VICE-CHANCELLOR & MATCH-FUNDED STUDENTSHIPS
Under the UWS Vice-Chancellor & Match-Funded Studentship Scheme 2026, 13 funded PhD studentships are offered for October 2026 start. These highly selective studentships span the University’s four academic schools: Business & Creative Industries; Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences; Education & Social Sciences; and Health & Life Sciences
The studentship themes are aligned with the University’s strategic ambitions and underline the University’s commitment to distinctive research and innovation, and addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Successful applicants will be aligned to their relevant UWS academic School and also become part of the UWS Doctoral College, providing an outstanding quality experience, supporting your student journey and focusing on investment and development in training, resources and facilities.
Eligibility & Deadline
The funded studentships are open to UK citizens and applicants with pre-settled or settled status. Funding for applicants meeting these criteria will cover UK fees and they will also receive an annual stipend (currently £21,805).
Closing date for applications – 15/06/2026
Find a studentship and apply
You will find more details on these exciting funded studentship opportunities, as well as how to apply and contacts for more information, by clicking on the project links below.
Business & Creative Industries Studentships
Community-Centric Heritage Tourism and Post-Industrial Regeneration: A Participatory Study in Scotland
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
This PhD project explores the role of community-centric heritage tourism in supporting post-industrial regeneration, local empowerment, and sustainable tourism development in Scotland.
The research will examine how industrial heritage can be mobilised through tourism in ways that benefit local communities, strengthens place identity, and contributes to long-term community resilience. Heritage tourism is often promoted as a tool for economic growth; however, its benefits are not always evenly distributed, and local communities are frequently marginalised in decision-making processes.
This project takes a critical, place-based approach, investigating how tourism can be shaped by and for communities rather than external actors. It will explore key issues including governance, participation, cultural representation, and the distribution of economic and social benefits. Using qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and participant observation, the research will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including community members, local businesses, heritage sites, cultural organisations, and policymakers. Through this engagement, the project aims to generate empirically grounded insights into the opportunities and challenges of community-led heritage tourism in post-industrial contexts.
The project is aligned with the University of the West of Scotland’s strategic priorities in sustainable development and community transformation and contributes to ongoing research within the Centre for Culture, Sport and Events (CCSE). The successful candidate will become an active member of CCSE (https://ccse.uws.ac.uk/), contributing to its vibrant and collaborative research environment. The project will also inform a developing REF 2029 Impact Case Study on “Building Resilient Tourism Communities.” This PhD offers the opportunity to contribute to both academic debates and real-world policy and practice, working closely with established partners such as local authorities, VisitScotland, and heritage organisations across the Clyde region.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
We are seeking a motivated and intellectually curious candidate with a strong academic background and a clear interest in community-engaged research. The ideal candidate will be committed to producing high-quality research with both academic and real-world impact. Given the nature of the project, the candidate must demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work confidently and professionally with a wide range of stakeholders, including community members, local organisations, and policymakers. The project involves extensive qualitative fieldwork and direct engagement, and therefore requires a candidate who is approachable, adaptable, and capable of building trust, establishing relationships, and developing meaningful networks. Strong organisational skills, initiative, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively are essential.
Essential:
- A First-Class or Upper Second-Class (2:1) Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g. Tourism, Cultural Studies, Geography, Sociology, Heritage Studies, or related fields).
- Demonstrated interest in heritage tourism within a post-industrial context, community development, and/or sustainable development.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to engage with academic literature.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience in qualitative research methods (e.g. interviews, focus groups, ethnography, and qualitative data analysis).
- Eagerness to undertake community-engaged research.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively, with strong organisational skills and the capacity to manage time effectively and meet deadlines
Desirable:
- Master’s degree with Distinction in a relevant subject area.
- Evidence of previous academic publications (e.g. journal articles, book chapters, or conference papers).
- Experience of working with or engaging with community or stakeholder groups.
- Knowledge of post-industrial contexts, heritage, or tourism policy.
Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the University’s English language requirements.
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact Dr Masood Khodadadi, Reader in Tourism Development Studies via email at masood.khodadadi@uws.ac.uk
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
Interviews are expected to take place w/c 24th August 2026.
