PhD Studentship: Co-development of tailored support for patients and healthcare professionals in the long-term management of obesity

Primary Supervisor: Dr. Helen Parretti 

This PhD is a very exciting opportunity for a candidate with an interest in obesity who is keen to undertake their own research and start an academic career. We would be particularly interested in applications from allied health professionals such as dietitians. However, we would welcome applications from non-clinical applicants as well as any of the allied health professions (please note the PhD stipend is set at standard level and is not intended to match a clinical salary). 

The PhD is integrated within a new 6 year NIHR programme grant focused on improving the long-term care of people with obesity who have had treatment with metabolic bariatric surgery and/or obesity management medications, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. 

You will be trained in research skills for interdisciplinary healthcare research, including co-development and behaviour change. You will also gain experience in intervention development and implementation. Your PhD work will run alongside co-development workshops that will be conducted at the start of the programme. Initially, you will iteratively co-develop both patient and healthcare professional information and materials relevant to the long-term management of people who have had metabolic bariatric surgery and/or obesity management medications. You will work closely with the stakeholders attending the co-development workshops, our lived experience advisory group and our clinical expert advisory group. Proposed extensions to this work are to adapt these materials to cohorts of patients who experience particular barriers to behaviour change (for example those on very low incomes, carers). However, there is scope for the candidate to take ownership of their research project at this stage and they will be supported to develop their own ideas. 

The supervisory team includes Dr Helen Parretti, senior clinical academic GP and chief investigator for the programme grant (primary supervisor), Dr Karen Coulman, a senior academic and registered dietitian currently co-leading the NIHR funded national evaluation of the rollout of tirzepatide in primary care, and Professor Amy Ahern, research professor with a background in psychology and expertise in the development and evaluation of interventions to treat obesity, who is currently leading a NIHR programme grant on an acceptance-based behavioural programme to support weight loss maintenance. 

You will undertake a skills training assessment at the start of your studentship, and a personalised training programme will be developed and reviewed regularly, with training provided in the form of courses, experiential learning and opportunities to attend relevant UEA teaching. In addition, you will be a member of the NIHR Academy and able to access the training and resources available to Academy members. You will be encouraged to present your work at academic meetings and start to build a professional network and have access to an annual training budget of £1500. 

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement is a 2:1 in an HCPC approved degree in dietetics, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nutrition and dietetics or paramedic science/practice, or a degree in psychology or a psychology related discipline, public health, nutrition or other health-related disciplines.

Mode of Study

Part time

Start Date

1 October 2026

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