Studentships and funded research opportunities

Supervisors: Dr Cheryl Hawkes, Dr N Dawson and Dr Victorio Bambini Junior

Are you a budding neuroscientist who loves all things brain related? We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated student to join our neuroscience team to investigate the impact of parental obesity on the structure and function of the offspring brain. Emerging research indicates that paternal obesity plays a significant role in offspring health. Children born to obese fathers are at greater risk of developing autism spectrum disorder and having lower IQ. However, there is still very little information about the long-term impact of parental obesity on brain structure or cognitive performance of adult and aged offspring. In addition, while there is some evidence that epigenetic markers contained within sperm, particularly those related to non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), mediate these intergenerational effects, much more information is needed to understand how this influences the offspring brain.

The project will use a rodent model of diet-induced paternal obesity to test the hypothesis that offspring born to obese fathers have abnormal brain structure and poorer behavioural and cognitive function across the life course compared to offspring of lean fathers. It will address 3 main aims:

1. Assess the impact of paternal obesity on behaviour (e.g., anxiety, social interaction) and cognitive function (e.g. spatial and working memory) of adolescent, adult and aged male and female offspring;
2. Determine the neuronal activity and brain structure in adolescent and aged offspring born to lean and obese fathers;
3. Determine the expression of brain-related ncRNA in fathers’ sperm and offspring brain.

Techniques will involve behavioural testing and a range of cellular and molecular biology techniques, such as immunocytochemistry, Western blotting and qPCR. You should have a degree or equivalent in neuroscience or a related biological sciences discipline. Candidates should also demonstrate evidence of being able to complete tasks on time, effectively troubleshoot research problems and work independently. Previous experience with rodents and having a Home Office personal licence would be advantageous but is not required.

The PhD Project is competition funded by the Faculty of Medicine under the supervision of Drs. Cheryl Hawkes, Victorio Bambini Junior and Neil Dawson in the Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences (BLS) at Lancaster University, UK. Research areas within BLS include infectious diseases, parasitology, neurodegeneration, mental health, ageing, immunology and cancer biology. In addition, BLS has a thriving postgraduate community with a range of opportunities for skills development including seminar presentation and help with running undergraduate lab practicals.

Lancaster University has a world-class reputation as a centre for excellence in teaching and research. It is highly ranked as 14th in the UK according to the Guardian University Guide 2023. It was awarded the Times International University of the Year in 2020 and University of the Year in 2018. The University’s campus is located in 560 acres of beautiful parkland on the edge of the small but vibrant city of Lancaster.

Informal enquiries are welcomed.

Please contact Dr Cheryl Hawkes (c.hawkes@lancaster.ac.uk) to apply.

Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor. You MUST include the following:

1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references

2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)

Supervisors: Professor J Simpson, Dr C Murray, Dr G Perez- Algorta and Professor J Popay

In the UK cigarette packets are legally bound to display graphic images considered disgusting e.g., diseased lungs or other decayed body parts. The idea is that, on being exposed to the disgusting images, smokers will wish to distance themselves from any association with the images and will be more inclined to give up. However, it has been suggested that using disgust in this way could be a double-edged sword. For example, it could heighten feelings of self-disgust (where the self becomes the object of disgust) and other negative emotions (e.g., shame) which could cause psychological damage to the self. Indeed heightened levels of self-disgust and disgust are associated with a number of mental health diagnoses such as depression and anxiety. It might also not be a successful strategy for certain marginalised groups who, paradoxically, might feel more likely to smoke after being exposed to such images because of the images’ negative effects on the self.

This studentship will involve both qualitative and quantitative research approaches to investigate these ideas further. While we would encourage the successful student to contribute to the design and conceptualisation of the studies, we imagine the studentship would comprise a programme of research including a systematic literature review, and both quantitative and quantitative studies. We are keen to create impact as the PhD progresses and will encourage publication of studies when complete (i.e. not necessarily just at the end of the studentship), attendance at conferences and engagement with all stakeholder groups.

We think that this project will help us understand in more detail how these graphic images affect the psychological well-being of smokers. Even if such images are effective in helping prevent smoking, they might cause other difficulties which might have different, but also serious, consequences. We would also then encourage the successful applicant to consider the impact of the findings on current UK policy and liaise with relevant groups (e.g., public health organisations/charities) to increase awareness of such effects.