Songwriting as Scottish Place: A Radical Embodied Cognitive Science approach to the role of place within the creative process
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
In the context of serious challenges to rural & island life in Scotland due to population decline and out-migration, cultural heritage and sense of belonging are increasingly identified as crucial factors. By considering and actively strengthening the links between place & songwriting in Scottish rural communities, this project explores the role of Scotland’s natural heritage within the creative and cognitive processes of its resident artists, thus highlighting and addressing the importance of rural locations & community settings in cultural heritage.
The project will make a methodological innovation to a growing new field in Cognitive Science - Radical Embodied Cognitive Science (RECS) – as a means to address the effect of the environment and social context on cognitive processes. The successful candidate will be a practice-based researcher with a songwriting background and will apply this approach within site-specific songwriting practices.
Objectives:
(1) Apply RECS to a novel field (songwriting practice), considering how it sheds crucial light on the cognitive aspects of the creative process
(2) Evidence the role of place as a cognitive process within songwriting, as compared across rural & urban Scottish contexts
(3) Explore & highlight the role of depopulation of Scottish rural to urban areas on the cognitive creative process
Process:
3 community- based songwriting residencies in a rural peninsula, an island, and an urban setting in Scotland. The songwriter-researcher will work intensively in a place-based, co-creative setting within a local archive to explore enactive cognition at work in songwriting products & processes of the area in question, producing:
- 3x short albums of songs
- 3x community-based performances (1 in each area), embodying & enacting the results of the research
- a written exegesis of findings, analysis of which will translate into a journal article – the first to address the application of RECS to songwriting practice.
The candidate/eligibility criteria:
The successful candidate will have an established and demonstrable creative practice as a songwriter and performer, evidenced by a body of recorded work and live performance. They will be educated to masters’ level or equivalent, and hold a qualification in music, songwriting, ethnomusicology or a similar relevant field.
An established track record in applying practice-based songwriting, and/or the running of songwriting workshops, is important, and your application should demonstrate this experience with reference to relevant examples from your existing practice.
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact Dr Iain Taylor – iain.taylor@uws.ac.uk
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences Studentships
Early Detection of Distributed File-less Malware Using Vision Transformers
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
The rapid evolution of cyber threats has led to the emergence of highly sophisticated attack and evasion techniques such as file-less malware, which operates in system memory and leaves little or no trace on disk. These characteristics make such attacks particularly difficult to detect using both traditional and current security approaches.
This PhD project aims to address this critical and growing challenge by developing innovative, AI-powered methods for the early detection of distributed file-less malware. The project will explore the use of advanced deep learning techniques, with a particular focus on Vision Transformer (ViT) models, to analyse behavioural patterns derived from system activity. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on complete or centralised data, this research will investigate how early-stage and fragmented behavioural signals, collected across processes, systems, or time, can be effectively represented and utilised for detection.
A key aspect of the research involves transforming behavioural data, including system calls, memory usage, and network activity, into structured visual representations that can be analysed using transformer-based models. This enables the system to capture complex and long-range relationships within incomplete data, supporting early identification of malicious activity before significant system compromise occurs. The project will also adopt an experimental methodology, including the collection of behavioural data in controlled and secure environments (sandboxes), development of novel detection models, and rigorous evaluation against existing machine learning and deep learning approaches. Performance will be assessed in terms of detection accuracy, latency, and robustness under realistic, partially observable conditions.
This research aims to contribute to the advancement of proactive cyber security solutions, publish findings in leading academic venues, and provide valuable insights into the application of transformer-based AI models in complex, real-world threat scenarios.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
Essential Criteria:
- A master’s degree in a relevant field, e.g. Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, or a closely related discipline, already obtained or near completion.
- Demonstrable interest in cyber security and machine learning, and familiarity with research methods in a related area.
- Knowledge of core cyber security concepts, including malware analysis, operating systems, and network security.
- Experience with machine learning or deep learning frameworks, including TensorFlow and PyTorch.
- Strong programming skills, particularly in Python, and familiarity with data analysis.
Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. - Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Eligibility for a UK-funded studentship (meeting residency requirements).
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience working with large-scale, real-world malware datasets.
- Proficiency in system-level programming languages (C/C++).
- Prior research experience, including publications in the field.
