BSMS > Postgraduate > Research degrees > PhD opportunities

PhD opportunities

All our current PhD opportunites are listed on this page.

In order to apply, please visit the University of Brighton website by clicking the “Apply Now” link below, and select “Doctoral College” as the School, and “Medicine” as the keyword. You should then select the project that you wish to apply for. There is no need to supply your own research proposal, unless you are submitting a speculative application.

Apply for your PHD here >

If you are applying for a specific project that is advertised below, there is no need to write a research proposal. Simply give the details provided in the advertisement in the Research Proposal section of the online application form.

If you require entry clearance to study in the UK, please see the ATAS information.

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

Research Fellow/Clinical Research Fellow Wellcome Clinical PhD Programme in Global Health Research (x 5)

Salary: £40,611 to £53,077 per annum, inclusive.
Closing Date: Monday 31 January 2022
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Reference: ITD-CRD-2021-21

About the Project

Applications are invited for this PhD training programme to commence in autumn 2022. Led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, this PhD Programme is offered by five UK and six African partner institutions bringing together the expertise of these institutions in global health research.

The focus of this PhD Programme is on research focussing on the health problems of African countries, centring on Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, The Gambia, and Uganda. Successful applicants will develop their potential to become global health leaders within a structured and mentored training environment. Further information on the Programme is available at: wbc.lshtm.ac.uk/fellows/wellcome-trust-doctoral-programme.

This Programme is aimed at supporting health professionals who wish to undertake rigorous research training. Support is for three years and includes an NHS matched salary, research expenses, home rate tuition fees, and training and travel costs.

Applicants must be practising healthcare professionals and be registered with a national professional regulatory body in the UK/Republic of Ireland. Medical graduates must be registered on a UK/Republic of Ireland specialist training programme or must be a registered GP. Applicants should maintain their clinical skills, if applicable. Applicants must have an interest in global health research and be looking to develop their academic career. They should be interested in spending extended periods of time at one of the Programme African Partner Institutions in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, The Gambia, and Uganda as part of their PhD. All applicants must have completed their undergraduate degree and be registered with the relevant professional regulatory body (eg - General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council).

This is a full time, fixed term post (part-time equivalent is available) funded by The Wellcome Trust based at one of the partner/host institutions: The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, King’s College London, Queen Mary University of London, St George’s, University of London or Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Candidates accept that, if successful, they may be awarded a fellowship at any of the five partner institutions.

Appointments will be made to match an appointee’s current NHS salary (Junior Doctors/Dentists, GPs, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals (NMAHPS)) plus London allowance if applicable. Medical doctors, dentists and vets will be placed on the standard clinical academic salary scale for doctors in formal clinical training in the range £39,467 to £53,077 plus £2,162 London allowance where applicable. NMAHPS will be placed on the appropriate scale of their employing institution, and could be in the range of £40,611 to £46,119 per annum (inclusive of London Weighting).

Placement on the scales will be according to an appointee’s current salary, stage of training (if applicable) and transitional pay arrangements and will be subject to approval by the employing institution. The post will be subject to the LSHTM terms and conditions of service. Annual leave entitlement is 30 working days per year, pro rata for part time staff. In addition to this there are discretionary “Wellbeing Days”. Membership of the Pension Scheme is available.

Applications should be made via: http://jobs.lshtm.ac.uk and should include a completed Programme application form and a copy of your CV. Online applications will be accepted by the automated system until 10pm of the closing date. Any queries regarding the application process may be addressed to jobs@lshtm.ac.uk. Please quote reference ITD-CRD-2021-21

The supporting statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience and training meet each of the requirements in the job description. Please provide one or more paragraphs addressing each criterion. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as "Please see attached CV" will not be considered acceptable.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. Interviews will be held at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (if circumstances allow, online if not) at the end of May/beginning of June 2022. Up to five candidates per year will be selected for the programme.

Find out more and apply online via the LSHTM.

Apply here >

Stigma towards dementia in young people: The impact of media

Supervisors: Dr Nicolas Farina, Prof N Tabet, Dr Alys Griffiths

Applications accepted all year round

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

About the Project

Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD studentship to join the internationally recognised Centre for Dementia Studies, Brighton and Sussex Medical School at the University of Sussex Campus.

The aim of the project is to better understand what dementia-related media young people engage with but also interrogate the relationship between various national and international media messages about dementia (social media, ad campaigns, movies) and how they affect attitudes towards dementia.

Combatting stigma and raising awareness towards dementia is an international policy priority. As it stands, we know that negative attitudes towards dementia already exist from a young age, and that based on existing theories, attitude change might be easier during these younger years. Young people already have experiences of dementia, despite receiving little formal education about the condition. Whilst there is a significant minority that have provided support for a family member with dementia, many have experienced dementia only through the media (i.e. movies, news) and online sources. Previous research has identified that media messages of dementia can often be negative or stigmatizing, which could be in part responsible for attitude formation. However, it is unclear how young people engage with such media content about dementia and how this ultimately shapes stigma towards dementia. Such stigma ultimately influences how individuals engage with dementia, both now and in the future, and might ultimately determine career preferences. The research builds upon an existing theme of work led by Dr’s Farina, Tabet and Griffiths.

