A 3-year PhD Studentship is available in the Social Biobehavioural Research Group, Institute of Epidemiology and Healthcare at UCL as part of a wider project exploring the application of social prescribing in schools to tackle loneliness.
The studentship will commence from September 2024, under the supervision of Dr Daniel Hayes and Professor Daisy Fancourt.
PhD Project: Tackling loneliness in schools using social prescribing (TaLoS)
We are seeking a talented and enthusiastic student to contribute to TaLoS, a national programme of work aiming to develop, and test, a social prescribing pathway in schools to tackle loneliness. It is a collaboration between University College London, the University of Manchester, the National Academy for Social Prescribing and the Social Prescribing Youth Network.
The candidate will contribute to the overall research design, engage young people with social prescribing, as well as develop their own proposed doctoral studies to fit alongside TaLoS. There is flexibility in how the candidate wishes to do this. For example, the PhD could focus specifically on a specific population who will be captured as part of the larger programme of work (e.g. young people in schools who are from more socially deprived backgrounds). Or the PhD could focus on a particular outcome that may already be included within TaLoS or could be added in (e.g. exploring how social prescribing affects confidence in young people recruited into the study through quantitative data analysis). Or the PhD could explore additional mechanisms relating to social prescribing and/or loneliness (e.g. through conducting additional qualitative interviews). The PhD therefore provides an opportunity to pursue an individual interest while benefitting from the wider structure, resources and expertise of a large-scale trial.
For more information about the opportunity, please read the Key Information Document.
Enquiries regarding the post can be made to Dr Daniel Hayes (d.hayes@ucl.ac.uk).
About you
Applicants should have, or expect to receive an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree (or equivalent work experience) in a relevant discipline or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. The successful candidate will deliver social prescribing to young people as part of TaLoS (training will be provided). Experience in child or youth mental health or wellbeing research is desirable.
Eligibility
This studentship covers the cost of tuition fees based on the UK (Home) rate. Non-UK students can apply but will have to personally fund the difference between the UK (Home) rate and the overseas rate where they are not eligible for UK fee status.
The student will receive a starting stipend of £20,622 per annum (including London weighting) as well as the cost of tuition fees based on UK fee status.
How to apply?
To apply, please send all of the following to Dr Daniel Hayes (d.hayes@ucl.ac.uk):
(I) A current CV including the contact details of two professional referees,
(II) a 1-sided A4 cover letter, and
(III) a 3-page research proposal, detailing any background literature (no more than half a page) and planned studies, including methods and analysis.
Closing deadline for applications: 12th February 2024