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact Dr Danial Javaheri at Danial.Javaheri@uws.ac.uk
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
Adaptive Collocation Methods for Fractional Differential Equations
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
Fractional differential equations provide a powerful framework for modelling complex systems with memory, nonlocal interactions, and multiscale behaviour. Such models are increasingly used across artificial intelligence, engineering, physics, and data science; however, their broader adoption is limited by the lack of robust and efficient numerical methods.
This project aims to develop adaptive collocation methods for fractional differential equations, combining ideas from approximation theory, numerical analysis, and scientific computing. A central aim is to design high-accuracy numerical schemes capable of resolving the nonlocal and potentially singular behaviour characteristic of fractional models.
The research will explore modern approximation techniques, including spline and rational representations of solutions, alongside adaptive strategies that concentrate computational effort where it is most beneficial. This includes investigating data-driven residual-based and neural-network based approaches to constructing efficient solvers.
The project will involve both theoretical and computational work, including the development and analysis of new algorithms, the implementation of software tools, and testing on representative applications in areas such as machine learning, energy systems, complex materials, biological modelling and physics informed neural networks.
The successful candidate will gain training in advanced numerical methods, machine learning, neural networks, data science, approximation theory, and scientific computing, with opportunities to contribute to interdisciplinary research and open-source software development.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a first-class honours degree (or equivalent) in Mathematics, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related discipline.
A strong background in calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra is essential. Familiarity with complex analysis and numerical analysis or scientific computing is highly desirable. Experience with programming (e.g. Python, Julia, MATLAB, or similar) will be advantageous, as the project involves the development and implementation of numerical algorithms.
The project will involve detailed use of fractional calculus; prior knowledge of this area would be beneficial but is not essential.
Applicants should have a clear interest in mathematical modelling, neural networks, approximation theory, machine learning, data science or computational science, and should demonstrate strong analytical ability, curiosity, and the capacity to work both independently and as part of a research team.
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact Dr Ryan Meeten at ryan.meeten@uws.ac.uk.
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
Education & Social Sciences studentships
AI, Academic Literacies, and Responsibility in Widening Participation Higher Education
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
- The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
This PhD project explores how generative AI is reshaping academic literacies, writing practices, and relationships of responsibility in widening participation higher education. As AI tools become increasingly embedded in students’ everyday study practices, important questions arise about learning, authorship, feedback, judgement, and educational equity. These questions are especially pressing in widening participation contexts, where students often bring more complex and diverse linguistic repertoires, educational histories, and prior relationships to academic writing.
The project will examine how students and staff understand, use, negotiate, and respond to AI in higher education, with particular attention to the implications for teaching, assessment, inclusion, and academic development. It will ask how AI affects not only what students produce, but also how writing is understood and valued as a relational, social, and intellectual practice. The project is expected to contribute to current debates on AI in education by bringing together academic literacies, applied linguistics, (linguistic) ethnography, and relational ethics.
The successful candidate will undertake an empirically grounded study with a strong linguistic ethnographic orientation, likely employing research tools such as classroom observation, interviews, and analysis of (policy) discourse, interaction, and student writing practices and general output. The precise research design will be developed with the supervisory team.
The project offers the opportunity to join a vibrant interdisciplinary research environment and to contribute to an urgent and fast-developing area of scholarship with significance for pedagogy, policy, and the future of higher education.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain before the start date, a strong undergraduate degree and a Master’s degree in a relevant field. We particularly welcome candidates with interdisciplinary backgrounds spanning areas such as applied linguistics, education, academic literacies, sociolinguistics, linguistic ethnography, linguistic anthropology, English language, and cultural studies.
The successful candidate should demonstrate excellent academic writing skills, critical thinking, and the ability to undertake independent research within an interdisciplinary project. They should have a clear interest in qualitative and (linguistic) ethnographic research, and in questions of language, literacy, learning, and (ethical and political) responsibility in higher education. An interest in generative AI in higher education, widening participation, and the ethical dimensions of writing and pedagogy will be especially valuable.
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact Dr Luke Holmes (luke.holmes@uws.ac.uk) or Dr Fernando León Solís (Fernando.Leon-solis@uws.ac.uk)
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
Exploring the Impact of ADHD on Women’s Self-Esteem and Identity: A Qualitative Study
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in women remains under-recognised, largely due to diagnostic frameworks historically based on male presentations. This has contributed to delayed diagnosis, greater internalisation of symptoms, and cumulative mental health difficulties for many women. These experiences often affect self-esteem and identity, and are shaped by broader social and cultural expectations around gender, emotional regulation and productivity. While awareness of ADHD in women is increasing, research that centres women’s lived experiences and examines identity and self-esteem as key psychological outcomes is still limited.
