Research funding opportunities

International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies

 

Oxford Brookes Business School

Full-time, 3 year funded PhD Studentship

Relationship between the world of coaching practice and the world of coaching research

Bursary: £16,000 pa (with no inflation increase)

 

Fees: Full time fees at the Home rate will be paid for 3 years

 

Start date: January 2020

 

Eligibility: Home/EU only

 

Deadline: The closing date for applications is October 7, 2019 (12 Noon UK Time)

 

Interview date: Interviews will be held on 14 October 2019

The International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies at the Oxford Brookes Business School, Oxford Brookes University is offering a studentship to an exceptional candidate seeking to study for a full time PhD in Relationship between the world of coaching practice and the world of coaching research starting in January 2020.

This full-time 3 year studentship is subject to satisfactory academic progress and includes a commitment of seminar teaching to undergraduate students for no more than 20 hours a week.

 

Please note previous applicants need not apply again.

The Project

It is a long-held ambition of many commentators in the field of coaching for practice to be more evidence-based. This implies that coaching approaches and methods are informed by rigorous research findings and underpinned by robust conceptual work. Although the principles are widely held, the realities of practice do not seem to match.  Research findings and serious conceptual publications remain less influential than opinion-based sources.  For a relatively new discipline, it is important to explore the nature and extent of this phenomenon and to understand its roots and driving forces. The PhD candidate would be expected to conduct a study in the area of research-informed practice, the production of knowledge, and the needs, attitudes and reservations of coaching practitioners in relation to research. The study would contribute to understanding what influences the relationship between the worlds of coaching research and practice.

Applicants are expected to hold a good undergraduate degree and a good Master’s degree at merit level or above in a relevant area of the discipline in social sciences (e.g. coaching, psychology, organization studies, sociology, business and management). Applicants should also be able to demonstrate strong research capabilities, preferably an experience of having conducted fieldwork, and be fluent in spoken and written English.

We are looking to recruit a candidate of the highest quality and who is capable of submitting a PhD thesis within 3 years. Funding will cover the three year period subject to the candidate making satisfactory progress annually. PhD students will take part in the School’s PhD programme, which offers seminars and training on research methodology as well as a collegiate environment to present work in progress.

Candidates interested in discussing their proposals can contact the supervisory team: Tatiana Bachkirova tbachkirova@brookes.ac.uk and Peter Jackson peter.jackson@brookes.ac.uk

Further information about research in the Business School: /business/research/

How to apply: For further details of how to apply, please email: bus-researchdegrees@brookes.ac.uk

 

 

Please ensure you quote Coaching practice and research in the email title when applying.

 

     

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Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

3 Year Full Time studentship

Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants who must be permanently resident in UK/EU

Closing date: 28^th October 2019
Start Date: January 2020

Bursary p.a.: £15,009 for 3 years.

Fees at the Home/EU rate will be paid for 3 years

Bench fees will be paid for 3 years

 

Project Title: Experiences of End of Life Care of Bereaved caregivers of People with Heart Failure

Name of Director of Studies (DoS):      

Dr Sue Schutz

For this studentship the successful candidate will join a team of researchers who are engaged in research in this area. Additionally our collaborating partner is Professor Bee Wee who is National Clinical Director for End of Life Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement, Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Sir Michael Sobell House, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Associate Professor at University of Oxford. Dr Helen Walthall, Dr Sue Schutz and Dr Dan Butcher are all currently members of research teams exploring the needs of people with heart failure and their caregivers. The aim of this study is to explore the current end of life experiences of bereaved caregivers of people with heart failure, so that care delivery can be supported through the development of an evidence base and best practice can be established.

 

National policy, through the development of ‘The NHS Long Term Plan’ (2019), has placed a major focus of the need to improve care for people with cardiovascular disease which also includes a need to ensure personalised end of life care.  The Plan further acknowledges caregivers in long term care delivery and recognises the need to support their role in the delivery of care.  This research proposal addresses these key aspects of care in one project and could therefore support evidence based policy making in a significant national priority area. This study would take a qualitative approach to exploring the experiences of bereaved caregivers of people with heart failure regarding end of life care. Taking a Case Study approach, the project would seek to explore and understand both the unique and common experiences of bereaved caregivers (Stake 1995). The methodology is considered to be one that is useful in nursing research and can enable the researcher to elicit valuable experiences that can be immediately applicable to practice (Zucker 2001).

