Co-developing a behaviour change approach to support parents to prevent food allergies in babies

The NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is offering a four-year funded PhD studentship for an individual with a strong academic record relevant to behavioural science and an aptitude and interest in research.  

Food allergy affects 2-4% of infants (many for their entire lives). For the last 50 years, it has been recommended not to start weaning (including allergenic foods such as peanuts) until 6 months or later. Recent evidence shows that early introduction can reduce allergy (de Sika et al, 2020) but this needs to be explored and evaluated in pragmatic, real-world conditions before it can be implemented on a wider scale. 

The PhD project aims to work closely with parents and children, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to co-design a multipronged intervention to support parents to wean their children, in order to prevent food allergy. 

The studentship will allow you to master and apply skills in a wide range of relevant methodologies, including: systematic reviewing; the Person-Based Approach to intervention development; PPI co-production (working with a range of stakeholders); conduct and analysis of qualitative studies to inform intervention optimisation; intervention piloting and trial evaluation.

This studentship offers an excellent opportunity to train with highly experienced supervisors Dr Ben Ainsworth, Stephanie Easton, Dr Luise Marino and Professor Graham Roberts. You will be based in the School of Psychology and the Biomedical Research Centre. This studentship will begin by 25th September 2023. Applications are particularly welcome from people with lived experience of underserved populations (e.g. ethnic minority or low income community).

The successful candidate is likely to have the following qualifications:

• A 1^stor 2:1 degree in a relevant discipline and/or second degree with a related Masters.

Funding information:

Due to funding restrictions this position is only open to UK applicants. This PhD studentship is funded from the Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for four years of stipend at Research Council rate of £18,154.00 including £1,000 of Research Training Support Grant plus fees at UK residency rate up to and including nominal registration.

Administrative contact and how to apply:

Please complete the University's online application form, which you can find at

https://student-selfservice.soton.ac.uk/BNNRPROD/bzsksrch.P_Login?pos=7209&majr=7209&term=202324

You should enter Professor Graham Roberts as your proposed supervisor. To support your application provide an academic CV (including contact details of two referees), official academic transcripts and a personal statement (outlining your suitability for the studentship, what you hope to achieve from the PhD and your research experience to date).

Informal enquiries relating to the project or candidate suitability should be directed to Dr Ben Ainsworth, Associate Professor in Psychology (Ben.ainsworth@soton.ac.uk)

Closing date:  12/04/2023

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