This PhD project addresses this gap by reframing ADHD through the lenses of identity and self-esteem, rather than focusing solely on symptoms or deficits. It adopts a qualitative, multi-method design that combines semi-structured interviews with creative and participatory approaches, including photovoice, reflective diaries, and sensory and emotion mapping. These methods are intended to capture the embodied, emotional and contextual aspects of living with ADHD that are often overlooked in conventional research, enabling participants to articulate experiences in ways that extend beyond verbal accounts alone.
The project is situated within wider efforts to address inequalities in mental health research and practice. It contributes to ongoing work on improving psychological well-being, challenging gender bias in diagnosis and care, and reducing disparities in access to support. By foregrounding the perspectives of women with ADHD, the research aims to generate evidence that can inform more gender-sensitive approaches to assessment, intervention and service provision.
Findings are expected to provide detailed qualitative insights into how women experience and interpret identity and self-esteem in relation to ADHD, including the influence of social, cultural and occupational contexts, as well as the strategies used to navigate associated challenges.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
The successful candidate will have a 2:1 / Upper Class undergraduate degree in Psychology, and ideally a Masters degree in a relevant subject (e.g., Psychology, Neurodiversity, Psychological Research Methods, Health Psychology). This project is ideal for candidates interested in qualitative, participatory research and social impact, this PhD offers the chance to generate evidence that could meaningfully shape future research, policy and clinical practice in ADHD and women’s mental health.
The successful candidate will be required to work with women who have ADHD (either formally diagnosed or self-identifying), and will be expected to lead co-creation workshops, as such, being comfortable with qualitative data collection and analysis would be helpful. Previous experience working with neurodivergent groups would be an asset. Confidence, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work independently in new environments is essential.
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact Dr Carrie Ballantyne, carrie.ballantyne@uws.ac.uk
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
Invisible Professional Learning in Prison Education: Recognising and Evidencing the Hidden Curriculum of Educator Development
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
This innovative PhD project explores the hidden world of professional learning in prison education, uncovering how knowledge, skills, and pedagogies are developed through everyday practice but often go unrecognised.
This research will examine how educators and imprisoned learners collaboratively shape trauma-informed, relational, and transformative educational experiences. The project addresses critical global challenges aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including quality education, reduced inequalities, and peaceful, inclusive institutions.
The successful candidate will investigate how professional learning unfolds in real-world prison contexts, how institutional systems support (or constrain) this learning, and how imprisoned learners themselves contribute as active pedagogical partners. Using qualitative and participatory research methods, the project will seek to co-produce new practical tools, such as micro-credentialing models and reflective learning systems, to make this “invisible” learning visible, valued, and impactful.
This is a unique opportunity to conduct meaningful, applied research with direct access to practitioners and policymakers, contributing to real-world change in education, justice, and social inclusion. The project will generate academic publications, policy briefings, and practical resources for the Scottish Prison Service and beyond.
The successful candidate will join a supportive and interdisciplinary research environment, working closely with an experienced supervisory team across criminology and education. The studentship offers opportunities to develop advanced qualitative research skills, engage in collaborative and participatory methodologies, and contribute to high-impact publications and policy-relevant outputs. The candidate will also benefit from professional development opportunities, including conference participation, networking with academic and practitioner communities, and involvement in knowledge exchange activities. This PhD provides an excellent foundation for careers in academia, policy, or practice, particularly for those interested in education, justice, and social change.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
We are seeking a motivated and socially engaged candidate with an interest in education, criminology, or social policy, who is excited to undertake research that makes a tangible difference.
Applicants should hold, or be expected to achieve, a first-class or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline such as education, criminology, sociology, social policy, or a related field. A master’s degree in a relevant area is desirable but not essential.
Candidates should demonstrate an interest in qualitative and/or participatory research methodologies. Excellent communication skills, reflexivity, and the ability to work ethically and sensitively within complex research environments are essential.
