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Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba

Studentship opportunity

All Studentship Opportunities

Caring for people with progressive ataxia – lived experience of family carers and co-development of support mechanisms

This studentship is funded by the ESRC through the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS)

Institution
University of Strathclyde
Pathway
Health, Wellbeing and Communities
Studentship
Open Collaborative
Mode of study

Full-time / Part-time

Application deadline
4pm, 14 April 2022
Applications are due 10 April, 5 pm BST and
References are due 16 April, 5 pm BST

Project details

Progressive ataxia is a hereditary or acquired neurological condition that affects the coordination of motor movements, resulting in difficulties with walking, hand movements, communication, cognition as well as many other symptoms such as visual, hearing, digestive or cardiac problems. As the disease progresses, people with ataxia (PwA) become increasingly dependent on carers. This responsibility largely falls to family members. The presence of family carers is known to significantly improve the quality of life (QoL) of PwA. At the same time, we know from other progressive conditions such as dementia that carer burden can impact considerably on the QoL of family carers. It is therefore essential to provide support to family carers, to enhance their personal wellbeing and at the same time improve the QoL of the PwA they care for. There is no research to date that has explored the challenges faced by carers of PwA or how best to support them. This poses a significant research gap as the demographic and disease specific factors associated with ataxia are likely to cause challenges issues to other conditions that have been studied in greater detail.

This project therefore aims to capture the lived experience of family carers of PwA and co-develop a support package – aiming to enhance their QoL and well-being – together with them. The project will consist of a literature review surrounding carer experiences in other progressive conditions and available support structures. This will be followed by a qualitative phase that seeks to characterise the specifics of the lived experience of carers of PwA. This information will be integrated to form the basis of the final phase during which a support package specific to ataxia will be co-developed together with carers, health professionals and charity representatives.

Supervisory Team:

  • First Supervisor: Professor Anja Lowit, a.lowit@strath.ac.uk
  • Second Supervisor: Professor Christopher Graham, christopher.graham@strath.ac.uk

About the University

The University of Strathclyde has a city-centre based campus in the vibrant City of Glasgow, which was rated the 8th best city in the world not long ago (Time Out, 2019). Strathclyde is a research-intensive and award-winning University, and is home to over 23,000 students from over 100 countries. Within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Department of Psychological Sciences and Health comprises four subject areas: Psychology; Speech and Language Therapy; Physical Activity for Health; and Counselling. Research expertise across the Department is varied and multidisciplinary, including health psychology and communication disorders.

The student will be placed within a dedicated Doctoral Training Centre for Communication Disorders which creates a supportive research environment for students and organises regular events to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and learning. Further research meetings, seminars and other events regularly take place across the Department. Strathclyde’s postgraduate researchers additionally benefit from the support of the Faculty’s Graduate School and the University wide Strathclyde Doctoral School, which offer excellent training, events, and funding opportunities.

Students also engage with our award winning Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Development, which provides a personalised skills-training programme covering impact, external engagement, and generic skills.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Applicants will have a first degree (undergraduate) and have a demonstrable interest in the topic area under investigation.
  • Applicants can have a Masters degree, however this is not a requirement.
  • Applicants can study part-time or full-time

Funding

As per guidance published by UKRI in October 2020, a maximum of 30% of all studentships awarded can be made to international students, with the remaining 70% going to home students. 

Residential Criteria

To be classed as a home student, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a UK national (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If you do not meet the criteria above, you will be classed as an international student. To establish if you would be classed as a home student, please see pages 4 and 5 of the UKRI eligibility guidance here

As per guidance published by UKRI in October 2020, a maximum of 30% of all studentships awarded can be made to international students, of which SGSSS has now awarded for the 2021/22 round of studentship awards. As such, this opportunity is only open to home students.

Residential Criteria

To be classed as a home student, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a UK national (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If you do not meet the criteria above, you will be classed as an international student and will not be eligible to apply. To establish if you would be classed as a home student, please see pages 4 and 5 of the UKRI eligibility guidance here.

Award details

The scholarship is available as a +3.5 (3 year PhD and placement) or a 1+3.5 (Masters year, 3 year PhD, and a placement) studentship depending on prior research training. This will be assessed as part of the recruitment process, however you can access guidance here to help you decide on which to apply for. The programme will commence in October 2025. The full ESRC studentship package includes, as advised by ESRC:

  • An annual maintenance grant (stipend)
  • Fees at the standard institutional home rate
  • Students can also draw on a pooled Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)

Other information

N/A

How to apply

  1. Applicants must register on SGSSS Apply, completing their Equal Opportunities data.
  2. Applicants must apply via SGSSS Apply, uploading the following documentation:

    • Application Questions (answered within SGSSS Apply, no upload needed)
    • Academic transcripts
    • Academic prizes
    • Referee information
    • CV
    • Other information (if required by the advert)
We strongly encourage applicants review the applicant guidance document for more on the process. 

Please Note:

  • This is not an application to the relevant University, this is an application for SGSSS (ESRC) funding.
  • Students do not need a Masters/PhD offer from the relevant University before they can apply for funding, i.e. this studentship.
  • If successful in obtaining the SGSSS (ESRC) studentship, students can only start the funded studentship once they have an unconditional Masters/PhD degree offer from the relevant University. It is your responsibility to find out the University’s application process, including when you need to secure your offer, as SGSSS plays no role in this process.

This studentship opportunity will open for applications on 9th June.

Apply now via SGSSS Apply

Selection process

Applications will be ranked by an internal institutional selection panel, and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted for interview on or around 24th April. Interviews will take place 1 May.

This studentship award is subject to the successful candidate securing admission to a PhD programme within the University of Strathclyde. The successful candidate will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme.

Contact details

Name
SGSSS Team (for questions on the application portal, only), for any questions on the project, email the first & second supervisors (see details in abstract above)
Email
team@sgsss.ac.uk

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