 

Contact: Dr Sue Schutz (seschutz@brookes.ac.uk)

 

Requirements: Applicants should be of the highest quality and capable of submitting a PhD thesis within 3 years. Applicants should have a first class or upper second class (minimum 2.1) honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or an acceptable equivalent qualification. EU Applicants must have an IELTS Academic test certificate with an overall minimum score of 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued in the last two 2 years by an approved test centre. We will consider alternative acceptable evidence of English Language ability.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491093/2016-01-11_-Approved_Secure_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres_-_Website.pdf

Application procedure:

Applications only to hlsapplications@brookes.ac.uk

Download application form:
(http://www.hls.brookes.ac.uk/images/research/phd-studentship-application-form-jan-14.doc)

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences,

Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery

3 Year, Full Time, PhD Studentship

Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants who must be permanently resident in UK/EU

Closing date: 28 October 2019

Start Date: January 2020

Bursary.: £15,009 pa for 3 years

Fees: paid by the University for 3 years

Contact supervisor: Doctor Jane Carpenter (jane.carpenter@brookes.ac.uk)

Project Title: Water immersion during labour for women with raised BMI

There is international recognition of the potential harm caused by the over-use of Caesarean section (CS). For women at low risk of obstetric complications, there is now clear evidence on the importance of place of birth (midwifery unit or home birth, rather than obstetric unit), midwifery-led care, continuity of carer and water immersion as safe and effective ways to support spontaneous vaginal birth and normal birth. However, ways to support normal birth for women with known obstetric risks, such as obesity (BMI >30kg/m²), require further investigation.

This PhD studentship will use a mixed methods approach, including a substantial quantitative element, to address the following research question: Is the use of water immersion during labour and/or birth both safe and effective as a method to increase rates of normal birth for women who are obese? Depending on the interests and experience of the student, work will be drawn from four key strands: a systematic review; guideline scoping and development; secondary analysis of data from a national cohort study and potential analysis of routinely collected data; a qualitative investigation of women’s and midwives’ views and experiences. Relevant University and NHS ethical approval will be sought.

This is a collaborative project, with key people involved being:

Dr Louise Hunter (Programme Lead, Midwifery, Oxford Brookes University (OBU); Co-Director of Studies) and Dr Mary Malone (Director, Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery; Co-Director of Studies), Dr Jane Carpenter (Lecturer in Midwifery, OBU), Dr Rachel Rowe (University Research Lecturer, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford), Dr Ethel Burns (Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, OBU)

The successful applicant will join Oxford Brookes University Maternal and Women’s Public Health research group (OxBUMP).

As part of their Studentship, any successful applicant will be required to undertake up to 6 hours teaching a week during semesters without further remuneration. Training will be given.

Requirements: Applicants should be of the highest quality and capable of submitting a PhD thesis within 3 years. Applicants should have a first class or upper second class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or an acceptable equivalent qualification. A Masters degree would be an advantage, as would previous research experience, publications and/or professional experience as a registered midwife working with a wide range of women and their families.  EU Applicants must have an IELTS Academic test certificate with an overall minimum score of 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued within the last two years from an approved test centre. We will consider alternative acceptable evidence of English Language ability.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491093/2016-01-11_-Approved_Secure_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres_-_Website.pdf

Application procedure:

Download application form:
(http://www.hls.brookes.ac.uk/images/research/phd-studentship-application-form-jan-14.doc

Applications only to hlsapplications@brookes.ac.uk

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Faculty of Health and Life Sciences,

Oxford Institute of Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Research

3 Year, Full -time PhD Studentship

Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants who must be permanently resident in UK/EU

Bursary .: £15,009 p.a. (3 years)

Fees: at the Home/EU rate to be paid by the university for 3 years

Bench fees will be paid by the university   for 3 years

Closing date: 28^th October 2019

Start Date: January 2020

Supervisors: Dr Jo Brett (JBrett@brookes.ac.uk), Prof Eila Watson (ewatson@brookes.ac.uk), Dr Pras Ramluggun

Psycho-social needs of patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer

Head and neck cancer (HNC) affects around 11900 people in the UK each year with 4047 deaths.  There are currently 62 500 survivors of the disease. Traditionally, HNC has most commonly occurred in smokers and in heavy drinkers.  Recently, however, there has been an increase in human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal HNC, occurring in a younger, distinct group to those with non-HPV related HNC.  This epidemic remains relatively unfamiliar to most health professionals, resulting in delayed diagnosis and more severe treatment.  Patients with HPV-related HNC are likely to have distinct psycho-social issues, yet little research has been conducted around their experiences, unmet supportive care and information needs.

