OxInAHR/Nigel Groome Studentship: Supporting women’s health and wellbeing after gynaecological cancer treatment: adaptation of the EMPOWER-SMS text messaging lifestyle intervention
PhD
Studentship
Key facts
Start dates
September 2025 / October 2025
Application deadline
Thursday 27 March 2025
Location
Course length
Full time: 3 years
School(s)
Supervisor(s)
This course is not available to students classed as International for fees purposes.
Overview
This is a fully funded 3-year PhD project which would be ideal for an individual with an interest or experience in cancer care, women’s health, and/or behavioural science.
Digital methods are increasingly used to deliver interventions that promote behavioural change and improve health outcomes. This PhD offers an opportunity to adapt an existing text messaging behaviour change intervention (EMPOWER-SMS), aimed at increasing positive health and lifestyle behaviours (e.g. exercise, nutrition, sleep) and promote wellbeing in UK patients with gynaecological cancers, a previously under researched group.
This exciting project will involve expert supervision and international collaboration with psychosocial oncology/cancer care and intervention development academics.
The PhD will:
- explore lifestyle-related needs of people treated for gynaecological cancers
- adapt the intervention for UK patients treated for gynaecological cancers
- explore intervention acceptability in a pilot study.
Additional details
The study will involve undertaking a systematic review, and conducting qualitative (interviews, surveys) and quantitative methods (surveys) with patient and healthcare professionals, for which the student will receive appropriate support and training.
The student will be based within the thriving Supportive Cancer Care Research group, which sits within the Oxford Institute for Applied Health Research (OxInAHR), a multidisciplinary community of applied health researchers dedicated to producing world-class research.
The ideal candidate will have a degree in a field related to Psychology, Nursing, Allied Healthcare Professionals or a related subject. Further study such as a Master’s would be advantageous.
Please contact Dr Lauren Matheson (l.matheson@brookes.ac.uk) for informal enquiries.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or acceptable equivalent qualification.
The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hours of teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hours per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration.
English language requirements
EU applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent) with an overall minimum score of 6.5 to 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre.
Application process
Please contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk for details of how to apply.
Complete applications should include a project proposal (max 1000 words) including background, aims and an outline methodology. Applicants can liaise with the supervisor named in the project advertisement when developing their proposal.
Contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk with any queries.
Co-Directors of Studies: Dr Lauren Matheson and Professor Eila Watson (Oxford Institute for Applied Health Research)
Supervisors/Advisors: Dr Georgia Cook (Oxford Institute for Applied Health Research).
Clinical Advisor: Dr Amanda Horne (Consultant in clinical oncology at Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust).
PhD advisors (original developers of the EMPOWER-SMS intervention): Dr Anna Singleton, (The Daffodil centre, University of Sydney, Australia), Professor Julie Redfern, (Bond University, Australia).
Project contact: Dr Lauren Matheson (l.matheson@brookes.ac.uk)
Part time MPhil/PhD study will be exceptionally considered.
This project is advertised on a competitive basis alongside other current Nigel Groome PhD studentship advertisements for Oxford Institute of Applied Health Research (OxInAHR) projects, as indicated in the current project advertisements on our website.
Interviews are anticipated to take place online in early May 2025.
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
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