In terms of training, the candidate would be supported to assess their training needs and make use of the wide range of opportunities for research training within the Faculty of Health and Medicine and Lancaster University more widely. The successful student would join an established team of supervisors who, cumulatively, have supervised over 200 doctoral students and have an extensive track record of publications with students. Successful PhD students working with these supervisors have gone on to undertake clinical psychology training, further research positions or to enter academia. We think this studentship would best suit an individual interested and willing to learn more about social science quantitative (including more advanced statistical models) and qualitative research, who is interested in the relation between research and policy and is prepared for the challenges of conducting real-life research within a context of academic rigour.

Please contact Professor Jane Simpson (j.simpson2@lancaster.ac.uk) to apply.

Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor. You MUST include the following:

1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references
2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)

Supervisors: Dr Maddy French, Dr F Eccles and Professor J Simpson

Improving palliative care services to help people who are dying is an important aim of current UK policy. However palliative care services are not currently benefitting from one of the most influential ways of providing health care: a trauma-informed approach. This approach acknowledges that both health care organisations and the individuals or teams providing care need to be sensitive to the possibility that patients may be carrying a history of psychological trauma which may affect their ability to trust healthcare providers and prevent them accepting some or all of the care they need. Although it has also recently been proposed that a trauma informed approach could be helpful for people receiving palliative care, particularly for populations who experience structural vulnerability, for example that related to racism, LGBTQI+ identity, homelessness, substance use, or mental health, this is not an approach which has had, to date, much impact on UK palliative care services. This is despite it being advocated by professional organisations (e.g. The Association of Palliative Care Social Workers).

Consequently, the aim of this studentship is to conduct provisional research into the potential for trauma-informed care in UK hospices and in palliative care more broadly. While we would expect the successful student to inform the design of the programme of research, we anticipate a mixed methods design, with a scoping review and then quantitative surveys and qualitative research, could be appropriate.

We expect the student and supervisory team to work closely with relevant organisations, who are already supporting this programme of research, and public advisors to help inform the design and focus of the studies. We would expect this studentship to have significant impact and to create potential for the development of a programme of research into this emerging area of focus.

The successful student would join an experienced supervisory team who have, collectively, supervised over 160 doctoral students. The team are committed to supporting the successful student not only to complete their PhD but to help them with their post PhD career goals. The host department, the Division of Health Research, also offers a comprehensive range of training and learning opportunities, with online modules on systematic reviews, the philosophy of research and methods and analysis.

This studentship would suit someone with an interest in developing their mixed method research skills and who wishes to achieve a high level of scholarship. We also would like to see a demonstrated interest in improving the lives of people who are dying or living with a long-term or life-limiting condition.

Please contact Dr Maddy French (m.french4@lancaster.ac.uk) to apply.

Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor. You MUST include the following:

1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references
2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)

Supervisors: Dr Suzanne Hodge, and

We are seeking a PhD candidate to undertake a project at the intersection of law and mental healthcare service delivery. The subject area is poorly understood by legislators, policymakers, and the law, but directly impacts service user rights, and has implications for the perceived integrity of the system of compulsory mental healthcare.

Every year across England and Wales thousands of lay Hospital Manager Panels (HMPs) meet to review renewals of, and appeals against, orders detaining people in hospital, and Community Treatment Orders (CTO) under Section 23 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (‘the Act’). If an HMP thinks the criteria for detention or a CTO are not met, it can discharge the service user. As such, these panels have significant impacts for service users’ liberty. Since they require scheduling and involve the preparation of several written reports, there are also costs in administrative and clinical time. Finally, the wrong decision either way – to continue compulsory care, or to discharge – creates potential negative impacts beyond the service user, for their families and communities.

Despite both the scale and consequences of the HMP process, very little research has been done to understand them, especially as regards how HMPs are experienced by those who attend them (service users, health and social care professionals, panellists, family members, Mental Health Act Advocates, lawyers). Notwithstanding this, during contemporary discussions concerning reform of the Act, it has been variously suggested that the HMP power of discharge be modified, abolished, or transferred to the Mental Health Tribunal.

This project will begin to address the research gap by tracking a sample of HMPs from start to finish in one NHS Trust. The researcher will engage in a mixed-methods approach, drawing on semi-structured interviews, textual analysis, and observation, to develop a more complete understanding of the process.

At present, HMPs continue to be conducted via MS Teams. There are plans to move to a mixed scheme with in-person hearings arranged where the service user requests this. It is anticipated that much of the data could be gathered remotely.

