Technology in diabetes self-care: use and contextual engagement with flash and continuous glucose monitoring
PhD
Key facts
Start dates
September 2024 / October 2024
Application deadline
Monday 8 April 2024 (23:59)
Location
Course length
Full time: 3 years
Department
More details
Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants with settled or pre-settled status
Bursary p.a: equivalent to UKRI national minimum stipend plus fees (2023/24 bursary rate is £18,622)
University fees and bench fees will be met by the University for the three years of the funded Studentship.
This course is not available to students classed as International for fees purposes.
Overview
People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) require blood glucose tests and insulin administration several times daily. Technological progress in diabetes management and introduction of flash and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) enables replacement of finger-prick tests by a sensor (a small device attached to one's body measuring blood glucose levels) and accessible ways to visualise results and personal glucose trends.
This life-changing technology, reducing the personal burden of managing diabetes, has been long-awaited. However, users' response to flash and CGM has been mixed (Friedman et al., 2023; Kubiak et al.,2020), with some being considered as under-utilising it /or not using it to its potential.
There is little understanding of why that is, and this PhD project aims to understand better how users choose/adapt to use flash and CGM technology through their self-management strategies.
Additional details
The objectives are to explore user engagement with Flash and CGM, assess usability, understand user-clinician interactions, and make recommendations for users, clinicians, and industry. Dr Marion Waite is an expert in the clinical management of diabetes and a researcher in how people with diabetes engage with technology in their everyday lives, including mobile applications, artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and immersive virtual reality. Dr Olga Kozlowska is an expert in the psychological aspects of living with diabetes. Both supervisors have successfully collaborated with diabetes researchers locally, nationally, and internationally. The studentship will provide an opportunity to network with the broader diabetes research community.
The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hrs of teaching per week on average during semester time, including preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hrs per week), and participating in a teaching skills course without further remuneration.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or acceptable equivalent qualification.
English language requirements
EU Applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent) with an overall minimum score of 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre.
Application process
Please download and follow the application instructions. Complete applications should include a research proposal (max 500 words) about how you would conduct the study.
Contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk with any application queries
Contact Dr Marion Waite with any project queries: mwaite@brookes.ac.uk
Director of Studies: Dr Marion Waite
Supervisor: Dr Olga Kozlowska
This project is advertised on a competitive basis alongside the current Nigel Groome PhD studentship advertisement ‘Understanding the sweet-liking phenotypes: differences in eating behaviour and metabolic responses to food intake as a function of sweet liking – implications for personalised weight loss interventions’.
The provisional interview date is 29 April.
Part time MPhil/PhD study will be exceptionally considered.
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on: