+3.5 Year Funded PhD in Social Epidemiology

Applications are sought for a 3.5-year PhD studentship to investigate pathways to employment and the influence of different educational pathways on social mobility and wellbeing outcomes using mixed-methods. This PhD is one of a cohort of new students within Equalise: ESRC Centre for Lifecourse Health Equity, recently funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council. The overall aim of centre is to identify solutions to the problem of health inequalities from a lifecourse perspective and the work of this project will contribute to the Centre’s research themes on Learning and Work. Quantitative analysis will explore intersectional inequality and the role of economic and cultural capital in enabling access to different educational pathways while qualitative work on educational journeys and social mobility will be led by learner voices.

Supervisors: Dr Becca Lacey (City St George’s UoL), Prof Yvonne Kelly (UCL), Prof Kat Smith (University of Strathclyde) and Dr Baowen Xue (UCL) with input from the Skills & Education Group.

Equalise: ESRC Centre for Lifecourse Health Equity

Equalise is a new research centre funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) which is focused on reducing health inequalities from a lifecourse perspective. Equalise research will draw on longitudinal survey, administrative, synthetic and qualitative data to test solutions related to learning, work and care as well as place-based inequalities. The Centre is led by The Research Department of Epidemiology & Public Health at UCL and its partners include The NIHR Centre for Children, Families and Policy Research at UCL, The Population Health Research Group at City St. George’s University of London, the Centre for Health Policy at the University of Strathclyde, The MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow, The Bradford NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), the Centre for Coastal Communities at the University of Essex, and the Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health Research, Inserm at the University of Toulouse as well as 19 further government and third sector organisation

The Research Department of Epidemiology & Public Health 

This post will be based within the Research Department of Epidemiology & Public Health which is a world-leading and multi-disciplinary research department that conducts timely, rigorous and independent research with sound statistical methods into a better understanding of health and the prevention of ill health. Our research focuses on a wide range of public health concerns such as heart disease; dental public health; mental health and well-being; and child development and ageing. Our research has significant real-world impact, informing policy and practice both in the United Kingdom and around the world. One of our major contributions is to the wider understanding of inequalities in health by government, practitioners and the general public. Further information can be found at: UCL Research Department of Epidemiology & Public Health  

The department has a vibrant graduate student environment, with currently over 50 PhD students and three taught MSc programmes (in Social Epidemiology, Dental Public Health, and Population Health) as well as an online MPH.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree of a suitable standard (preferably passing with a merit or distinction) in a relevant topic, as well as a First Class or Upper Second Class Bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject area. Relevant subject areas include social sciences, epidemiology, public health, or other health related discipline or statistics.

The studentship is available for home fee status students only.

Funding Notes

This studentship is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and includes:

• UKRI Minimum Stipend including London Allowance
• Home Fees
• Research Training & Support Grant

Enquiries

If you wish to discuss this studentship prior to application, please contact Yvonne Kelly ([email protected]).

Applications should be submitted by email to Alissa Barette ([email protected]). You can find further information on how to apply & download the application form here: +3.5 Year PhD Studentship in Social Epidemiology with ESRC Centre for Lifecourse Health Equity (Equalise)

Application deadline: Wednesday 26 February 2025, 23:59