD in Epidemiology?
With a PhD in Epidemiology, you have the chance to provide value to society with your research in public health. You could be looking at finding ways to prevent and treat illnesses or work on population concerns.
Some popular Epidemiology research topics are:
- Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
- Maternal and child health
- Respiratory diseases
- Infections
- Genetic epidemiology
- Cancer
Whichever specialisation you chose, you can expect elements of data analysis, laboratory study and population-based study during your research.
A PhD in Epidemiology can last up to the 4 years and will end with a thesis submission of 80,000 words. You will also be asked to defend your thesis in an oral viva examination.
Like most other STEM subjects, a PhD in Epidemiology is advertised with a research aim already attached. You must choose a project that aligns with your research interests and qualifications.
As a PhD student in Epidemiology you’ll also have access to certain training courses that will help you develop certain key skills that will go beyond your research and assist in your professional development.
Entry requirements
For most PhD in epidemiology, you’ll at least need an Upper Second-class honours degree in a subject like Biology or Medicine. Some universities might also accept a Lower-Second Class honours degree if you also have a Masters with Merit classification.
Depending on where you study, you might also be required to prove you’re proficient in the language of instruction at your university.
PhD in Epidemiology funding options
In the UK, a PhD in Epidemiology if funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) which provides fully funded studentships along with a monthly stipend. A PhD that is advertised with funding attached guarantees funding to all students who have been successful in their application.
Some other organisations that provide funding for a PhD in Epidemiology are National Institute of Health Research, Cancer Research UK, Wellcome Trust and British Heart Foundation.
PhD in Epidemiology careers
Most Epidemiology doctoral graduates go on to work in roles within medicine and biostatistics. Governments, public health organisations, hospitals and clinical trial units are some of the largest employers of Epidemiology graduates.
If you want to continue in research, you can always look at a career as a postdoctoral research fellow or in academia.
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National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Patient Safety Research Collaborative (PSRC) PhD studentship
Award summary. To deliver real and meaningful changes in patient safety for those with Multiple Long-Term Conditions (MLTCs). https://www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/news/5-3million-investment-for-patient-safety-research/. Read more
Exploring the interplay and mechanisms between sleep, circadian rhythms and physical activity in relation to physical and mental health
Understanding the interplay between physical activity and sleep is important for improving physical and mental health. A proposed mechanism linking physical activity with improved sleep is through regulation of circadian (24-hour) rhythms in the body. Read more
Automating knowledge synthesis in biomedical literature using AI and language models
Knowledge synthesis can be a slow and cumbersome process but is an essential tool for medical and public health policy-makers. Formal systematic reviews require rigid protocols and extensive human effort from trained professionals, whereas a massive volume of research evidence emerges every year. Read more
Exploring the value of using large third-party artificial intelligence models in epidemiology, with examples using Twitter data
Large language models (LLMs) are an artificial intelligence approach that have recently been shown to have extremely promising ability, for example, for conversing with humans or performing tasks such as summarising or extracting information from text. Read more
Investigating cause-specific hospitalisations among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy
This project aims to investigate rates of hospitalisations due to different causes among people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy, and how they differ by subgroups, for example, by gender or age. Read more
Intergenerational transmission of self-harm thoughts and behaviours
We are offering an exciting 4-year PhD studentship starting in October 2024. This interdisciplinary project will provide training in epidemiology, genetics, and advanced longitudinal methods. Read more
QUADRAT DTP: The health and well-being effects of pest rodent management strategies in rural Madagascar
Across low-income countries, rodents contribute significantly to income and food insecurity due to both pre and post-harvest losses. Read more
Subgroup effects in antihypertensive and type 2 diabetes drug classes: a comparative effectiveness and safety study integrating real-world and genetic data
Commercial partner: Janssen. Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Estimating subgroup treatment effects from clinical trials is notably difficult due to the limited sample size and under-representation of patients with multimorbidity. Read more
Sub-Continent Religious Traditions, Disability (Non-normative Bodies)
Miles (2013) estimates that at least half of all the world’s disabled people live Asia. Read more
Revealing Abledment: Ableism and the Body Politic
Studies in Ableism (SiA) is now a recognised sub-specialism of critical disability studies and focuses on ways that abledment (the process of being/becoming ‘abled’) is located within societal processes and practices. Read more
Adults with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): the impact of a long-term chronic disease on ongoing arthritis, quality of life, and mental health
Understanding how juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the most common chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal disease in children and young people, affects later adult-life has been prioritised by individuals living with JIA/families, European arthritis organisations, and charities. Read more
Towards equity in medicine with big health data, epidemiology, and artificial intelligence (NDORMS 2024/13)
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted inequalities in healthcare systems around the world. Inequalities based on ethnicity are of concern because most of our understanding of many diseases comes from White or Caucasian populations whose risk factors, disease prevalence and incidence can differ from other ethnic groups. Read more
How can trials and real-world evidence provide the best possible evidence on the benefits and risks of implantable devices? (NDORMS 2024/10)
Medical devices and surgical innovation have been under-researched in the past, leading to safety concerns and numerous high-profile scandals, such as those related to metal-on-metal hip replacements and surgical mesh. Read more
Real world evidence in the study of different subtypes of breast, lung, and prostate cancers: phenotyping, synthetic arm trials, and target trial emulation (NDORMS 2024/9)
Precision medicine in oncology is changing the prognosis of numerous cancers. However, the identification of very specific and rare cancer subtypes is leading to challenges in the recruitment of enough subjects for randomised controlled trials. Read more
Unlocking Insights from Real-World Evidence: Exploring the Safety of Drug Combinations (NDORMS 2024/2)
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are unintended, harmful events attributed to the use of medicines. In modern healthcare, ADRs pose a significant challenge due to the complexity of therapeutics, an aging population, and rising multimorbidity. Read more