Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) PhD scholarship in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Applications are invited for Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) PhD scholarships in Health and Social Care – Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), aligned to the Lifestyle, Exercise and Nutrition Improvement (LENI) Research Group, commencing 1st October 2025.

The scholarship is for 3.5 years full-time study and covers home PhD fees, currently £4,786, pays an annual stipend at the standard Sheffield Hallam PhD stipend rate (this is aligned with the net Real Living Wage and the current rate for academic year 2024/25 is £20,974 per annum). This stipend payment will increase annually based on the living wage rate for the duration of the scholarship.

GTA scholarships are designed to develop the next generation of academics, providing structured opportunities for training, development and practical experience in learning, teaching and assessment or other areas of academic practice. As part of this academic development, GTA scholarship holders will receive training and undertake up to 180 hours’ teaching-related activity, or other academic practice, per academic year. This activity forms part of the scholarship holder’s training. There is no additional payment for it. See the Overview of the Graduate Teaching Assistant scheme for applicants for more information.

Project: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent metabolic/ endocrine disorders worldwide. Women with PCOS are more likely to have eating disorders (EDs), which are characterised by disruptions in behaviours and attitudes towards eating, body image and weight. Simultaneously, up to 80% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese. Whilst weight loss can improve insulin resistance, cardiovascular health, and regulate menstruation, it remains challenging due to metabolic resistance. First-line PCOS treatment includes weight management, but these strategies often exclude individuals with eating disorders (EDs), as dietary restrictions may trigger symptoms and reinforce harmful behaviours. The lived experience of individuals with both EDs and PCOS is largely absent from the literature. Furthermore, women with PCOS report feelings of shame, stigma, poor clinical interactions, and a lack of adequate support. This gap in representation and care alongside negative patient experiences, drive individuals to seek unregulated online resources, including courses and supplements that claim to “cure” PCOS. Early studies on lifestyle and behavioural interventions show promise in improving PCOS symptoms and patient well-being. However, there is limited evidence regarding their effectiveness in individuals with EDs, a lack of data on long-term adherence, and a shortage of patient-centred interventions. 

 It is well-established that exploring patient experiences and co-designing behavioural intervention leads to more effective and sustainable interventions. 

Therefore, this PhD programme, which will be based around the design of a patient-centred intervention that aligns with individuals’ needs and preferences to enhance patients’ pathophysiology, quality of life, and healthcare experiences whilst promoting sustained lifestyle changes. 

The programme will be expected to be divided into different work packages, which may include interviews with women with PCOS, workshops with healthcare professionals and potential end-users (which will lead to the development of a lifestyle intervention), as well as a small-scale feasibility study, which will evaluate recruitment strategies and the intervention elements amongst others.

 The ideal candidate will have a very good understanding (and ideally experience) of health behaviour support techniques, with also some exposure to clinical or pre-clinical populations. 

The successful candidate will be based within the LENI research group and will be supported by members of our team, with Professor Klonizakis and Dr Mitropoulos leading the supervisory team. The group has great links with clinics PCOS experts at a national level and it is envisaged that it will open a pathway to further work in this research field.

We strongly advise all applicants to contact the Director of Studies: m.klonizakis@shu.ac.uk prior to application 

 Applicants should hold: a BSc (2:1 or above, or equivalent) degree qualification in Health and Social Care, or other relevant areas. An MSc degree qualification in a relevant area is desirable. Professional qualifications and background in Health and Social Care is desirable, but not essential. Applicants without a professional qualification should have a strong academic background in Health and Social Care related discipline. 

 We welcome applications from all members of the community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBTQIA+, ethnic minoritised and disabled communities. 

 GTA scholarships involve full-time PhD study and a requirement to teach or complete project related work at the University. This means that successful applicants must have completed all study and any employment by the start date of the scholarship, which is 1 October 2025. 

 International / EU applicants – Please read the following information carefully and see the funding notes section of this advert for important fee information.  

Sheffield Hallam University has a mandatory English language requirement of IELTS 7, or equivalent language qualification, for all applicants from countries not included in the UKVI exemption list: https://www.gov.uk/english-language/exemptions. This qualification must have been taken within the last two years, with a score of at least 6.5 in all test areas. The qualification may be required even if you have previous qualifications from UK institutions. Please check with  Health-PGR-admissions@shu.ac.uk  prior to application, as we cannot consider applications if this essential qualification is not submitted. 

 To apply for the scholarship 

Please complete the formal application form, which can be accessed via the following link:  https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/health-and-social-care-management/phd-health-and-social-care/full-time/2025 and choose the October 2025 start date option.  Please add the project title of the scholarship you are applying for clearly in the Personal Statement field of application form. 

Applicants should also ensure that they upload a detailed 1,500-word research proposal addressing the project title and all essential certificates and reference information with their application form. We cannot consider applications where a research proposal and any other essential attachments have not been uploaded to the application system before submission. If you experience issues submitting your online application, or for general enquiries, please contact: Health-PGR-admissions@shu.ac.uk. 

This application form must be submitted by the deadline of 14 May 2025 (12 noon). Late applications will not be accepted.