[England] Research Doctoral Scholarships from University of Teesside

University of Teesside are offering seven full-time Research Doctoral Scholarships across a broad range of subject areas including: computing, psychology, health, science and engineering and the arts.

The scholarships are aligned to key areas of research strength within our research institutes allied with those subjects. The awards will be for a period of three years and include fees (home/EU or international rate) and an annual stipend of £12,600. Successful applicants should be in a position to take up the scholarships in August 2009 or shortly thereafter.

How to apply

To apply for a scholarship you must contact the Graduate Research School for an application form.
Tel: 01642 738033,
Email: m.leyland@tees.ac.uk.

Research Doctoral Scholarships applicants should have at least an upper second class honours degree or equivalent qualification and ideally a postgraduate qualification. The minimum English language entry level is IELTS 6.5 with no grade below 6.0 or equivalent.

Research theme: physical activity interventions

Physical activity and health outcomes in adolescents: translating best evidence into a trial level intervention.

This study proposes to develop a cluster RCT involving the design, implementation and evaluation of a gender and age appropriate dance-based physical activity intervention, translating best evidence into a framework for practice.

Primary research question What is the effect of a dance-based physical activity intervention on physical activity behaviour?

Participants 11-18 year old girls drawn from schools in the North East.

Outcomes - the primary outcome is time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity behaviour. This will be measured using state of the art objective motion sensors. Secondary outcome variables include total physical activity, sedentary behaviour time, mental well-being, and body composition. If successful, an important element of the programme will be a rapid dissemination of the results to practice.

Applications for this scholarship must be received by 01 July 2009.

Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Alan Batterham, email a.batterham@tees.ac.uk.

Research theme: public health

Knowledge translation in oral health promotion.

This PhD project will aim to identify the most effective methods for delivery of instruction in oral hygiene and nutritional interventions to children and/or their parents through the use of focus groups. The study will involve both qualitative and quantitative methods and will have four parts.

• a comprehensive literature review will be undertaken to explore the evidence for diet, fluoride and oral hygiene interventions in relation to oral health in children
• focus group work - based on the information collected in part one, questionnaires and discussion topics will be developed for focus group activity and face to face semi-structured interviews with children and their parents will be undertaken
• development of educational packages (EPS) based on the information obtained in part two. In addition, one interactive educational package will be developed which will allow children and/or parents to enter personal information and compare it to recommended guidelines
• pilot testing the developed EPS.

Applications for this scholarship must be received by 17 July 2009.

For an informal discussion about the project, contact Dr Vida Zohoori on 01642 342973 or emailv.zohoori@tees.ac.uk.

Research theme: rehabilitation and digital technology

3D visualisation of posture and body shape for management of scoliosis.

Following a systematic review of the literature, the student will develop a protocol to address the following aims:

• investigate the effect of providing a high quality3D visual image of posture and body shape to improve understanding of the management of their condition for people with scoliosis
• investigate the effects on physical and psychological function
• investigate the mechanism underlying any effects.

A key part of the project will involve an experimental study comparing the information using the 3D scan with standard information. Within this, there will be an in depth qualitative exploration of users' thoughts about the value of 3D scans. Participants will be people with scoliosis recruited from our existing contacts in James Cook University Hospital.

Applications for this scholarship must be received by 17 July 2009.

Informal enquiries to Dr Josette Bettany-Saltikov, email J.B.Saltikov@tees.ac.uk.

Research theme: men and health communication

Unemployed men and health messages.

The proposed study will aim to collect data from unemployed males aged between 18 and 60 in order to explore their understanding and experiences of health and the body. As a partnership project, the successful candidate will work closely with Stockton on Tees Teaching Primary Care Trust to explore issues which are relevant to the implementation of local health improvement strategies.

Research questions:

• how do unemployed men experience health and their bodies and what are the implications for this for health education and promotion?
• how do unemployed men ‘consume' health and what are the social and economic factors which may determine this?
• how can health messages be more effectively designed to communicate with unemployed men and improve their wellbeing?

The project will combine qualitative and quantitative methodologies including in depth interviews, focus groups and surveys.

Applications for this scholarship must be received by 17 July 2009.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Paul Crawshaw, email p.crawshaw@tees.ac.uk.

Research theme: A 3-D real-time simulation of the lower limb during strenuous activity

Real-time estimation of muscle forces.

The student will develop a musculo-skeletal model for the accurate prediction of muscle force. This will involve several stages:

• adapt and validate our motion capture system for the purposes of quantifying movements of the lower limb
• interface motion data to existing kinetic measuring devices (Nintendo Wii Fit) or manufacture alternative device
• implement musculo-skeletal model for synchronized force and motion data streams
• calculate and validate muscle forces using EMG as comparison data
• prepare real-time muscle and joint forces for real-time input to a finite element solver.

It is not expected that applicants will have all the multidisciplinary skills required for this studentship and they will be tutored accordingly. Applications are welcome from students with backgrounds in sport/health sciences, computing and/or engineering. Applicants must be flexible and have an interest in the technologies behind the measurement of human movement.

Applications for this scholarship must be received by 17 July 2009.

Research theme: society and digital innovation

Information architecture for the 21st Century.

The research will use formal psychological techniques to aid in the analysis and design of information architecture for large websites. The intended beneficial effect of the use of these techniques, as well as the hypothesised moderating effects of task type and users' individual differences on users' task performance will be tested.

Research question one: How can formal psychological techniques be used to analyse and aid the design of:

• conceptual structures that underlie the organisation structure of large websites
• labelling schemes for large websites
• the navigation structure of large websites.

Research question two: What is the effect of information architecture on people's ability to find and use information within websites and how is this effect moderated by task characteristics and individual differences between users?

Outputs: PhD thesis, online resources documenting progress of the project and design guidelines, conference papers and journal papers.

Candidates with an interest in and experience of using formal methods are encouraged to apply, in particular, but not only, computer scientists and psychologists.

Applications for this scholarship must be received by 17 July 2009.

Research theme: curating better futures: contemporary fine art curatorial practices in context

Curating better futures? Art, audiences and regeneration.

This project will consist of a critical appraisal of the role of participatory art and curation in the context of wider regional and national cultural policy objectives. The project will be either a practice-led or a text-based project. The eventual choice will be determined by the candidates.

The project will comprise two aspects - the first will be an analysis of wider policy debates, ranging from official policy documents on art, curating and social inclusion, together with academic and other commentary on such initiatives.

This will then provide a critical background for either the critical analysis of existing participatory art and curatorial projects, or the execution of a practice-led participatory project.

In the case of the critical analysis project, the student will undertake a critical examination of a number of case studies of participatory art projects in the light of the wider theoretical and policy debates. The selection of case studies will be determined by the student but in general it will be expected that they should consist of projects that were explicitly aligned with wider governmental and regional regeneration priorities and values.

In the case of the practice-led project, the student will work either in a curatorial capacity or as the originator of a participatory art project. There is a similar conceptual, political and policy context but the project will also involve engagement with issues of methodology in practice-led research. The insights generated by this project will relate to its adoption of action research and critical reflective practice (Schön, Barnett) as the key method.

Applications for this scholarship must be received by 17 July 2009.