FACULTY OF POPULATION HEALTH SCIENCES
INSTITUTE OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND HEALTH CARE
Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health
CRUK CanTest (funded) PhD at UCL
A talented and enthusiastic student is sought to undertake original research to advance our ability to detect cancer early in symptomatic patients. The core attributes are academic ability, research skills and interest in the field.
1.BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1.1Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health
This new Research Department is being formed through the amalgamation of two research groups from the Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. It is chaired by Professor Andrew Steptoe, and houses approximately 55 Staff and 24 PhD students across five research groups. The ResearchDepartment’s research covers various aspects of behavioural science and health including: i) ECHO (Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare and Outcomes) Group (see below), ii) Cancer communication and screening (determinants of uptake of screening and vaccination, impact of screening, decision-making in screening and public understanding of cancer prevention), iii) Food choice and energy balance (genetic and environmental influences on food intake and physical activity, epidemiology, management of obesity and associations with cancer), iv) Tobacco and alcohol control (epidemiology, prevention, treatment), and v) Psychobiology (links between psychosocial factors and physiological processes relevant to health and ageing). The Research Department also hosts a successful MSc in Health Psychology.
1.2Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care
The Institute is part of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences. It comprises four Research Departments as follows:
Applied Health Research
Behavioural Science and Health
Epidemiology and Public Health
Primary Care and Population Health
Its skills mix of epidemiological, clinical, statistical and behavioural science provides the scientific basis to underpin an internationally competitive research programme focused on:
- Understanding the determinants of health & disease in populations & in patients in clinical settings;
- Evaluating strategies for the prevention & treatment of physical & mental ill health; and
- Teaching and capacity building in population health.
Our work ranges across the life-course from childhood through to old age. Our chronic disease epidemiology focuses on the social and biological determinants of health, particularly in cardiovascular disease, and its public health implications. We undertake research in primary care to improve health outcomes. We have strong research and teaching profile in Information and quality management to support clinical practice. We participate in many national and international interdisciplinary collaborations.
IEHC holds an Athena SWAN Charter Silver Award in recognition of its commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in academia.
The Institute Director is Professor Andrew Hayward.
Further information on IEHC can be found at:
2.DETAILS OF THE STUDENTSHIP
Primary Supervisor:Professor Georgios Lyratzopoulos
Based At:UCL Research Department ofBehavioural Science and Health
1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT
2.1Background and aims
CanTestis an international research collaborative, aiming to develop strategies that explore and accelerate improvement in cancer outcomes nationally and internationally through the transformative implementation in primary care of triaging and testing approaches to support early detection of cancer. It is a collaboration between research groups at the forefront of diagnostic research on cancer across 8 Universities; Exeter, Cambridge, Leeds and UCL in the UK, together with the Universities of Washington (US), Aarhus (DK), Melbourne (Australia) and Texas (US). This PhD position forms part of UCLs component of the CanTest initiative, which is integrated into the Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare and Outcomes (ECHO) Research Group, within the Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health.
The PhD will be embedded both within the ECHO / UCL ResearchDept of Behavioural Science and Health, and within CanTest multi-centre Faculty, providing ample opportunities for professional socialisation, networking and peer-to-peer support. The ResearchDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health has a sustained record of successful PhD studentships.
The research project will focus on advancing the resolution of distinct current clinical problems in the diagnosis of cancer with a focus on general practice consultations and the evaluation of novel or existing diagnostic tests, strategies or services. We welcome applicants with disciplinary background in range of disciplines including epidemiology, psychology, evaluation / improvement science, multi-methods research, health services research and clinical trials. An initial period to hone the focus of the inquiry is ‘built in’ the first of four years of the support provided.
Applicants must have a first degree in a relevant discipline, and will complete a PhD during the award period. The academic requirements are a Master’s degree (preferably with a merit or distinction) in a relevant discipline from a UK university and a good Bachelor’s degree (first or upper-second class) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.
2.2Main duties / key responsibilities:
To develop and carry out a doctoral project on primary care triaging and testing for early detection of cancer. This involves:
- undertaking literature searches and keeping up-to-date with the relevant scientific literature;
- collaboration with supervisors, co-supervisors and partners;
- building new collaborations with a range of diagnostic, cancer and primary care specialists and professionals in London / UCL / UCLH;
- developing draft study protocol(s), drawing up analysis plans, creating data files and analysing data
- gaining ethical and information governance approvals as required for projects
- drafting and revising original articles for publication in high quality journals;
- disseminating findings at conferences, workshops, in high quality journals and through relevant websites.
The main responsibility is to develop, undertake and submit the thesis within the PhD period. You will be expected to disseminate the results widely.
2.3Supervisor arrangements:
Supervision will be provided by Professor Lyratzopoulos, together with ECHO team senior members and CanTest Co-PIs as appropriate. Ideally awards will commenceon 24hSeptember 2018.
2.4Project partners
We foresee likely partnerships with UCLH-London Cancer, UCL’s Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Public Health England’s National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service and senior Faculty members from our national or international partners, depending on the development of the project.
2.5Financial details
Due to funding restrictions, students must be defined as “Home” or “EU” for fee purposes to be eligible to apply for this award. For eligible students, the studentship will provide an annual tax-free stipend of £21,000 for up to 4 years, subject to satisfactory progress and will cover academic fees at the UK/EU rate. The standard period of study for this PhD is 3 years, however the funding will also support successful candidates for an additional 12 months during their writing up period, up until their thesis deadline.
5.ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION
Due to funding restrictions, to be eligible for a full award (stipend and university fees) a student must be a UK or EU national. If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.The English language level for this programme is: Standard. Further information can be found on our English language requirements page (
How to apply
We encourage candidates to familiarise themselves with the website and research undertaken at the ECHO group and by our CanTest collaborators (see website).
To apply, please include a CV, a separate statement of research experience and interests and the names and contact details of two academic referees. Please send your CV and statement them to (). Please include a contact number and an email address. Applicants who would like to receive this advert in an alternative format (e.g. large print, Braille, audio or hard copy), or who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on 020 7679 5683.For academic queries prior to application please email Professor Lyratzopoulos in the first instance ().
We are a broad multidisciplinary unit and are open to candidates with diverse academic backgrounds.If you wish to know about the research environment or have general questions on studying within the Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, please contact the Research Department Graduate Tutor, Christian Von Wagner () and Abi Fisher ().
Academic references will be taken up for all short-listed candidates and travel costs will be reimbursed up to the equivalent of the most economical train/air fare available within the UK.
Closing date: Tuesday 16th January 2018 09:00 am. Applications received after this time will not be considered.
Interview date: Week commencing 22ndJanuary 2018
Studentship start date: 25th September 2018
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