SCADR PhD Scholarship: Studying Work, Welfare and Health Through Linked Administrative Data

SCADR PhD Scholarship: Studying work, welfare and health through linked administrative data

Information on the School/Research Group

The Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR) is an UKRI ESRC-funded research Centre which started in 2013 as the Administrative Data Research Centre for Scotland. It is part of a UK-wide infrastructure, the Administrative Data Research UK. Both are fully funded through to 2026, providing a stable base for this studentship.

The Glasgow group is based within the Urban Studies subject and is part of the School of Social & Political Sciences. Urban Studies is the leading centre for urban and social policy research in the UK. It runs an expanding portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including an MA in Social and Public Policy and research-training MScs which meet ESRC standards for PhD training.

The MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit (SPHSU) is one of the MRC’s major investments into research focusing on understanding and harnessing the social determinants of health to address health inequalities. The Unit includes over 100 researchers spanning diverse disciplines including clinicians, social scientists, statisticians and computer scientists. More information about the Unit is available here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/healthwellbeing/research/mrccsosocialandpublichealthsciencesunit/

Project details

Please note that this is restricted to UK residents (i.e. those eligible for the Home fee rate).

The Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR) is delighted to invite applications for a University-funded PhD studentship (+3), commencing in October 2023. Established in 2013, the Centre is a consortium of Scottish universities, focused on research which exploits the power and potential of linked administrative data. This studentship will be based at the University of Glasgow where the team focuses on the analysis of data from welfare benefit systems and the labour market in particular, but also on wider areas including health. In this area, the team has a range of projects, including a collaboration with colleagues from the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow.

SCADR (https://www.scadr.ac.uk) is an international centre-of-excellence in using linked administrative data for research. Administrative data are those collected in the process of delivering public services or related activities. They include records related to health services, education, employment and earnings, and welfare benefit receipt. Records for the same individual can be linked to provide greater insights into social outcomes and the effectiveness of public policies. The scale of these data and their ability to provide a historical picture mean they have huge potential to generate new insights. At the same time, they also pose distinctive challenges for the researcher, such as needing to understand why data have been collected and the nature of the recording process, as well as ensuring the privacy of data subjects is protected.

Working with an interdisciplinary supervisory team from SCADR and the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, the successful applicant will develop a project exploring the relationships between work, welfare and health. Candidates should be able to demonstrate a keen interest in developing advanced skills in quantitative social research and/or social epidemiology, and in applying these to real-world social and public policy problems.

The studentships provide an unrivalled opportunity to develop cutting-edge expertise and experience in this fast-growing field. SCADR offers a vibrant, multi-disciplinary and collegiate base in which to develop as a researcher. You will enjoy excellent supervisory support from leading researchers in the field as well as the ability to develop connections with our wider community of 40+ researchers across the Scottish consortium and beyond. You will have access to a wide range of advanced training opportunities as well as the Centre’s dedicated infrastructure for administrative data research.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria

• A good first degree (2:1 or higher) in an appropriate discipline including, but not limited to: social sciences, economics, statistics, or health-related disciplines (e.g. nursing)
• Able to demonstrate quantitative or data-driven research skills appropriate to their level of qualification
• Able to demonstrate an interest in and appreciation of the challenges of research using administrative data

Please note that all applicants must also meet the entry requirements for the Urban Studies, PhD. 

Award details

The scholarship is available as a full-time +3 (3 year) programme only. The programme will commence in October 2023. The funding includes:

• An annual stipend at the UKRI rate
• Fees at the standard home rate
• Students can also draw on a Research Training Support Grant, usually up to a maximum of £750 per year

Application process

Applicants must apply via the Scholarships Application Portal, uploading the following documentation:

• SCADR PhD Scholarship application form (in Word format)
• Academic transcripts (All relevant Undergraduate and Master’s level degree transcripts (and translations, if not originally in English) – provisional transcripts are sufficient if you are yet to complete your degree).
• 2 references (where possible your references should include an academic familiar with your work. Both references can be from academics but you may include a work reference, especially if you have been out of academia for more than 5 years).
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) (academic where applicable).

Closing Date: 07 March 2023

Selection process

Applications will be assessed by the project team. Shortlisted applicants may be requested to attend a remote (online) Interview.

All scholarship awards are subject to candidates successfully securing admission to a PhD programme in the School of Social and Political Sciences.. Successful applicants will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme after they are selected for funding.