Applications are encouraged from candidates with a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. Relevant lived experience, such as experience of prison education or direct experience of the justice system, including time spent in custody, is recognised as valuable, but is not a requirement for this role.
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact (via email):
Dr Sarah McKean: sarah.mckean@uws.ac.uk, Dr Maria Sapouna maria.sapouna@uws.ac.uk or Dr Julie Ovington julie.ovington@uws.ac.uk
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
Health & Life Sciences studentships
Nourishing Development: age and stage appropriate nutrition for female football (soccer)
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
We invite applications for a fully funded PhD investigating the role of nutrition in elite women’s football. The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) will provide collaborative supervision, and the successful candidate will be embedded within Manchester City Women’s FC Academy as a research-practitioner. The candidate will be expected to contribute to the collection and analysis of nutrition and performance data, support the implementation of evidence-based practice, and lead applied research that aligns with the needs of the club.
Despite rapid professionalisation, nutritional practices in women’s football remain largely informed by evidence derived from male athletes (de Sousa et al., 2021). While reported energy demands in elite female football are broadly comparable to male counterparts, important sex-based differences in substrate utilisation, endocrine regulation, and metabolic responses might limit the direct transferability of male-derived guidance (McManus et al., 2026). Emerging evidence also highlights suboptimal fuelling practices relative to current recommendations, which may have implications for both performance and athlete health (McHaffie et al., 2023; Moss et al., 2021).
At the youth level, increased investment in women’s football has expanded academy systems; however, nutrition research remains limited and often fails to account for biological maturation across development (Adams et al., 2026). This is a critical omission, as adolescence represents a sensitive period for growth, bone health, and hormonal regulation, where inadequate energy intake may compromise long-term physiological development and resilience (Everett et al., 2025).
This PhD will address these gaps through longitudinal monitoring of training and match loads, comprehensive dietary assessment, and controlled investigations examining nutritional strategies. The specific research questions will be developed in collaboration with the club to ensure applied relevance. Overall, the project aims to generate high-quality evidence to inform female- and maturation-specific nutrition guidelines within elite football environments, while providing the candidate with valuable applied and academic experience.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
Essential criteria
- A minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Nutrition or a closely related discipline with a substantial nutrition and research component.
- Demonstratable knowledge of performance and sports nutrition, and female athlete physiology.
- Experience in applied nutrition support, with ability to translate evidence into practice.
- Exposure to high-performance sport environments and their operational demands.
- Evidence of effective collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.
- Ability to critically appraise scientific literature and apply findings in applied settings.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organisational skills, including ability to balance competing research and applied priorities.
- Ability to work independently and proactively.
Desirable criteria
- Postgraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Nutrition or a related field.
- SENr Graduate or Registered Nutritionist status, or clear progression towards registration with the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register.
- Experience working with elite or professional (female) athletes.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the supervisory team prior to applying to discuss their interest and potential eligibility for the project. Dr Rachel Kimble (Rachel.Kimble@uws.ac.uk) & Prof Vish Unnithan (Vish.Unnithan@uws.ac.uk )
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
Exploring the care and treatment gap for people with likely dementia in prison
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
- The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
This studentship will identify diagnostic pathways, barriers and enablers to providing dementia assessment and diagnostic services to people with likely dementia in prison and make recommendations as to how these could be improved.
The UK prison population is rapidly aging and the number of prisoners over 60 has trebled in the last two decades (Ministry of Justice, 2022). Older prisoners often have complex health and care needs (Gilling McIntosh et al., 2023). Prisoners are at higher risk and have higher prevalence of dementia than the general population (Perez et al.,2021).
UK prison health care is based on the principle of equivalence; the quality and accessibility of care should be equivalent to what is offered to the general population. However, prison health care is significantly under resourced and understaffed (House of Commons Health and Care Committee, 2018, Ismail, 2020; Mental Welfare Commission, 2022). Our previous research suggests equivalence does not exist in relation to dementia diagnosis, treatment and care. It showed those with a likely dementia often remain undiagnosed, without treatment or support due to a lack of clear referral pathways and or access to specialist assessment services (MacRae at el., 2024, 2025). This has serious implications for prisoner wellbeing, the progression of the condition, and more broadly the safe, effective and humane management of this vulnerable group.
