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15 doctoral studentships available focusing on dementia-related practice
We are pleased to be launching fifteen full-time PhD studentships focusing on dementia-related practice in England with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
The NIHR Research Schools for Primary Care (SPCR), Public Health (SPHR) and Social Care (SSCR) (“three Schools”) have joined together in a unique collaboration between leading academic centres in England to collaborate on a programme of work funded through the NIHR on dementia.
The Three Schools’ Dementia Research Programme aims to develop the evidence base for dementia-related practice in England by commissioning and conducting high-quality research. The Programme builds on research within each School and will carry out research to address key gaps in the evidence base, working collaboratively across primary care, public health and social care. The fifteen studentships are offered through this Dementia Programme.
These studentships will start in October 2024. Doctoral students will be required to conduct research relevant to the topics set out below.
Students will receive an annual stipend, fees and research expenses. Studentships will be based within one of the Three NIHR Schools with links across the Programme.
Successful applicants will be expected to participate in activities organised by the Three Schools’ Dementia Research Programme, particularly activities that involve other PhD students funded under this programme at other universities, and, as appropriate, other NIHR and NIHR Academy activities.
View the topics available and further details below. Please note some studentship calls have now closed.
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University of Birmingham
Lead supervisor: Dr Kelly Hall
Deadline: 15 April 2024, 17.00
There are 25,000 people from minority ethnic backgrounds living with dementia in the UK, yet they often face barriers when accessing specialist dementia support services. This PhD studentship will explore how the voluntary sector provides care and support for people living with dementia from ethnic minority groups. It will focus on the ‘superdiverse’ city of Birmingham. The successful student should have qualitative or mixed methods research skills. Supervision will be jointly provided by academics from the School for Social Care Research and the School for Public Health Research at the University of Birmingham.
Link to University advert: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/courses/research-degrees/postgraduate-research-scholarships-in-the-school-of-social-policy
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University of Exeter
Lead supervisor: Dr Alex Hillman
Deadline: 15 April 2024
This studentship will explore inequalities in dementia pathways, particularly access to diagnosis as an entry point to treatment and care. Underdiagnosis of dementias is an ongoing issue across the UK, patterned by social location, reflecting factors such as deprivation, ethnicity, urban and rural dwelling and living circumstances. This mixed-method case study will utilise public health data in one region in England to identify how different dimensions of inequality play a role in accessing a dementia diagnosis and will explore qualitatively how those living in contexts of deprivation perceive the barriers and facilitators to accessing a diagnosis.
Link to University advert: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=5092
University of Exeter
Lead supervisor: Professor David Llewellyn
Deadline: TBC
This PhD project offers a pioneering opportunity to leverage AI, specifically Large Language Models, for dementia prevention and risk reduction. Supervised by a world-class team from the universities of Exeter and Cambridge, the project involves a systematic review, a modified Delphi consensus study, co-development of a custom LLM, and a pilot study in various healthcare settings. It promises significant advancements in dementia risk profiling and reduction, aligning with the NIHR’s vision for innovative, ethical research. This interdisciplinary approach, underpinned by extensive patient and public involvement, presents a unique chance for impactful research in dementia prevention.
Link to University advert: To follow
University of Keele
Lead supervisor: Dr Sue Molesworth
Deadline: TBC
Supporting people living with dementia is one of the biggest challenges facing our UK health and social care system in the 21st-century.
In the context of new Integrated Care Systems, primary care (PC) and social care (SC) are key services for supporting people with dementia in their communities. PC and SC are interdependent regarding the provision of dementia care.
These interdependencies and how they might be harnessed to support integration of care in dementia will be the focus. Engagement with all stakeholders will be key in investigating what approaches work in practice and what outcomes are realised for various stakeholders.
Link to University advert: To follow
University of Keele
Lead supervisor: Dr Suhad Daher-Nashif
Deadline: TBC
This studentship will explore the topic question: How do sociocultural and religious factors shape understanding and care for dementia within ethnic minority communities of different religions in the UK? The student will undertake a scoping review of existing evidence to inform on qualitative approaches (e.g. interviews and focus groups). Research will focus on exploring the experiences and perspectives of dementia carers, families and stakeholders from different ethnic minorities and religions, recruited from community based organisations. The student will be fully supported by a collaborative supervisory team of experienced researchers from Keele University (research site), and the University of Sheffield.
Link to University advert: To follow
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London School of Economics and Political Science
Lead supervisor: Professor Martin Knapp
Deadline: 19 March 2024
Evidence points to differences across the population in (a) how people perceive or understand dementia, and (b) the willingness and ability of people with dementia and carers to engage with those interventions that are available or have been recommended.
This doctoral research would aim to: investigate how individual and situational factors influence perceptions of the suitability and usefulness of treatments and services; understand the consequences of differences in utilisation of treatments and services for health and wellbeing; and explore ways in which services could be better positioned or orientated to overcome these barriers and so support / encourage engagement.
Link to University advert: https://www.lse.ac.uk/cpec/assets/documents/CPEC-PhD-Studentships-2024-dementia.pdf
University of Manchester
Lead supervisor: Dr Hui Guo
Deadline: TBC
Dementia is a leading cause of impediments to quality of life. This project aims to leverage Biobank data to systematically study modifiable causal risk factors for dementia and investigate their roles in prediction and potential for prevention. The successful applicant will be supported to use cutting-edge data imputation, causal inference and machine learning methods to develop ethnicity stratified causal risk prediction models of dementia. Free software will be created and shared with the community. The multi-disciplinary supervisory team will help the student liaise with the NHS, social care team and patient and carer involvement groups for research dissemination and impact.
