MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow
Neighbourhoods and Health Programme

£13,726 stipend pa
3 years

Supervisors: Professor Anne Ellaway and Dr Alison Kirk

We invite applications from candidates with a a 1^st or 2:1 Honours degree and a Masters degree (Masters either already awarded or evidence that you are expected to have awarded prior to the start of the 2013 academic year) to study for a PhD in a leading research institution, representing a major stepping stone to a research or academic career. Both degrees should be in public health, physical activity, sport and exercise psychology, health psychology, social sciences, sociology, human geography, or a related discipline. You should also have an understanding of the determinants of physical activity among young people and demonstrable knowledge and/or experience of conducting qualitative interviews.

This research studentship will take a mixed methods approach to understanding how the local social and physical environment influences physical activity levels among young people (aged 11-12). The studentship nests within the Studying Physical Activity in Children’s Environments across Scotland (SPACES) project which is collecting data on the levels and location of young people’s physical activity via accelerometry and GPS. The primary focus of this studentship will be to conduct in-depth interviews with a subsample of the SPACES participants to investigate the relative importance of different factors (e.g. family, household, area) for different young people as influences on their physical activity levels. There will be scope to refine the study methods of the studentship if appropriate. 

For full studentship details visit www.sphsu.mrc.ac.uk/jobs and to get an insight into student life at the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit please visit http://www.sphsu.mrc.ac.uk/about/being-a-phd-student-at-the-unit.

Prospective candidates are invited to informally visit the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit by appointment by contacting Professor Anne Ellaway to arrange a visit or call 0141 357 3949.

This is one of four studentships being offered in the 2013/2014 academic year by the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow. For further information please visit www.sphsu.mrc.ac.uk/jobs.

Applicants must be eligible for an MRC Studentship (see MRC Studentship Handbook at www.mrc.ac.uk/Utilities/Documentrecord/index.htm?d=MRC002630). Shortlisted candidates will be requested to provide a sample of their written academic work (e.g. an essay or chapter from a dissertation) prior to interview, and a brief outline of their ideas for the studentship (no more than one page of A4).

If you would like to apply, please send a covering letter and CV to Susan Wilkie, by clicking the APPLY button below, quoting REF: AE/AK, stating in your letter why you would like to be considered for this studentship and how you meet each of the criteria listed in the Person Requirements. Please also supply the details of two academic referees.

Closing date for applications:  11^th April  2013. Interviews will be held on 25^th April 2013.

Please note that appointment will be made subject to eligibility, health and security screening and suitable academic references.