Since little research exists in this area, this project has the potential to inform how healthcare organisations in England and Wales implement the HMP process, with important consequences for service users, clinical staff, and administration. Furthermore, if reform of the 1983 Act follows a similar timeline to past reform, this project will have the opportunity to influence development of the law. The supervisory team’s existing academic and professional networks will assist the researcher to disseminate their findings across disciplines and beyond traditional academic journals.

There is also the potential to expand the project into postdoctoral work. For example, by tracking experiences of HMPs across multiple trusts to assess consistency across organisations; or by conducting a similar exercise in relation to Mental Health Tribunal hearings, for which there is similarly little research on stakeholder experiences.

The successful applicant will have a background in either mental health research or healthcare law and will ideally have some experience of research design and methodology.

Please contact Dr Suzanne Hodge (s.hodge@lancaster.ac.uk) to apply.

Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor. You MUST include the following:

1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references

2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)

Supervisors: Dr Y Salifu and Dr Maddy French

Applicants from a range of disciplines are encouraged to apply for this exciting, innovative and policy relevant PhD being offered in conjunction with the world-leading palliative care research team at the International Observatory on End of Life Care at Lancaster University, supported by Specialist Palliative Care services in Central Lancashire. This PhD studentship enables you to work alongside a strong research team with a large number of PhD students and experience in high quality PhD supervision. You will develop expertise in a range of research approaches including systematically constructed literature reviews, the use of routine data to explore patterns of care, and in-depth qualitative research.

The focus of the PhD is exploring the reasons for why patterns of care usage are different for those who are dying and who are from Asian backgrounds. We know that those whose ethnicity is recorded as Asian or Asian British across Central Lancashire have a different place of death to the population as a whole, with approximately 20% more deaths in hospital. Typically, place of death has been used as a proxy indicator for quality of death, with a policy imperative to move deaths out of hospital settings. It is not known why there are differences in place of death, whether this is important to the quality of care and care experience, and if the needs of those from Asian backgrounds are being met.

Existing evidence from the UK and across the world shows that people from minority ethnic populations experience different patterns of care and place of death, to the majority population. However, much of this work has been from the US, or from London and the South East, or is dated. There is limited qualitative understanding of why these patterns of care might be different, or whether this might meet people’s needs. Understanding ethnicity and its impact on care will have an impact on how care is planned and delivered.

It is proposed that there are three main parts to this PhD, to be shaped in collaboration with the successful applicant and with strong patient and public involvement (PPI).

1. A systematically constructed mixed-methods literature review interrogating available quantitative and qualitative evidence on the impact of ethnicity on the place of death and care for those who are dying.
2. A quantitative study using routine data to map the patterns of place of death and care for those from minority ethnic populations across Lancashire. This will explore intersectionality, drawing from a range of available data.
3. A qualitative study exploring the experiences of those from Asian backgrounds that influence choices around place of care and death. This will take a multi-perspective approach exploring the views of patients, family members and other stakeholders such as clinicians and social care providers.

This work will be underpinned with strong PPI and community engagement, and the partnership with Specialist Palliative Care clinicians and Central Lancashire PEOLC strategy groups will ground this work to enable the production of realistic, operationalizable, recommendations for policy and practice.

Please contact Dr Yakubu Salifu (y.salifu@lancaster.ac.uk) to apply.

Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor. You MUST include the following:

1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references

2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)

Supervisors: Dr F Eccles and Professor J Simpson

Improving the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s is the ultimate aim of this PhD opportunity. Working with internationally-renowned academics, the successful candidate will conduct a clinically impactful series of studies working with both people with Parkinson’s and the health care professionals who support them.

Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative condition after dementia, with around 150,000 people affected in the UK. Parkinson’s symptoms are initially movement difficulties – tremor and rigidity, for example – but individuals can experience other difficulties, such as in their thinking and memory. However, people with Parkinson’s also have other health care needs and the little existing research has shown that, for example, emergency hospital admissions or visits to dentists are difficult, challenging and stressful, with negative consequences on their Parkinson’s symptoms.

Consequently, this PhD project aims to look at the non-specialist health care experienced by people with Parkinson’s and the experiences of non-specialist staff tasked with providing such care. We will work closely with the successful student to design the PhD but it is likely to adopt a mixed methods approach. For example, initially, a standardised quantitative survey facilitated by Parkinson’s UK would help us scope the nature and extent of non-neurological service interactions from a patient perspective. We could then follow this up with two qualitative studies, one looking in more detail at the experiences of people with Parkinson’s and one looking in more detail at the experiences of non-specialist staff (e.g., paramedics, A&E staff).