Link to University advert: To follow
University of Oxford
Lead supervisor: Dr Filipa Landeiro
Deadline: TBC
In 2019 there were 120,000 people living alone with dementia (PLAWD), a figure projected to double by 2039. Among those living with dementia, ethnicity is a social determinant of health representing higher risks to die younger and sooner after diagnosis. This project aims to characterise the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), the economic burden and health inequalities in PLAWD to develop future interventions for this patient group. Filling this evidence gap can guide decision-makers to prioritise health policies destined to reduce health inequities and develop cost-effective prevention, diagnosis, and care strategies that are tailored to the heterogeneous profiles within dementia.
Link to University advert: To follow
University of Oxford
Lead supervisor: Dr Joseph Kwon
Deadline: TBC
Dementia is a major risk factor for falling. The rate of falls among people living with dementia is twice as high as their cognitively normal peers, with around two thirds of people living with dementia falling annually. But current guidelines to falls prevention and dementia care do not contain tailored intervention pathways for people living with dementia. Using health economic modelling, this project will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of primary care-based identification of falls risk and social care-based delivery of falls prevention for people living with dementia aged 60 and over living in community. It will aim to influence care policy through regular stakeholder engagement throughout the project duration.
Link to University advert: To follow
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Queen Mary University of London
Lead supervisor: Dr Megan Armstrong
Deadline: 1 May 2024
Dementia disproportionately affects those experiencing socioeconomic deprivation who are almost twice as likely to have additional long-term conditions alongside dementia. Due to the heterogenous nature of the conditions, managing them is challenging, leading to increased healthcare costs. This study aims to explore the experiences and management of multiple conditions in dementia within underserved groups to address health inequalities and identify barriers to well-being. Students will develop methods for positive engagement (in research and care), explore how negative outcomes are mitigated through more integrated personalised care planning, and address workforce roles and capacity.
Link to University advert: To follow
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University College London
Lead supervisor: Dr Nathan Davies
Deadline: 21 March 2024, 17.00
Delirium is an acute and fluctuating neuropsychiatric syndrome, affecting attention, consciousness and cognition. Delirium is a major public health issue, particularly in frail older people with dementia, increasing cognitive decline and worsens quality of life. Delirium occurring in someone with dementia is referred to as delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD). DSD is often unrecognised by healthcare professionals and caregivers. This PhD will investigate how DSD is detected and managed in the community. The studentship will consist of three mixed methods studies which the student will refine, but examples include a literature review, descriptive quantitative study, and mixed methods case studies.
Link to University advert: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology-health-care/study/studentships-and-funding/3-phd-opportunities-nihr-3-schools-dementia-phd-studentships-ucl
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University College London
Lead supervisor: Dr Sarah Griffiths
Deadline: 21 March 2024, 17.00
Distant care givers (DCGs) of people with dementia provide unpaid care to a relative/friend, from whom, for example, they live at a geographic distance. DCGs can experience high levels of carer strain and wish for better communication with primary and social care providers. The aim of this studentship is to develop guidance for a) primary and social care providers, enabling them to support DCGs of people with dementia, and b) DCGs, to support them in navigating their relationships with providers. Methods will include an evidence review, qualitative interviews and co-design workshops. The student will be supported by a supervisory team with a wealth of experience in primary and social care research, qualitative methods and co-design.
Link to University advert: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology-health-care/study/studentships-and-funding/3-phd-opportunities-nihr-3-schools-dementia-phd-studentships-ucl
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University College London
Lead supervisor: Dr Kate Walters
Deadline: 21 March 2024, 17.00
As dementia in people with Parkinson’s progresses, decisions are often left for carers to make. However, carers find making decisions stressful and challenging. This project aims to understand the complexity and context of decision-making among carers of people with Parkinson’s dementia and develop a prototype decision aid. Proposed methods include an evidence review, qualitative interviews with carers, focus groups/surveys with professions and stakeholder workshops to develop a prototype decision aid. The multi-professional supervisory team with expertise in primary care, social care, and public health will work with the student to develop their ideas and focus for the PhD.
Link to University advert: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology-health-care/study/studentships-and-funding/3-phd-opportunities-nihr-3-schools-dementia-phd-studentships-ucl
University of York
Lead supervisor: Dr Mark Wilberforce and Professor Yvonne Birks
Deadline: 10 May 2024, 17.00
Perhaps the most difficult area of homecare provision occurs where the offer of help is declined, avoided or verbally/physically rejected by a person living with dementia, despite them having a clear need for support. Previously, the HOPES study identified strategies that might help tailor provision so as to be more acceptable. However, we do not know how to implement that learning in homecare organisations. This studentship will seek to design and test HOPES in a homecare environment to make it beneficial to both staff and people with dementia. The studentship will be embedded in the vibrant care research centre at the University of York.
Link to University advert: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/funding/international/hopes-for-homecare/
Leeds Beckett University
Lead supervisor: Professor Claire Surr
Deadline: 7 May 2024, 12.00
People living with dementia often have additional long terms conditions (LTCs), whose management is made more complex by dementia. Poor LTC management can worsen health and quality of life outcomes and increase risk of hospitalisation. This PhD will explore the experiences of social care staff in supporting management of co-existing LTCs in people with dementia and identify areas for optimisation of care. There will be flexibility to focus on care homes or home care and the LTCs of focus. Supervisors are Prof Claire Surr and Dr Rachael Kelley (LBU) with advisors Dr Kirsty Haunch University of Leeds, Dr Nathan Davies and Dr Abigail Woodward UCL.
Link to University advert: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/the-graduate-school/research-degrees-at-leeds-beckett/studentships/health/managing-other-long-term-conditions-alongside-dementia
