Optimising novel pre- and rehabilitation strategies to improve the physiological resilience of older surgical patients

PhD Description: In addition to rehabilitation, which has long been employed as method to enhance recovery from clinical stress events, there is burgeoning clinical and research interest in prehabilitation, an approach employed to prepare individuals for these events. Based at the University of Nottingham Medical School at Derby (UNMSD; Royal Derby Hospital Centre), this PhD will consider the importance of, and methods for the preservation of muscle mass and function in older patient cohorts. With elective surgery a clear and common example of a stress event encountered by older adults, and recognising that physiological resilience is not just preparedness for stress events but also the ability to recover from them, this PhD will focus on practicable pre- and rehabilitation strategies in older surgical patients. Exploring the interaction between novel contractile strategies and nutritional intake, results from this PhD will provide an evidence-base for strategies to be implemented as an adjuvant to standard care in the peri-operative period of older surgical patients.   

Further Information: 

Applicants should have either:

·       a minimum of a 2.1 in a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g., Exercise Science, Physiology, Biology), OR

·       a minimum of a 2.2 undergraduate degree and a relevant Master’s degree.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to the programme lead, Prof Bethan Phillips (beth.phillips@nottingham.ac.uk) who is also the principal supervisor for this PhD.

To apply, candidates should send their CV and a short cover letter (<1000 words) outlining why they are applying for this PhD to: beth.phillips@nottingham.ac.uk. The email subject line should be: “DMT PHD APPLICATION”. Candidates may apply for more than one of the PhD’s that form part of this programme, but should make this known in their cover letter. Candidates should also provide the contact details for 2 referees one of whom should be their most recent employer or academic supervisor. 

Closing Date for Applications: Monday April 22nd 2024, 10:00am

Provisional Interview Dates: 28th and 29th May 2024

PhD Start Date: 1st October 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.