BSMS > Postgraduate > Research degrees > PhD opportunities

PhD opportunities

All our current PhD studentship opportunities are listed on this page.

In order to apply, please visit the University of Brighton website by clicking the “Apply Now” link below, and select “Doctoral College” as the School. You should then select the project that you wish to apply for.

Apply for your PHD here >

We are also happy to consider applications from self-funded individuals, and for personally developed projects, we recommend an approach to a lead supervisor, following which you will have help and support with your application.

For self-funded and speculative applications, we require that you submit a research proposal alongside your application. Within this you should take the opportunity to clearly outline your research idea; your research methodology and critical approaches; experience; and original contribution to knowledge and key themes, concepts and ideas. See our guidance on writing a research proposal >

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

Lived experience of Deaf children in low- and middle-income countries, and exploring tech-based solutions for sign-language

Supervisors: Prof Mahmood Bhutta, Dr Tineke Water, Prof Dimitra Petrakaki, Dr Alan Sanderson

Appliction deadline: Friday 22 November 2024

Open to local candidates only

Aims of the project

To date there has been limited academic literature on the lived experience, or opportunities to empower Deaf children or communities in low- and middle-income countries. We know the majority of the Deaf population in low resource settings do not have access to sign language. We envisage that empowering the Deaf community though a digital sign-language platform will rapidly accelerate development of Deaf culture, giving deaf individuals voice and opportunity, mirroring changes that instigated empowerment of Deaf communities in the USA and Europe 200 years ago.

Methodology

We will use our partnership with local Deaf schools to evaluate the lived experience of those children attending the school. We will recruit 10-15 key informants at each site (approximately 60-70 individuals in total) and undertake semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (where necessary using local sign language interpreters). First, we will explore the difficulties deaf children and young people face (historic and contemporary), including attitudes, perceived life opportunities, and stigma (including self-stigma). We will focus on what has or could lead to empowerment of such individuals, including exploring the attitudes and roles of parents / caregivers, teachers and community members, and access to sign language.

We will then explore the opportunity for assistive technology for sign language communication to aid empowerment of Deaf individuals and communities. DeafReach have developed an open-source web and app based digital dictionary of over 6000 words, which converts written and spoken language into Pakistan sign language to support deaf individuals and teachers. The app and website have been accessed by >1 million individuals since inception in 2014, and the app has 2000 active users, with 95% finding the resource independently or by word of mouth.

We will implement this program in Cambodia, Zambia, and/or Malawi, as a means to investigate challenges and opportunities to translate this software for use with other sign languages. We will evaluate user engagement with the platform, the challenges of its adoption and the potential to enable user empowerment. We will measure the experience of a range of stakeholders, including users, carers/family members and teachers using semi-structured interviews on a cohort of 10-15 participants at each site, supplemented by a questionnaire for the entire cohort, drawing upon existing sociotechnical approaches and existing frameworks to evaluate experience of the intervention (ease of use, challenges to use, resistance to use and developed technical skills/literacy) and outcomes on self-reported quality of life (access to and impact on user learning, ability for communication and socialisation, improved confidence and empowerment, impact on employment or employability, perceptions of social inclusion & reduction of stigmatisation).

Perceived student contribution

Students will lead the academic evaluation of this project, and gain experience in qualitative data collection and analysis as well as knowledge and experience of challenges of implementation of processes and technologies in low resource settings.

Educational outcomes for the student

This PhD will;

Enhance the student’s capacity to conduct qualitative data collection and analysis as well as knowledge and experience of challenges of implementation of processes and technologies in low resource settings.
Gain a detailed understanding of the experiences and challenges faced by deaf children in our partner LMICs and the factors that support empowerment.

Funding Notes

This is a 3-year PhD studentship funded by NIHR, open to applicants resident in Cambodia. Funding will cover split-site international tuition fees, a stipend to cover living expenses and a research allowance to cover the project running costs.

How to apply

Applicants must apply through the University’s application Portal (StudentView (brighton.ac.uk)) where they can submit a CV and complete the application form. Interviews will be held in December 2024.

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

Low-cost bone conduction hearing devices for people with chronic suppurative otitis media in Africa

Supervisors: Prof Mahmood Bhutta, Dr Deborah Nyirenda, Dr Alan Sanderson

Application deadline: Sunday 27 October 2024

Open to local candidates only

Aims of the Project

Test real world effectiveness of this device in a model of “direct to user” in community settings.
To see the number of participants who wish to continue to use the device and to ascertain if there are audiological predictors of those who wish to continue to use the device.