The project provides a wide range of training that includes quantitative, qualitative and review methodology. The project, will also provide an opportunity to work with both young people and people living with dementia. This should provide the successful candidate with critical skills and substantial experience to make them a highly competitive candidate for a postdoctoral research position within applied health research, particularly in the field of dementia.

Funding Notes

Applicants for this 3-year PhD should possess or expect to be awarded a minimum of a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (or equivalent) in psychology, health sciences, public health, or related subject. Both UK/EU and non-EU citizens can apply. Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Nicolas Farina (n.farina@bsms.ac.uk). Please contact the Brighton and Sussex Medical School Doctoral and Research Officer (researchdegrees@bsms.ac.uk), with any other queries.

References

Alzheimer’s Disease International. World Alzheimer Report 2019 : Attitudes to dementia. Read the report here. Published April 10, 2019. Accessed June 17, 2019.
Cheng TY-M, Liu L, Woo BK. Analyzing Twitter as a Platform for Alzheimer-Related Dementia Awareness: Thematic Analyses of Tweets. JMIR Aging. 2018;1(2):e11542. doi:10.2196/11542
Farina N, Hughes LJ, Griffiths AW, Parveen S. Adolescents’ experiences and perceptions of dementia. Aging Ment Health. 2019;0(0):1-7. doi:10.1080/13607863.2019.1613343
Farina N. What is taught about dementia in secondary schools? A survey of schools in Sussex, England (Innovative Practice). Dementia. July 2017:1471301217720016. doi:10.1177/1471301217720016
Isaac MG, Isaac MM, Farina N, Tabet N. Knowledge and attitudes towards dementia in adolescent students. J Ment Health. 2017;26(5):419–425.
Parveen S, Farina N, Shafiq S, Hughes LJ, Griffiths AW. What do adolescents perceive to be key features of an effective dementia education and awareness initiative? Dement Int J Soc Res Pract. 2019.

PhD studentships now recruited

Substance use in relation to the mental and sexual heath of vulnerable adolescents and young adults under 25 in coastal areas of Kent and Sussex
The mental health and wellbeing needs of looked after and displaced children in southeast England
Helping young people to live successfully with long-term health issues
Resourcing Resilience: Positive psychology among adolescents living with HIV
Widening access to psychological interventions for diverse communities: exploring the potential of community-led interventions
Co-producing stigma-proof mental health interventions with and for newcomers (asylum seekers, refugees and migrants) in southeast England
Defining Mycobacterium tuberculosis in lung tissue – a novel discovery platform for new vaccine and drug targets
Epidemiology of cancer in the elderly (aged > 65 years) in England
The roles of oxidative stress and redox regulation in chronic inflammatory disease (Supervisors: Dr Lisa Mullen, Prof Pietro Ghezzi, Prof Kevin Davies)
Pillars of Expertise: Visual Perception & Memory (Supervisors: Dr Natasha Sigala, Prof Mara Cercignani
Investigating the genetic basis of osteosarcoma in children & dogs (Supervisors: Prof Sarah Newbury, Dr Peter Bush, Dr Chris Jones)
The embodiment of unconscious knowledge in maladaptive behaviour (Supervisors: Prof Hugo Critchley, Dr Sarah Garfinkel, Prof Dora Duka)
Can simulation clarify diagnostic skills for newly qualified doctors? (Supervisors: Dr Inam Haq, Dr Wesley Scott-Smith)
Impact of oxytocin on emotional regulation in binge drinking and alcoholism: behavioural, physiological and fMRI investigations (Supervisors: Prof Hugo Critchley, Prof Dora Duka)
Developing an algorithm for predicting children with severe asthma (Supervisors: Prof Somnath Mukhopadhyay, Dr Katy Fidler)
Development of a refined model of neuropathic pain: a model without frank nerve injury (Supervisors: Dr Andrew Dilley, Prof Pietro Ghezzi)
Role of secreted oxidoreductases in osteoarthritis, rheumathoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (Supervisors: Prof Pietro Ghezzi, Dr Manuela Mengozzi)
Measuring quality of life in severe dementia: validation of DEMQOL-Proxy in family and professional carers of people with severe dementia (Prof Sube Banerjee, Prof Naji Tabet)
Stigma in health care: Does it influence the way general practitioners record consultations? (Supervisors: Dr Elizabeth Ford, Prof Helen Smith, Prof Flis Henwood)
Interoception and preventative intervention for anxiety in adults with autism (supervisors: Dr Sarah Garfinkel, Prof Hugo Critchley)