Funded PhD: Systems Level
Modelling in Older People/Urgent and Emergency Care with the Health Economics,
evaluation and equality theme (HEEE) of the ARC YH
The School of Health Related Research, at the University of Sheffield is pleased to advertise a funded PhD opportunity. The studentship is part of a research programme for the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (NIHR ARCs). The studentship would be within the Health Economics, Evaluation and Equality (HEEE) cross-cutting theme of the Yorkshire and Humber ARC and will focus on one of the core themes outlined below.
The Yorkshire & Humber NIHR ARC is a collaboration between NHS, social care, third sector and industry organisations and leading universities in Yorkshire and the Humber. It aims to transform services and improve peoples’ health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities through four strategically important core themes:
· Early life and Prevention
· Older people with Frailty
· Mental and Physical Multimorbidity
· Urgent and Emergency Care
The HEEE theme aims to
work collaboratively with the four core themes and in partnership with local
NHS, public health and social care collaborators. This research will focus on
improving efficiency and equity in the use of public resources using methods
for conducting cross-sector evaluations including mathematical modelling,
statistical and econometric methods. The HEEE theme are offering a PhD
opportunity and strongly encourage candidates to propose topics in the
following areas:
Older Peoples Theme
Develop a system level
approach to model the economic arguments of implementing interventions to
prevent/improve frailty and delayed transfers of care (DTOC) for older people
with complex and heterogeneous needs. The theme will look to simulate the
reality of supply side availability and constraints as well as using
conventional economic theory to understand the economic incentives and outcomes
for patients and stakeholders such as the NHS and Social Services.
Urgent and Emergency Care Theme
Develop a systems
modelling approach to identify and evaluate options for preventing excessive
Emergency Departments waiting times. We are particularly interested in
developing simulation approaches to examine system level interventions to
reduce ED attendances and manage flows through a Department. For example, work
may focus on the analysis of options to avoid unnecessary attendances or to
avoid delays in transferring patients out of hospital, the design of performance
metrics that avoid perverse incentives, or combinations of interventions. The
successful applicant will have access to a large routine data set of the ED
including arrivals, investigations and treatments in hospitals within the
region to help inform the model.
Entry Requirements:
Candidates must:
· be highly motivated to make a significant
scientific contribution in health and social care through research that can
inform well-evidenced, cost-effective health strategies
· have completed an undergraduate degree
(equivalent to 2.1 or above) in a relevant discipline (e.g. mathematics,
statistics, epidemiology, economics, operational research, systems engineering,
management science, physics, systems control).
· have completed a master’s degree at merit or
distinction (or a non-UK equivalent) in a relevant subject, or more than one
year of formal employment in a relevant scientific environment
· have excellent verbal and written
communication skills
Further details:
How to apply:
Please complete a University Postgraduate Research Application form available here:
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/phd/apply
Please clearly state the title of the studentship, the prospective main supervisor (Tracey Young) and select ScHARR as the department.
You will also need to include:
· a draft outline of your proposed PhD study, in
line with the research themes described above, of approximately 500 words
· a covering letter explaining why you wish to
apply for this studentship.
· a copy of your CV.
Funding Notes