Development of Interventions for the Management of Fatigue in Primary Brain Tumour Patients

An opportunity to apply for a funded full-time PhD in the Faculty of Health and Applied Science, UWE Bristol. The studentship will be funded by UWE Bristol and Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Services.

The expected start date of this studentship is 1 October 2022.

The closing date for applications is 1 July 2022. 

Applications are invited from ambitious, self-motivated and enthusiastic candidates, with a background in a health-related discipline to work on a fully-funded PhD studentship. Funding and stipend are provided through a partnership between UWE Bristol and Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Services to develop an intervention for the management of fatigue in people with primary brain tumour. Fatigue is the most prevalent and debilitating symptom in cancer patients and is commonly reported in primary brain tumour patients. The adverse impact of fatigue on quality of life and survival cannot be under-estimated with fatigue emerging as an independent prognostic factor in recurrent high-grade glioma.

The aim of the studentship is to develop and validate a comprehensive and multi-faceted fatigue-management programme for brain tumour patients for use at all stages of the patient pathway. The results of the proposed PhD research will inform the design of a post-doctoral definitive randomised controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of the programme of interventions to treat fatigue in this population. The programme of research will provide the successful candidate with an excellent opportunity to develop a wide range of research skills and experiences in preparation for a post-doctoral clinical research journey. The PhD researcher will be primarily based at Glenside campus, UWE Bristol within the Centre for Health and Clinical Research, and will be expected to directly engage with relevant healthcare professionals and people with primary brain tumour via University Hospitals Bristol and Weston and North Bristol NHS Trusts.

For an informal discussion about the studentship, please email Fiona Cramp at fiona.cramp@uwe.ac.uk

The studentship is available from the Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences from 1 October 2022 for a period of four years, subject to satisfactory progress and includes a tax exempt stipend, which is currently £16,602 per annum. 

In addition, full-time tuition fees will be covered for up to four years (Home/EU rates only).

Please note: Overseas applicants will be required to cover the difference between Home/EU and the overseas tuition fee rates in each year of study.

Applicants must have minimum of 2:1 in a health-related discipline (and ideally will have a Masters).

A recognised English language qualification is required.

Please submit your application online. When prompted, use the reference number 2022-OCT-HAS06.

Supporting documentation: you will need to upload your research proposal, all your degree certificates and transcripts and your proof of English language proficiency as attachments to your application so please have these available when you complete the application form.

The closing date for applications is 1 July 2022.

Interviews will take place in August. If you have not heard from us by September 2022, we thank you for your application but on this occasion you have not been successful.