This PhD studentship will adopt a mixed methods approach to examine the unmet information and supportive care needs of patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal HNC to inform service provision and the design of supportive care intervention(s).

Three/four research phases are proposed, including a systematic review of evidence to date; survey to assess unmet information and supportive care needs; a qualitative study to explore HPV HNC patients experiences and needs in greater depth; and a survey or interviews to explore experiences, views and current practice of health professionals caring for HPV HNC patients.

In addition to the supervisors listed above, Mr Stuart Winter (Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust OUH NHS FT,  Ms Kate Lawrence (MacMillan Cancer Nurse Specialist, OUH NHS FT) and Prof Paul Carding (Director of Oxford Institute  of Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Research) will act as Clinical Advisors.

The successful applicant will join the Supportive Cancer Care Research Group within the Oxford Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Research.

Funding Notes

Applicants should be of the highest quality and capable of submitting a PhD thesis within 3 years. Applicants should have a first class or upper second class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or an acceptable equivalent qualification. A masters degree would be an advantage, as would a clinical nurse background, professional experience of working with cancer patients and/or previous research.

References

EU Applicants must have an IELTS Academic test certificate with an overall minimum score of 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued within the last two years from an approved test centre. We will consider alternative acceptable evidence of English Language ability.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491093/2016-01-11_-Approved_Secure_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres_-_Website.pdf

Application procedure:

Applications only to hlsapplications@brookes.ac.uk

Download application form

(http://www.hls.brookes.ac.uk/images/research/phd-studentship-application-form-jan-14.doc)

Interview date: Monday 11^th November 2019 

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Faculty of Health and Life Sciences,

Department of Sports, Health Sciences and Social Work 

Part-time, 5 Year, fees only funded PhD studentship

Project title:  Transcranial direct current stimulation to improve motor function in children with cerebral palsy"

This Studentship is available on a Part-time basis only.

Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants who must be permanently resident in UK/EU

Fees.:  Part-time Home/EU fees paid by the University (max 5 years)

Closing date: 5.00pm on 31 October  2019

Start date: January 2020

Supervisors: Professor Helen Dawes

Project:

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and painless form of non-invasive brain stimulation, with the potential to enhance cortical plasticity and improve motor function in a range of neurological conditions. In people with Cerebral Palsy (CP), functional deficits limit independence and participation in daily activities. Therefore, the potential to utilise tDCS as an adjunct to physical therapies is an attractive concept warranting investigation.

This PhD aims to contribute to a better understanding of the potential for tDCS to target both the upper and lower limb simultaneously using combined upper and lower limb functional training.

For further information contact: hlsapplications@brookes.ac.uk

Requirements:
Applicants should have (or be expecting) a first or upper second class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or acceptable equivalent qualification in Physiotherapy. 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.  

Applicants should have experience in a research role and have significant experience of working in research with children, research in schools and children with cerebral palsy. Experience of NHS ethics and R&D procedures is also desirable for this project.

How to apply:

Download the application form here: http://www.hls.brookes.ac.uk/images/research/phd-studentship-application-form-jan-14.doc

The completed application form should be sent by email to:  hlsapplications@brookes.ac.uk

     

There are no funding opportunities available at the moment.

School of the Built Environment and the School of Architecture

3 year, full-time funded PhD Studentship 

Social Innovation in Low Carbon Transition: Bridging the Gap between Energy Research and Social Sciences

Qualification Type: PhD

Location: Oxford

Funding for: UK Students, EU Students & International Students

Funding amount: £15,009 per annum (with no inflation increase) for three years;

Fieldwork allowance: - £2,500 for 3 years

Hours: Full Time

Closes:  28 October 2019         

Fees:  Tuition fees up to Home/EU level will be paid by the University Primary supervisor:Dr Esra KurulShort Introductory Paragraph

The School of the Built Environment and the School of Architecture are jointly offering a 3-year full-time PhD Studentship. This inter-disciplinary study cuts across the Smart Construction and Impact Assessment and Low Carbon Building research groups, which are part of the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development. 

