Funding for the Executive Dean’s PhD Studentship in Experience-based codesign for effective physical activity interventions with working age adults living with multiple long-term conditions

The team of Prof Norris, Dr Hunt, Dr Nolan and Dr Bailey at Brunel University London is offering a fully funded PhD studentship to co-design a physical activity intervention for working-age adults living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTC). Based in and funded by the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, this studentship offers a full-time annual London rate stipend estimated at £21,237 (including London weighting) and Home/EU tuition fees, for a maximum of 36 months.

The Department of Life Sciences holds a Silver Athena SWAN Award and is committed to equality of opportunity and advancing women’s careers.

The start date will be 1 October 2024.

Overview

MLTC is the co-existence of two or more chronic conditions. In the UK, the majority of people living with MLTC are less than 65 years old, with 2.5 million people out of paid work due to MLTC.

Physical activity is an effective intervention for managing MLTC, but there is limited research in working-age populations. Increased physical activity levels in working-age people with MLTCs may be related to remaining in and/or returning to paid work.

This studentship will explore and understand the experiences of physical activity in diverse working-age adults living with MLTCs, and use experience-based co-design to develop an inclusive physical activity intervention to support this group to live well. The studentship will address this using rigorous qualitative methodologies, including creative co-production methods.

The successful candidate will be supervised by leading experts in this field:

Professor Meriel Norris
Dr Emily Hunt
Dr Claire Nolan
with developmental support provided by Dr Daniel Bailey

For informal discussions about this studentship, please contact Dr Emily Hunt (emily.hunt@brunel.ac.uk).

Eligibility

Candidates should have an undergraduate degree (first or upper second class) or equivalent qualification in health, physiotherapy, sport science, behavioural science, psychology or a related subject. A Masters qualification in a relevant area and/or previous experience in qualitative methodologies or creative research methods would be desirable but not essential. Applicants who have not been awarded a degree by a University in the UK will be expected to demonstrate English language skills to IELTS 7.0 (minimum 6.5 in any section).

How to apply

If you wish to apply, please e-mail the following to chmls-pgr-officestaff@brunel.ac.uk by 10 June 2024.

An up-to-date CV.
A single-page A4 single-spaced personal statement describing why you are a suitable candidate (i.e. outlining your qualifications and skills).
One example of your academic writing (e.g. an essay, a section from a dissertation).
A summary of your teaching experience or your willingness to support teaching activities.
Names and contact details for two academic referees.
A copy of your highest degree certificate and transcript.
A copy of your English language qualification, where applicable.

Short-listed applicants will be required to attend an interview week commencing 1 July 2024.

For further information about how to apply, please contact the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences Postgraduate Programmes Office on chmls-pgr-officestaff@brunel.ac.uk.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Meriel Norris - As a qualified physiotherapist (since 1993) I have worked in the UK, India and Indonesia specialising in neurorehabilitation. I completed an MA in Medical Anthropology in 2002 and PhD in 2009. My PhD topic brought together the fields of stroke, rehabilitation and anthropology by exploring the experience and health seeking behaviour following stroke in Aceh, Indonesia. I joined Brunel Univeristy London in 2009. A substantial part of my current post is to deliver expert and clinically relevant research-led teaching predominantly post-graduate courses. I am currently the programme lead for the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, MSc Advanced Professional Practice and MSc Integrated ACP Apprenticeship programmes. I also lead three post-graduate modules. I have a strong international research profile and currently supervise seven post-graduate researchers. I have specialised in applied qualitative research methods and process evaluation of trials as well as clinical education. I have published over 60 articles in peer reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences. I am currently co-investigator in three large international trials and have held grants totaling more than £1.8 million over the last 10 years. I also act as the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead within my division.

Emily Hunt - Emily Hunt joined Brunel University London in January 2019 as a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Psychology). Emily completed her PhD at Loughborough University, completing in July 2021. The focus of Emily's PhD was narrative behaviour change and well-being, specifically exploring the power of stories as a means to promote physical activity for people with arthritis. Most recently, Emily's research has focused on utilising digital storytelling as a means to explore experiences of living with multiple long-term conditions and chronic disease.

Claire Nolan - Dr Claire Nolan is a Lecturer in Physiotherapy in the Department of Health Sciences and an NIHR Advanced Fellow with clinical expertise in pulmonary rehabilitation. Dr Nolan completed her PhD in Imperial College London in 2018 on gait speed and prognosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Dr Nolan’s research interests include pulmonary and remote rehabilitation strategies, increasing engagement in rehabilitation programmes and outcome measure validation in people with chronic respiratory disease, particularly chronic obstructive disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, as well as multiple long-term conditions. She has expertise in mixed-methodologies, feasibility and randomised controlled trials, cohort studies as well as intervention development. Dr Nolan is an Honorary Senior Research Physiotherapist in the Harefield Respiratory Research Group, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, and a committee member of the NHSE National Respiratory Programme, NICE Early Value Assessment of digital technologies to deliver pulmonary rehabilitation for adults with COPD and the British Thoracic Society Quality Standards for Pulmonary Rehabilitation committee.