We expect to be able to draw together clinical implications and guidance for non-specialist staff as well as developing a theoretical contribution to improving care. We are keen to create impact as the PhD progresses and will encourage publication of studies when complete (i.e. not necessarily just at the end of the studentship), attendance at conferences and engagement with both patient groups and NHS services.

We would make sure the successful candidate benefitted from our extensive links with UK charities supporting people with Parkinson’s (e.g., Parkinson’s UK) and to ensure that the studies were informed by the perspectives of people with Parkinson’s through extensive patient involvement.

In terms of training, the candidate would be supported to assess their training needs and make use of the wide range of opportunities for research training within the Faculty of Health and Medicine and Lancaster University more widely. The successful student would join an established team of supervisors who, cumulatively, have supervised over 150 doctoral students and have an extensive track record of publications with students. Successful PhD students working with these supervisors have gone on to undertake clinical psychology training, further research positions or to enter academia. We think this studentship would best suit an individual interested and willing to learn more about social science quantitative and qualitative research, who understands the experience of a chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s and is prepared for the challenges of conducting real-life research within a context of academic rigour.

For informal discussions, please contact Dr Fiona Eccles (f.eccles@lancaster.ac.uk) or Professor Jane Simpson (j.simpson2@lancaster).

Please contact Dr Fiona Eccles (f.eccles@lancaster.ac.uk) to apply.

Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor. You MUST include the following:

1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references
2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)

Supervisors: Dr Faye Tucker, Dr J Lunn and Professor Mark Limmer

There is well-established academic interest in peer-led learning, with an increasing focus on the role that peers play in supporting socio-emotional and behavioural development during adolescence. Prior focus has been on the various factors that contribute to the effectiveness of peer-led interventions for health behaviours and wellbeing. These include the nature of the peer-to-peer relationships (older to younger peers, mentoring, friendship cliques), the learning context (e.g., school versus community settings), as well as the methodological challenges to implementation.

Despite the recognition that issues related to social inequalities can have significant impact on the effectiveness of health interventions, there remains limited research into peer-led learning through the prism of health inequalities. Given there is a greater associated risk of poor health and wellbeing outcomes with social and economic inequalities, there is a need for knowledge with two directions of impact. First, research is needed to understand how social and economic inequalities present barriers to effectiveness in peer-led learning. Second, we want to know the impact that effectively overcoming these barriers might have for addressing health inequalities. A clear gap in the research emerges that can be captured by the following questions: first, what are the social and economic barriers in adolescence to effective peer-led learning; second, how can these be overcome to enable effective peer-led learning for adolescents who are impacted by these social and economic barriers; finally, what are the implications of this enquiry for policy and practice. The successful candidate will adopt an interdisciplinary and mixed-methods approach to this enquiry, including conceptual analysis, field research, data analysis, and critical enquiry.

Peer-led learning involves participation and engagement activities that can be understood via analysis of social action. There is, at present, limited work that aligns theoretical approaches from the field of Participatory Action Research (PAR) within the context of peer-led learning for social emotional learning in adolescence (this would include Youth PAR). The PAR approach would permit observation of the social actions that occur when engagement is peer-led from the conception and development of source materials through to design and delivery. It is expected that the PhD study design would draw on PAR and codesign principles. We are interested in a place-based approach, given the disparity in health outcomes in the North-west (there are for example areas of severe deprivation such as Blackpool). In summary, this PhD will address the question ‘how can health inequalities be addressed through social and emotional peer-learning in adolescence?’

Please contact Dr Faye Tucker (f.tucker3@lancaster.ac.uk) to apply.

Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor. You MUST include the following:

1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references
2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)

Supervisors: Dr David Tod, Dr L Brewster and Dr Susannah Brockbank

Current medical training exacerbates health inequalities because of beliefs that trainee doctors are active agents whose choices are unconstrained by healthcare structures (Brewster et al., 2022). However, the large gaps in existing medical education knowledge, particularly around the personal attributes associated with doctors’ professional development (Norman et al., 2018), challenge beliefs that students can exercise choice regarding professional development and career options. Unless these gaps are filled, medical education will keep contributing to health inequalities.