The studentship includes an annual bursary of £15,009  for three years (no annual increase) and fees up to the Home/EU level. Any international student awarded the studentship would need to cover the difference between international and Home/EU fees. Please note, fees increase by 4% annually. The studentship has a start date of 20 January 2020. An April or September 2020 start may also be possible. Full Project Detail

The key research question is:  

How can the technological and digital literacies of communities be developed/enhanced to set-up and operate renewable energy systems that facilitate the move towards low carbon/smart cities and communities?

The overarching goal is to contribute to existing knowledge on urban social innovation in the field of energy. Potentially using a mixed-method approach, the research will focus on: 

• existing social innovation in the field of energy;
• energy production, storage and consumption-related policies, and top-down and bottom-up renewable energy systems and practices in leading ‘Smart/Low Carbon Cities’;
• the relationships between smart communities and the technological solutions to operating renewable energy systems; and
• the opportunities for local communities to become equal partners in co-creating their urban environments.
• The key output will be an innovative framework to place prosumers at the heart of effective integration of renewable systems in existing urban environments. 

The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr Esra Kurul, Prof Rajat Gupta and Dr. Maurizio Sibilla. Entry requirements

We are looking for a highly competent and capable candidate to submit his/her PhD thesis within 3 years. Candidates would be expected to have at least an upper second class degree (or equivalent) and/or Masters in a related subject (e.g. sociology, urban geography, architecture, planning, energy studies, environmental studies, engineering, anthropology).  They should be able to demonstrate strong interdisciplinary research capabilities, be fluent in spoken and written English. 

The selection criteria will focus on academic excellence, suitability of research experience/ skills, and subject knowledge. A demonstrable interest in social innovation would be an advantage.

Contact details

Please contact Dr Kurul (ekurul@brookes.ac.uk) for informal enquiries.

How to apply

For further information on how to apply, please email tdestudentships@brookes.ac.uk for an application pack, quoting “Social innovation in low carbon transition” in the subject line.

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School of Engineering, Computing & Mathematics

3 year, full-time funded PhD Studentship - Deep Learning for Modelling Complex Video Activities

Eligibility: UK ,EU & International candidates

Bursary: £16,000 per year (no annual inflation increase)

Fees: Tuition fees will be paid by the University

Deadline for applying: Friday 4 October 2019

Start date: January 2020

Primary supervisor: Professor Fabio Cuzzolin

Short Introductory Paragraph

The Faculty of Technology Design and Environment at Oxford Brookes University is pleased to offer a three-year full-time PhD studentship to a new student commencing January 2020.  The successful candidate will work within the Visual Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, under the supervision of Professor Fabio Cuzzolin.

Full Project Detail

The Visual Artificial Intelligence Laboratory is one of the top research groups in deep learning for action detection. In 2017 we designed the first system able to localise multiple actions in a video in real time. The Laboratory is running on a budget of around £1.5 million, with six live funded projects, and is projected to comprise 20/25 people in 2020. We closely collaborate with Oxford University, Cambridge University, IIT Bombay, and others.

The successful candidate will contribute to the research conducted under a new Research Agreement with Huawei Technologies on “Deep learning for complex activity recognition”. The project aims to explore new deep learning models of complex activities composed by multiple events/actions, such as cooking a meal, or autonomous driving scenarios involving, e.g., multiple vehicles negotiating an intersection.

The successful candidate will be required to:

Develop new deep learning models for the detection of complex video activities.

• Carry out their experimental validation.
• Collaborate with the other members of the Laboratory.
• Liaise with our industrial and academic partners
• Conduct literature searches and reviews, lead the preparation of research papers for publication, and communicate results at conferences and workshops.

Find out more

Please also consult the Lab’s web site at http://cms.brookes.ac.uk/staff/FabioCuzzolin/.

Entry requirements:

The essential selection criteria include:

A good first degree in Machine Learning, Computer Vision or related fields.

