MSc/PhD (1+3) Research Studentship

Health Economics Unit

Due to funding restrictions stipend and fees for this studentship are available for UK/EU nationals only.

The Health Economics Unit has strong programmes of applied and methodological research.  The Unit has been awarded a 4 year PhD studentship for a student to take a one year MSc in Health Economics and Health Policy and to spend three years conducting doctoral research to evaluate prevention strategies for Vitamin D deficiency from a global perspective.  The studentship will begin in September 2013.

PhD research Project

Vitamin D comes primarily from exposure to sunshine.  Severe vitamin D deficiency causes hypocalcaemia and rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. To prevent vitamin D deficiency, most countries have implemented vitamin D supplementation programmes for pregnant women, infants and high risk groups (ethnic, religious, dietary, environmental). Recommendations from the Department of Health however are widely ignored in primary health care so rickets is once again on the rise in the UK. 

This PHD studentship will analyse the economic burden of vitamin D deficiency and the cost-effectiveness of different disease prevention strategies.  The PhD research will develop a decision-analytic model to explore different treatment strategies from multiple country perspectives.  Using ‘value of information’ analysis the work will determine the usefulness and value of conducting further primary research.  The PhD student will have the opportunity to develop skills within health economics, decision-analytic modelling and value of information analysis.  The work will also have a strong public health focus with a supervisor from the Public Health department and will have a strong clinical focus with the support from a clinical supervisor who is a leading international expert. 

Host environment

The student will be hosted in the Health Economics Unit, School of Health & Population Sciences.  The Unit comprises around 20 staff, including researchers and academics at all levels and both health economists and modellers.  The Unit holds a weekly journal club and a monthly seminar series, which the student will be required to attend.  A desk, computer, telephone and filing cabinet will be available to the student. 

Entry requirements

Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a good honours degree (2:1 or above) in economics, medical sciences, or a social science subject.

Award

The award to the successful applicant will include payment of fees and a stipend for four years (currently £13,796 per annum) to cover living expenses.

Further Information

For informal discussion, please contact the PhD supervisors, Emma Frew – e.frew@bham.ac.uk 0121 414 3199, Lazaros Andronis – l.andronis@bham.ac.uk, 0121 414 3197, Miranda Pallan – m.j.pallan@bham.ac.uk, 0121 414 7990.

Applications

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to Nicola Windridge, Research and Knowledge Transfer Office, Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT or email n.j.windridge@bham.ac.uk).  The CV should include the names and addresses (postal and email) of two referees (at least one able to comment on your academic ability).  The covering letter (no more than 2 sides of A4) should explain why your experience makes you suitable for the PhD and what interests you about the project.

The closing date is Tuesday 25^th June 2013