This PhD will advance knowledge by examining how medical students develop expertise and how their career choices are shaped by the cultures within which they train. This PhD’s aims are to:

a. review and synthesize medical education knowledge within an expertise framework (study 1),

b. conduct a longitudinal study to examine medical students’ professional development (study 2)

c. investigate experienced doctors’ career histories to explore interactions between professional development and health inequalities (study 3).

The supervisors have trialled the proposed methods in similar studies to ensure the feasibility of the proposed PhD, although will be open to the successful candidate proposing suitable changes, as long as the research aims are achieved.

The three studies form a feasible project to be completed within the three-year time frame, if undertaken full-time. Study 1 involves a systematic review. Study 2 is a two-year qualitative study with data being collected during interviews spaced several months apart with a sample size of 15-20 trainee students. Study 3 involves both a secondary analysis of existing data and life histories from a sample of 10-15 doctors with more than 20-years’ experience. Permission has been secured to invite participants.

The successful PhD student will join an existing network, with colleagues and other doctoral students in Liverpool and Glasgow, focused on advancing interdisciplinary knowledge on expertise development in the helping professions. The current PhD will both (a) advance knowledge about how medical training can be structured to reduce health inequalities and (b) contribute to a broadened understanding of professional development across disciplines focused on helping people with various medical, physical, and psychological difficulties.

Please contact Dr David Tod (d.tod1@lancaster.ac.uk) to apply.

Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor. You MUST include the following:

1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references
2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)

Supervisors: Dr Lisa Ashmore and Dr C Gaffney

Lancaster Medical School are delighted to be offering a fully funded PhD to look at the role of prehabilitation in radiotherapy for cervical cancer. The successful candidate will work with experts in integrative physiology, social sciences and clinical radiotherapy service delivery to examine the physiological response to prehab, as well as psychosocial effects.

In recent years, prehabilitation has become an accepted component of many cancer pathways. However, to date, the vast majority of prehabilitation evaluations and evidence have focussed on cancer surgery. Any specific radiotherapy prehabilitation (prehab) services are regional with little, if any, understanding of the physiological benefits or the mechanisms that underpin any benefit. More broadly, the scientific evidence to support the use of prehabilitation is variable and the descriptions of prehabilitation interventions are often imprecise, making it difficult to translate research into practice and provide evidence for service development.

This study primarily seeks to assess the biopsychosocial impact of prehabilitation on patients undergoing radiotherapy for cervical cancer. Successful candidates will gain experience in researching physiological responses to interventions, including cardiopulmonary exercise testing to determine changes in cardiac and respiratory performance, as well as skills in using quality of life measures and qualitative research methods to explore patient experience.

You will join Lancaster University’s Faculty of Health and Medicine 5* Research Environment (as rated in the 2022 Research Excellence Framework). You will join the growing number of PhD students at Lancaster Medical School and connect with networks across Lancaster’s high-ranking research units. Working with the Radiotherapy Operational Delivery Network, the findings will have the potential to inform development of regional practice and national strategy.

This project would suit a Health Care Professional with a strong interest in evidence-based service development wishing to develop their academic career or anyone with an interest in physiology, sports and exercise science, or applied health research. We welcome applications from minority groups and do not discriminate against any applicant because of race, colour, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other protected characteristics.

Anyone interested in this role is encouraged to contact the project supervisors: Dr Lisa Ashmore, Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences and Clinical Academic Therapeutic Radiographer l.ashmore@lancaster.ac.uk or Dr Chris Gaffney, Senior Lecturer in Integrative Physiology, c.gaffney@lancaster.ac.uk.

Please contact Dr Lisa Ashmore (l.ashmore@lancaster.ac.uk) to apply.

Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor. You MUST include the following:

1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references
2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)

Supervisors: Dr Amy Gadoud and Dr Timothy Gatheral

This exciting funded PhD project, supervised by experienced clinical academics will research health services in North Lancashire and South Cumbria: a well-established integrated respiratory care network (Morecambe Bay Respiratory Network (baybreathing.com); a new North Lancashire and South Cumbria specialist Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) service and local palliative care and oncology services. The student will determine the experiences and palliative care needs of patients with IPF and lung cancer and explore ways of improving assessment and management of these needs in the region.

