PhD Studentship: Advancing the Science and Guidelines on Physical Activity and Health for Disabled People

Primary supervisor - Dr Karen Milton 

Disabled people, who represent 16% of the global population, are twice as likely as non-disabled people to be physically inactive, placing them at increased risk of ill-health and exacerbating health inequalities. National governments and public health agencies have begun to release physical activity guidelines for disabled people. However, existing evidence on the health effects of physical activity for disabled people is limited, meaning scientists often rely on the extrapolation of evidence from other (non-disabled) population groups to inform such guidelines. In addition, the approach taken to develop physical activity guidelines for disabled people has been highly variable in terms of the process, the types of disabilities included in the evidence reviews, and the types and strength of evidence considered sufficient to inform guidelines. 

The PhD will include a mix of research methods. First and foremost, it will involve quantitative analysis of a large epidemiological dataset to explore prevalence and patterns in physical activity, as well as the association between physical activity and health outcomes in disabled people. This will be complemented by other study types such as a review and/or Delphi study. Appropriate training will be provided depending on the needs and interests of the successful candidate. 

The PhD will be supervised by Dr Karen Milton and Dr Andrew Atkin, who are leading physical activity and health researchers at UEA. They have collaborated on many research projects on physical activity and sedentary behaviour, spanning prevalence, determinants, measurement and surveillance, and health outcomes, particularly in the disabled population. 

The studentship is open to applicants with first degrees or Masters in social, health or sport sciences. Preference will be given to applicants who are qualified to Masters level. 

To discuss this opportunity, contact Dr Karen Milton at k.milton@uea.ac.uk

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirement is 2:1. The studentship is open to applicants with first degrees or Masters in the social, health or sport sciences. Preference will be given to applicants who are qualified to Master’s level.

Mode of study: Full-time

Start date: 1 October 2026

Funding Details 

This project is fully funded for 3 years. Funding includes tuition fees, an annual tax-free maintenance allowance and a research training support budget.

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