Methodology

Recent work by our teams and others has found that commercially available direct to consumer bone conduction hearing devices (developed for the sports market) can effectively treat conductive hearing loss are highly effective for rehabilitation of hearing in children with middle ear disease (otitis media). We have trialled such devices in the UK and in a small cohort of children with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in Malawi.

This PhD will expand on this pilot work and test real world effectiveness of this device in a model of “direct to user” in community settings. The device will be provided to 150 adults and children in communities from Malawi or Zambia who complain of disabling hearing loss and a history of current or previous ear discharge. Participants will trial the device for a minimum of 2-3 weeks, and at the end of this time, we will evaluate outcomes. This will include the number of participants who wish to continue to use the device (primary outcome), and duration of use, acceptability, practicality, and willingness to pay. We will undertake audiological testing of participants to ascertain if there are audiological predictors of those who wish to continue to use the device and those who do not.

We will also evaluate qualitative outcomes on a cohort of 30-40 individuals, including users, carers/family members and teachers using semi-structured interviews, supplemented by a questionnaire for the entire cohort. We will evaluate experience of the intervention (ease of use, challenges to use, resistance to use and developed technical skills/literacy) and outcomes on self-reported quality of life (access to and impact on user learning, ability for communication and socialisation, improved confidence and empowerment, impact on employment or employability, perceptions of social inclusion & reduction of stigmatisation).

Perceived student contribution

· The student will expand on the existing pilot study and test real world effectiveness of this device in a model of “direct to user” in community settings. The device will be provided to 150 adults and children in communities from Malawi or Zambia who complain of disabling hearing loss and a history of current or previous ear discharge. Participants will trial the device for a minimum of 2-3 weeks, and at the end of this time, you will evaluate outcomes. This will include the number of participants who wish to continue to use the device (primary outcome), and duration of use, acceptability, practicality, and willingness to pay. Student will undertake audiological testing of participants to ascertain if there are audiological predictors of those who wish to continue to use the device and those who do not.

· Student will also evaluate qualitative outcomes on a cohort of 30-40 individuals, including users, carers/family members and teachers using semi-structured interviews, supplemented by a questionnaire for the entire cohort. They will evaluate experience of the intervention (ease of use, challenges to use, resistance to use and developed technical skills/literacy) and outcomes on self-reported quality of life.

Educational Outcomes for the Student

The student will gain experience in trial methodology (supported by the CTU at BSMS), as well as qualitative data collection and analysis, and knowledge and experience of the challenges of implementation of processes and technologies in low resource settings. Gain an understanding of if and how tech solutions can support adoption and spread of sign language un a country a well a technical, methodological or logistical issue that may serve as barriers.

Funding Notes

This is a 3-year PhD studentship funded by NIHR. Funding will cover tuition fees for international split-site students, a stipend to cover living expenses and a research allowance to cover the project running costs. Applications are being accepted from those currently resident in Malawi.

How to apply

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

CREATE PhD Programme Fellow (x5)

Salary: £43,923 to £63,152 per annum, inclusive.

Closing Date: Friday 08 November 2024

Reference: ITD-CRD-2024-09

Applications are invited for this PhD training programme to commence in September 2025. Led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, this PhD Programme is offered by five UK and six African partner institutions bringing together the expertise of these institutions in global health research.

The focus of this PhD Programme is on research focusing on the health problems of African countries, centering on Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, The Gambia, and Uganda. Successful applicants will develop their potential to become global health leaders within a structured and mentored training environment. Further information on the programme is available at: PROGRAMME | CREATE PhD Programme.

This programme is aimed at supporting health professionals who wish to undertake rigorous research training. Support is for three years and includes a matched salary, research expenses, home rate tuition fees, and training and travel costs.

Applicants must be practicing healthcare professionals and be registered with a national professional regulatory body in the UK/Republic of Ireland. Medical graduates must be registered on a UK/Republic of Ireland specialist training programme or must be a registered GP. Applicants should maintain their clinical skills, if applicable. Applicants must have an interest in global health research and be looking to develop their academic career.

They should be interested in spending extended periods of time (18-24 months) at one of the Programme African Partner Institutions in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, The Gambia, and Uganda as part of their PhD. All applicants must have completed their undergraduate degree and be registered with the relevant professional regulatory body (e.g. - General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council).

This is a full-time, fixed term post (part-time equivalent is available) funded by the Wellcome Trust based at one of the following partner/host institutions: The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), King’s College London (KCL), Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), City St George’s, University of London (SGUL) or Brighton and Sussex Medical School at the University of Sussex (BSMS). Candidates accept that, if successful, they may be awarded a fellowship at any of the five partner institutions.

