Examining and defining practices during childbirth

Department of Psychology, Social Work and Public Health

This is a competitive full time funded studentship

Director of Studies: Dr Lesley Smith
Second supervisors: Dr Ethel Burns and Dr Louise Hunter.

This is a competitive studentship advertisement

Mode of study: Full time - three years (nb Clinician applicants can apply under our Clinical Academic PhD Programme which runs over four years – see funding details below)

Value p.a.: Bursary of £14057 if three years full time (pro rata as start date part way through academic year) for academic year 2015/16 & fees

Value p.a.: Bursary of £10386 if four years full time (pro rata as start date part way through academic year) for academic year 2015/16 & fees

Eligibility: Only open to Home UK/EU applicants (who must be resident in the UK)

EU applicants need to provide a valid IELTS Academic test certificate please see details below.

Closing date for receipt of applications, CV and IELTS certificate
is 5 pm (UK time) 13th November 2015.

Project:
Several countries have reported that an increasing number of women are sustaining extensive perineal tears during childbirth; an occurrence which has stimulated debate about midwifery practices during the second stage of labour. However, research about these practices is constrained primarily by a lack of clarity over definitions, and also insufficient knowledge about the variations used by different clinicians. One such practice relates to the midwife applying either a hands on or off delivery technique. There is uncertainty about whether this means hands off the baby’s head, but on the shoulders as they are born, or off both the head and shoulders. Using a mixed methods approach, this PhD shall develop a comprehensive classification of terms to clearly define clinician behaviour around hands on and hands off delivery techniques. This is an essential precursor to undertaking clinical trials comparing the effects of different practices on childbirth outcomes

As part of the Studentship, any successful applicant will be required to undertake up to 6 hours undergraduate teaching per week during semesters without further remuneration. This may include supporting the teaching of statistics. You will also be expected to participate in a course to develop your teaching skills.

For further information on the research project, please contact
Dr Ethel Burns (oxbump.org.uk) at [Email Address Removed]

Applicants should have a first class or upper second class (minimum 2.1) honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or an acceptable equivalent qualification in midwifery, psychology, or other relevant discipline. A masters degree and/or relevant research skills/experience would be desirable.


EU Applicants additional requirement
You must provide with your e-mail application a scanned copy of your English language test certificate. Applicants must have a valid IELTS Test certificate minimum score level 6 in each of the four areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking with overall minimum score 7.0 or relevant undergraduate degree awarded by UK university within the last two years. The IELTS test certificate must not be older than two years. Please note that we no longer accept TOEFL.


To apply for this studentship download the application form from -

http://www.hls.brookes.ac.uk/images/research/phd-studentship-application-form-jan-14.doc

Please refer to guidance notes that accompany the downloadable application form.

Applications will only be accepted by email to the Research Administrator
at the following address: [Email Address Removed]

Please send application form and CV plus if appropriate a valid IELTS test score certificate by
the deadline date which is 5 pm (UK time) 13th November 2015.

Please carefully note that applicant/s who are chosen to attend a final selection interview, which may be by Skype, will be asked to supply two academic references. We will also require AT THIS STAGE copies of degree certificate/s and transcript/s. You must put contact details including e-mail of your two academic referees on the application form.

Candidates invited to interview will be asked to give a short (5 minute) presentation on how they might approach the topic and what skills / qualities / experience they would bring.

Please note that the any successful applicant will be subject to a DBS search once they enrol. In view of checking procedures they will be required to exhibit a current passport plus other original documentation to enable a search to be undertaken.
https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check

Do not submit any queries, applications, CV or IELTS certificates via FindAPhD