Department: Academic Orthopaedics, Trauma and Sports MedicineÂ
Fully funded 3 year PhD studentship (commence October 2013)
Stipend: £14,643 p.a.Â
Applications are invited for a 3 year PhD, open to Home, EU and International students. The PhD studentship will cover the cost of tuition fees at the Home/EU rate. International students will be required to fund the difference between the Home/EU and International fee rate. The successful applicant will commence in October 2013. Â
We are pleased to be able to offer this exciting opportunity to work within the newly formed Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis. This Centre is a unique collaboration of seven Universities (Nottingham, Oxford, Loughborough, Leeds, Bath, Southampton and UCL) as well as Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust working towards a better understanding of the mechanisms relating sport, exercise, injury and OA. The investigating multi disciplinary team includes specialists in orthopaedics, rheumatology, sport and exercise medicine, physiotherapy, podiatry, epidemiology, occupational therapy, nutrition, sports science, skeletal muscle biology, bone and cartilage biology, psychology, physiology and biomechanics.Â
It is vital that the population is sufficiently physically active in order to maximise health (and prevent ill-health). Currently only a third of British workers meet recommendations for physical activity and the majority are overweight or obese, which is associated with increased risk of chronic diseases. The main themes of the project will be to examine the relative contribution of obesity and physical activity in determining OA risk (in terms of incidence and progression) in physically impaired people across the physical activity spectrum. Then to increase understanding about the barriers and facilitators to physical activity in disabled people, and to determine what physical activity programmes are effective, in terms of improvements in quality of life and physiological determinates, and which increase physical activity participation. Â
This is an excellent opportunity to work in an emerging area of multidisciplinary research, gain a PhD and develop leadership skills in preparation for a high-impact research career. Applicants must have, or expect to receive, a minimum of UK 2.1 honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area. A relevant Masters qualification is desirable but not essential. This project will require strong analytical and epidemiological skills.Â
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Kim Edwards, Email: Kimberley.edwards@nottingham.ac.uk Â
Applications with a covering letter, a detailed CV, the names, addresses and contact details of two/three referees, should be sent to Dr Kim Edwards, Email: Kimberley.edwards@nottingham.ac.uk Â
Please quote ref. SEOA/ROD/KLE2a
Closing date for applications: Â 22 August 2013
Interview date: 2 September 2013