Appointments will be made to match an appointee’s current salary plus London allowance if applicable. Doctors who have completed their specialist training (GPs and Consultants) should contact the Programme director for a discussion about their salary scale.

Medical doctors, dentists and vets will be placed on the standard clinical academic salary scale for doctors in formal clinical training in the range £43,923 to £63,152 per annum plus £2,162 London allowance per annum where applicable. NMAHPS will be placed on the appropriate scale of their employing institution and could be in the range of £43,947 to £49,908 per annum. Placement on the scales will be according to an appointee’s current salary, stage of training (if applicable) and transitional pay arrangements and will be subject to approval by the employing institution. Annual leave entitlement is dependent on the employing institution’s terms and conditions. In addition, staff are entitled to public holidays.

If successful, fellows will be required to take up the fellowship within 12 months of the award being made.
Applications should be made via: http://jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. Online applications will be accepted by the automated system until 11.59pm of the closing date. Any queries regarding the application process may be addressed to jobs@lshtm.ac.uk. Please quote reference ITD-CRD-2024-09.

The supporting statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience and training meet each of the requirements in the job description. Please provide one or more paragraphs addressing each criterion. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as "Please see attached CV" will not be considered acceptable.

Closing date for the receipt of applications is Friday 8th November 2024.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a full application and to interview.

Interviews will be held at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in mid-May 2025. Up to five candidates per year will be selected for the programme.

Find out more and apply here >

PhD studentships now recruited

Coping Strategy Enhancement - adapting the intervention for the treatment of hallucinations in the context of dementia
Developing a co-designed brief, low cost and scalable intervention for student carer mental health and wellbeing
Optimising infection prevention and control in healthcare settings through applied genomics and prediction
Determining the role of long non-coding RNA in the pathogenisis of high-risk gain(1q) positive, multiple myeloma
Detection and characterisation of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)
Development of a new treatment for osteoarthritis
Substance use in relation to the mental and sexual heath of vulnerable adolescents and young adults under 25 in coastal areas of Kent and Sussex
The mental health and wellbeing needs of looked after and displaced children in southeast England
Helping young people to live successfully with long-term health issues
Resourcing Resilience: Positive psychology among adolescents living with HIV
Widening access to psychological interventions for diverse communities: exploring the potential of community-led interventions
Co-producing stigma-proof mental health interventions with and for newcomers (asylum seekers, refugees and migrants) in southeast England
Defining Mycobacterium tuberculosis in lung tissue – a novel discovery platform for new vaccine and drug targets
Epidemiology of cancer in the elderly (aged > 65 years) in England
The roles of oxidative stress and redox regulation in chronic inflammatory disease (Supervisors: Dr Lisa Mullen, Prof Pietro Ghezzi, Prof Kevin Davies)
Pillars of Expertise: Visual Perception & Memory (Supervisors: Dr Natasha Sigala, Prof Mara Cercignani
Investigating the genetic basis of osteosarcoma in children & dogs (Supervisors: Prof Sarah Newbury, Dr Peter Bush, Dr Chris Jones)
The embodiment of unconscious knowledge in maladaptive behaviour (Supervisors: Prof Hugo Critchley, Dr Sarah Garfinkel, Prof Dora Duka)
Can simulation clarify diagnostic skills for newly qualified doctors? (Supervisors: Dr Inam Haq, Dr Wesley Scott-Smith)
Impact of oxytocin on emotional regulation in binge drinking and alcoholism: behavioural, physiological and fMRI investigations (Supervisors: Prof Hugo Critchley, Prof Dora Duka)
Developing an algorithm for predicting children with severe asthma (Supervisors: Prof Somnath Mukhopadhyay, Dr Katy Fidler)
Development of a refined model of neuropathic pain: a model without frank nerve injury (Supervisors: Dr Andrew Dilley, Prof Pietro Ghezzi)
Role of secreted oxidoreductases in osteoarthritis, rheumathoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (Supervisors: Prof Pietro Ghezzi, Dr Manuela Mengozzi)
Measuring quality of life in severe dementia: validation of DEMQOL-Proxy in family and professional carers of people with severe dementia (Prof Sube Banerjee, Prof Naji Tabet)
Stigma in health care: Does it influence the way general practitioners record consultations? (Supervisors: Dr Elizabeth Ford, Prof Helen Smith, Prof Flis Henwood)
Interoception and preventative intervention for anxiety in adults with autism (supervisors: Dr Sarah Garfinkel, Prof Hugo Critchley)