Swansea University, supported by the ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership for Wales (Wales DTP), invites applications for funded PhD study, available to start in October 2021. The following collaborative studentship is available in the Sport and Exercise Sciences pathway of the ESRC Wales DTP:
‘Optimising Older Adults’ Home Spaces to Support Independence, Activity, Connection and Wellbeing’ in Collaboration with the Bridgend County Borough Council (CBC)
Rationale/Context: healthy ageing is a Welsh Government priority (Strategy for Older People in Wales, 2013) which includes physical activity (PA). Unfortunately, older adults are the least active population (Townsend et al., 2015), resulting in negative consequences for wellbeing, health and social care costs (Office for National Statistics, 2012). BAME older adults are particularly inactive, with elevated Type 2 diabetes incidence (Ige-Elegbede et al., 2019). Thus, this research will specifically seek to incorporate BAME older adults to ensure the relevance of the findings across the population.
Aim: to enable older adults to live independent, purposeful, fulfilled lives within connected communities by establishing ways in which their home environments can enable PA and enhance wellbeing.
Objectives: (1) to understand how the geography of older adults’ homes interacts with PA, sedentary behaviour, psychological states, cognition and wellbeing; (2) to monitor older adults’ PA and sedentary behaviour and examine associations with psychological states, wellbeing and cognition; (3) to develop ways to optimise older adults’ home environments to influence PA, wellbeing and independence.
Methods/Design:
- Study 1 will modify HomeSPACE-II for use with older adults. HomeSPACE-II is a self-administered measure for assessing home-based physical environmental factors that influence children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviours (Sheldrick et al., 2020). Older adults will trial the use of HomeSPACE-II and modifications will generate HomeSPACE-III which will be tested in an iterative process until it is acceptable for older adults.
- Study 2 will explore interactions between home geography, PA, sedentary behaviour, wellbeing and cognition. Over a longitudinal period, movement sensors will be installed in participants’ homes and they will wear Axivity wrist-mounted and ActivPAl thigh-mounted monitors. Linked to the sensors, these monitors enable continuous, detailed insight into home-based movement. Psychological state, cognitive changes and wellbeing will be assessed alongside these behaviours and HomeSPACE-III will be used to map participants’ home geography.
- Study 3 will draw on study 2 outcomes to co-produce, through focus groups with older adults, ways to optimise home environments and behaviours.
Impact/Scope:
- Bridgend CBC and partners will use HomeSPACE-III and research recommendations with hard-to-reach older adults, who are unable or lack the confidence to leave their homes, to increase their home-based physical activity and their wellbeing.
- Outcomes have a potential long-term impact as sustainability (e.g., training community members, developing progression pathways) is inbuilt into Super-Agers and Thomas (Bridgend CBC) is the strategic lead for prevention and wellbeing including partnership working between Health, Social Care and the Third Sector and leads on Ageing Well and the Older Person’s Strategy.
We welcome applications for both full- and part-time study. Studentships are available as either ‘1+3’ (i.e. one full-time year of a research training master’s degree followed by three years of full-time doctoral study or the part-time equivalent) or ‘+3’ (i.e. three years of full-time doctoral study or its part-time equivalent), depending on the needs of the applicant. Swansea University values diversity and equality at all levels and encourages applications from all sections of the community.
Begin your postgraduate research journey at Swansea University: a top 30 research university (REF 2014) producing internationally recognised research that makes a real difference to society. We provide a welcoming environment for PhD researchers with specialist training, advice and development opportunities. As an ESRC Wales DTP researcher, you will also benefit from cohort-based networking events and dedicated ESRC Wales DTP student representatives at each campus.
SUPERVISION
This studentship is a ‘collaborative’ award. Applicants should carefully consider the working title and description of the project, and may wish to contact the named supervisor and / or the Swansea pathway contact for a discussion prior to applying. They are:
- Main Supervisor: Dr Joanne Hudson (hudson@swansea.ac.uk)
- Pathway contact: Dr Camilla Knight (J.Knight@Swansea.ac.uk)
Eligibility
A fully-funded Wales DTP studentship is available to both UK and international (including EU and EEA) students. All applicants will be eligible for a full award consisting of a maintenance stipend and payment of tuition fees at the UK research organisation rate. Applicants must satisfy studentship eligibility requirements. For further details, see the UKRI web site.
Academic eligibility:
ESRC studentships are highly competitive. Candidates should have an excellent background in the social sciences, holding a first or an upper second class bachelor’s degree; applications from those who hold a relevant research training master’s degree (or have an equivalent background in research training) will also be considered for a ‘+3’ award.
If applicable, a minimum overall IELTS score of 7.0 with no less than 5.5 in any individual component (or Swansea University recognised equivalent) is required. For more details, please read the University’s English Language entry policy.
Employment:
Full-time ESRC studentship award holders cannot hold either a full-time job or a permanent part-time job during the period of their award. Part-time ESRC studentship award holders cannot hold a full-time job.
Funding
The studentship provides the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend. There will be additional funds available for research expenses.
Studentship awards commence in October 2021 and will cover your tuition fees as well as a maintenance grant (currently £15,285 per annum for 2020/21 for full-time students, updated each year) and includes access to an additional Research Training Support Grant (RTSG). There are other opportunities and benefits available to studentship holders, including an overseas fieldwork allowance (if applicable), internship opportunities, overseas institutional visits and other small grants.
A ‘1+3’ studentship provides funding for four years (or part-time equivalent), involving the completion of a research training master’s degree in the first year, followed by 3 years’ research funding for a PhD. A ‘+3’ studentship provides funding for the three years of PhD research study only (or part-time equivalent).
How to Apply
The application must contain the following documents and be submitted to esrcdtp@swansea.ac.uk:
- Covering letter: please address to Dr Camilla Knight. The covering letter must set out your reasons and motivation for applying to study at Swansea University and the chosen pathway; your understanding and expectations of doctoral study; and your academic interests generally, particularly those relating to your proposed research. The covering letter should be no more than two pages. Please specify whether you wish to apply on a ‘+3’ or ‘1+3’ basis. Remember also to specify that your application concerns ESRC Wales DTP general studentships and include in your application the name(s) of your prospective supervisor(s).
- Research Scholarship Application Form
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Monitoring Form_Ffurflen Monitro
- Academic / professional qualifications: please provide copies of certificates and transcripts. Where appropriate, this should also include proof of English Language Competency (7.0 IELTS minimum).
- References: all applications require two academic references to be submitted in support. Candidates must approach referees themselves, and submit the references with their application.
- Curriculum Vitae: it should be no longer than two pages.
- Research Proposal: for collaborative studentships, the proposal should build directly on the outline description that has been supplied. The proposal should be up to a maximum of 1,000 words, not including bibliographic references. We suggest that you use the following five headings in your research proposal:
- Your reflections on the title, aims and purpose of the research;
- An overview of some key research literature relevant to the study;
- Your proposals for developing the design and methods of the study;
- A description of potential outcomes of the project for understanding, knowledge, policy and practice (as appropriate to the topic);
- Bibliographic references.
Please note that incomplete applications or applications that are received after the specified time will not be accepted.
The deadline for applications is noon on 3 February 2021.
Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview; interviews are expected to take place in March 2021. After interview, a final shortlist of applicants will be forwarded to a panel that is convened by the ESRC Wales DTP Management Group and at which final decisions with regard to studentship awards will be made. In most cases, successful applicants can expect to hear by mid-April 2021.
Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to Dr Camilla Knight (C.J.Knight@Swansea.ac.uk).