PHD Studentship – Health Inequalities – University of Glasgow
The Faculty of Medicine Graduate School, University of Glasgow are offering the following fully-funded PhD studentship with Prof. R Mitchell and Dr. Jamie Pearce.
Physical activity in green space: a mechanism for reducing health inequalities?
Having a lot of ‘green space’ (such as parks or woodlands) in your neighbourhood is thought to be health promoting. Inequality in health between richer and poorer people was recently shown to be smaller in areas with a lot of green space than in areas with less. Researchers assume that some of the health benefits of green spaces stem from their capacity to encourage people to be physically active. However, since information about how people use their green spaces and how much exercise they undertake is rare, this assertion remains unproven. This studentship will exploit newly available survey data which describe attitudes to, and activity in, local green spaces in Scotland.
The aim will be to examine the role of physical activity as a mechanism by which green space enhances health and potentially narrows health inequalities. The precise aims and methods will be developed and agreed between the supervisors and student, but the general approach will be quantitative. The studentship presents an excellent opportunity for multi-disciplinary training in researching physical activity, public health and health inequalities, and quantitative methods.
Applicants should hold a first class or upper second class degree in a relevant, numerate social science or clinical discipline (e.g. health sciences, sociology, psychology, geography, economics) . A master’s qualification in a relevant discipline would be an advantage.
More details on the project, the supervisors and the departments involved is available from Prof Mitchell (r.mitchell@clinmed.gla.ac.uk) or Dr Pearce (jamie.pearce@ed.ac.uk).
Details on how to apply here
Closing date for applicants 4th July 2009.