This exciting inter-disciplinary project brings together researchers from public health and education to study the processes and mechanisms of, as well as barriers to, change in school-based health interventions.

There is a significant public health concern in the UK and many other countries over children’s health and levels of exercise. Schools are thought of as an important site to try to influence children’s health and lifestyles because of the time pupils spend in school. However, school-based physical activity promotion interventions have largely failed to affect school practice. There is a lack of understanding in public health research of how the school context can act as a moderator of intervention effectiveness. Close-up research on schools as sites of health interventions is needed.

We are looking for a PhD applicant interested in this topic to start in October 2019. The studentship involves training in an epidemiological understanding of population-level behaviour change, with educational theory on changing professional practice in schools. The successful applicant’s training would take place in both departments, tailored depending on their prior degree and expertise. There will be a substantial ethnographic component to the study.

Applicants with Masters degrees as well as applicants with undergraduate degrees with a research component can apply as the funding can be either 3 years (PhD) or 1+3 years (MPhil + PhD). DTP studentships are currently open to UK and EU citizens on a full-time or part-time basis.

Informal queries to Faculty of Education co-supervisor for the project Dr Riikka Hofmann (rjph2@cam.ac.uk). Please read the Further Information before contacting us.

Further information and application link

Visit the official link