IPF, is a serious progressive disease that typically leads to death within 3-5 years. There is a 5-14 fold greater risk of lung cancer in IPF. Combined IPF and lung cancer is challenging. Mortality may be worsened by the independent effects of each disease but also by the risk of exacerbation of IPF by invasive investigations and from cancer therapies. There are specific antifibrotic drug therapies (Pirfenidone and Nintedanib) for IPF which have been shown to reduce the rate of lung function decline in IPF. Less is understood about the role and potential side-effects of these drugs in patients with co-existing lung cancer. Palliative care is a vital component of the management of advanced lung malignancy, but also in IPF. The clinical management of lung cancer and IPF is separated between different sub-specialist teams in the NHS. Lung cancer is managed in local networks by clinicians within the structure of the lung cancer Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) whilst IPF is managed via NHS England designated specialist commissioned centres. Patients with lung cancer and IPF may therefore fall between different teams which might impact on the provision of local high-quality palliative care.

The student will conduct a mixed method study of three concurrent phases with integration of findings:

1) A literature review to explore the lived-experiences and palliative care needs of patients with IPF and lung cancer and their family carers.

2) Using the unique Morecambe Bay Respiratory network and associated Morecambe Bay linked GP and hospital records database, a sequential cross-sectional study of the years before and after the introduction of the ILD service to compare decedents who died with lung cancer, IPF only and IPF and lung cancer with regard to a palliative approach, place of death and hospitalisations will be compared.

3) Qualitative interviews with health care professionals. The interviews will be semi-structured and the topic guide will be informed by the systematic literature review and database findings to explore how assessment and management of palliative care needs for patients with IPF and lung cancer can be improved.

As well as the fortnightly supervision, training is provided across all stages of the programme, with emphasis placed on the elements of particular relevance to the PhD (for example, research ethics, systematic reviews of the literature, secondary data analysis, qualitative data collection and analysis).

PhD students are encouraged to access interdisciplinary research training from across the university, and the Lancaster University Doctoral Academy (https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/research/doctoral-academy/). Part time PhD studentships would be considered but for healthcare professionals protected research time would be needed.

Please contact Dr Amy Gadoud (a.gadoud@lancaster.ac.uk) to apply.

Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor. You MUST include the following:

1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references
2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)

Supervisors: Dr Hannah Jarvis, Professor C Holland, Dr David Tod and Dr Philip Nagy

Aerobic training promotes physiological and psychological recovery from stroke, but its benefits to cognitive performance after stroke are relatively unexplored. Cognition helps us process information when we walk, but many stroke survivors report difficulty coping with the outdoor environment, or activities such as a shopping or public transport due to noise and cognitive overload (other people, infrastructure). Cognitive changes are associated with ageing, but a stroke can increase cognitive decline, meaning many stroke survivors are unable to complete activities of daily living, participate in social activities or lead an active lifestyle.

Initial pilot studies indicate that in conjunction with cognitive training, cognition and walking performance do improve, but not long term. However, the interventions and/or outcome measures were not stroke specific or they relied on self-reported questionnaires, suggesting better and more research is needed. Outcomes of this PhD could promote recovery from stroke, reduce health care costs and improve quality of life for stroke survivors.

The overall aim of this PhD will be to develop and test an intervention to improve cognitive function and walking performance. This will be achieved via specific objectives:

Develop an aerobic and cognitive training intervention

You will use some of our existing research, conduct your own systematic review of the literature and work with stroke survivors, carers and clinicians to develop the intervention

Determine outcome measures to test the effectiveness of the intervention

You will learn how to use different types of state-of-the-art equipment to measure physiological ability (walking speed, metabolic cost), brain function (Near Infrared Spectroscopy), quality of life and patient feedback (e.g., EQ5D, focus groups), and cognition. To measure cognition, you will co-design a new or modify an existing measure of cognition with stakeholders as existing measures are not suitable for stroke survivors with aphasia or an impaired upper limb.

Pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention

Participants will be recruited from NHS and charities that we work with. The intervention that you have developed will be delivered to stroke survivors and you will collect data from them pre and post-intervention and follow up.

Project outcomes:

Work from this PhD will support future manuscripts (e.g., Stroke), conference presentations (e.g., European Stroke Conference), feedback to stakeholders, and national bodies (Stroke Association, NICE guidelines (PI is a stakeholder)). This project will link with the Eden Project North (agreed by Professor Joanne Knight) as it focuses on improving physical activity outdoors. We hope it will also link in with the Centre for Aging Cognitive Frailty Network.

Please contact Dr Hannah Jarvis (h.jarvis@lancaster.ac.uk) to apply.

Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor. You MUST include the following:

1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references
2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)