• Experience in Machine Learning applied to Computer Vision.
• Good coding skills in Python, Matlab and/or C++.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Excellent written and oral communication and organisational skills.

The desirable selection criteria include:

Experience and knowledge of deep learning techniques.

• Experience in action and activity recognition or video processing.
• Experience of coding in Torch, Tensorflow or Caffe.
• A track record of research publications in Computer Vision or Machine Learning.

Contact details:

For all informal requests contact Professor Fabio Cuzzolin (fabio.cuzzolin@brookes.ac.uk

How to apply: 

To apply please request an application pack by emailing:  tdestudentships@brookes.ac.uk  quoting “PhD Studentship in Deep Learning for Modelling Complex Video Activities”.

As part of the application process you must submit your CV, with a supporting statement (2-page maximum) which explains why you believe you are the best candidate for this studentship.

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School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Low Carbon Vehicles Group

3.5 year full-time funded PhD Studentship

Eligibility:        Home/EU and International Students

Bursary:           £16,000 per annum

                         A further £3,000 p.a. is available to cover project costs

 Fees:                Tuition fees will be paid by the University.

 Deadline:         Friday, 18^th October 2019

 Start date:        January 2020 (Home/EU students and International)

 “Electric Powertrain Design and Optimisation/ Formula Student EV”

 The Faculty of Technology Design and Environment at Oxford Brookes University is pleased to offer a 3.5 year full-time PhD studentship to a new student commencing in 2020.  The successful candidate, will work under the supervision of Prof Denise Morrey and her team, and will also support  the Oxford Brookes Racing Formula Student Team.

 For information about the Low Carbon Vehicles Group, see: /ecm/research/engineering/low-carbon-vehicles/
 For information about the Oxford Brookes Racing Team, see:

 https://obr.brookes.ac.uk/

The Formula Student Team has been very successful in the competition, using an ICE based powertrain for two decades. The team now wishes to create an advanced electric powertrain-based solution to align with the current trends in Europe. This solution aims to utilise in-hub motors for a high performance four wheel drive racing car.
 

The current electric powertrain relies on off the shelf motors and inverters. This project aims to develop and improve motor inverter technology, control, and HV architecture integration. The current motor inverters does not account for interactions between sub-systems and, as a result, key attributes such as efficiency do not reach the full potential available within the chosen envelope of hardware and controls.

This project will develop and apply a new HV motor inverter design and system architecture to maximise vehicle integration and efficiency. This project also aims to develop improved modelling techniques and methodologies for battery and motor modelling.

Requirements

 We are looking to recruit a candidate of the highest quality who is capable of submitting a PhD thesis within 3.5 years. Applicants would be expected to have a good relevant Engineering degree. They should be able to demonstrate strong research capabilities and be fluent in spoken and written English.

 The selection criteria will focus on academic excellence, suitability of research experience and skills, subject knowledge and references.
 

Application Process

 If you would like to apply for this position, you should request an application pack from the Research Support Office, tdestudentships@brookes.ac.uk, quoting “PhD Studentship in Electric Powertrain”.

Fully completed applications must be sent to tdestudentships@brookes.ac.uk, by 5.00 pm on Friday 18/10/2019. As part of the application process you must submit your CV, along with a supporting statement (2 page maximum) which explains why you believe you are the best candidate for this role. Please be advised that the selection process may involve an interview.  

Information:

For all informal requests about the project and this post, please contact Denise Morrey via email: dmorrey@brookes.ac.uk

 

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Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships

Applications are open for Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships for PhD candidates from low and middle income Commonwealth countries to spend 12 months at a UK university as part of their doctoral studies in their home country.

The scholarships are for study starting in October 2019, and are aimed at high-quality graduates whose proposed research has a developmental focus and who have the potential to become influential teachers or researchers in their home countries.

Split-site Scholarships are delivered through an institutional or departmental link between the candidate's home university and proposed UK university.

The closing date for applications is 4 February 2019. For full details, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit  http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/split-site-scholarships-low-middle-income-countries/

Further information about the Postgraduate Doctoral Loan scheme can be found at www.gov.uk/doctoral-loan

Information about loans available for Masters by research and MPhil programmes can be found at /studying-at-brookes/finance/postgraduate-finance---uk-and-eu-students/postgraduate-loan-scheme/