A care gap is unmet need across three domains: mental, physical and psychosocial health and care (Pathare, et al., 2018). Utilising a collective case study approach, this studentship aims to identify the care gap in relation to how those with a likely dementia are assessed and diagnosed. It will explore the barriers and enablers to providing dementia assessment and diagnostic services and make recommendations to support a collaborative approach to diagnosis between prison healthcare and community dementia assessment teams.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
We are looking for a candidate with a 1st or 2nd class undergraduate degree in a relevant social science discipline, who can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research methods, ability to conduct a literature review and manage and analyse data sets. It would be desirable if the candidate had a relevant post graduate degree qualification, awareness of ethical issues working with human participants, and ability to work with key stakeholders.
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact Dr Rhoda MacRae at: Rhoda.macrae@uws.ac.uk.
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
The impacts of urbanisation on small mammal occurrence, behaviour and health
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
Globally, rapid urban expansion is resulting in the fragmentation and destruction of natural areas. Urbanisation presents wildlife with novel and challenging conditions including increased disturbance from human encroachment and altered resource availability. In general, mammalian diversity decreases with increasing urbanisation, although some species may fare better in urban environments.
Parasites can play significant roles in the ecological balance and health of wildlife, with parasite load likely affected by urbanisation. Investigating the prevalence and diversity of parasites in small mammal populations across urban and rural landscapes provides a unique means of examining the impacts of urbanisation on wildlife health. Additionally, conducting such ecological research within a OneHealth framework can contribute valuable insights into the potential spillover of parasites from wild mammals to domestic animals or even humans.
This PhD project aims to improve understanding of how human alteration of the environment impacts wildlife. The project will examine seasonal population dynamics, behaviour and health of small mammal communities inhabiting areas of variable human influence. Using a combination of field and laboratory work, the main objectives of the study are to 1) Determine small mammal community composition across seasons at sites along an rural-urban gradient of varying human influence; 2) Determine the impact of urbanisation on small mammal morphology and the consequences for energy balance; 3) Examine how the behavioural traits of small mammals correlate with level of urbanisation and impact success; and 4) Evaluate the effect of urban environments on parasite prevalence, intensity and abundance of small mammals.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
The successful application will have:
- A first degree in zoology or a related field and relevant subjects
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Experience in fieldwork and/or laboratory work (experimental biology) related to terrestrial animal ecology or behaviour
Desirable attributes:
- Experience in experimental animal husbandry and fieldwork related to small mammals and/or urban ecology
- Experience in parasitology, molecular and genetic biology and basic analytical chemistry
- UK driving licence
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact Dr James Turner, james.turner@uws.ac.uk
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
Perceiving the unseen: communicating the ecological impacts of non-charismatic invasive species
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
Global environmental change is accelerating, making clear communication about its causes and effects increasingly important. A critical example of such change is the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme climate events, such as heatwaves, which often advantage non-native invasive species (NNIS) due to their high adaptability and tolerance of environmental stressors. Environmental change frequently benefits less visible NNIS, such as invertebrates, algae and parasites, yet these groups are often overlooked in public discourse despite their significant ecological effects. Societal perceptions and attitudes towards nature influence environmental policy and management. Thus, improving public awareness of low-profile NNIS is essential for developing a more comprehensive understanding of rapid ecological change and its implications for biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well‑being.
The over-arching aim of this studentship is to investigate and creatively communicate across diverse stakeholder groups the effects of climate change on low-profile NNIS impact. The project will use freshwater gammarid crustaceans as a model, which are widespread low-profile NNIS across the UK. The main objectives are to determine experimentally how extreme climate events influence responses of NNIS before examining public perception of these findings. This information will then be used to develop and evaluate effective communication formats which may use methods drawn from creative media or arts practice to raise awareness, improve public knowledge and change attitudes towards low-profile NNIS.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
The project will involve both fieldwork and laboratory work, and creative stakeholder engagement which will involve communication with the general public.
The successful application will have:
- A first degree in zoology or related and relevant subjects.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with a particular focus on science communication.
- Experience in fieldwork and laboratory work (experimental biology) related to aquatic ecology.
Desirable attributes:
- Experience in experimental animal husbandry related to invertebrates.
- Experience in public outreach and engagement with stakeholder groups.
- Some experience of creative media and/or arts methodologies and how these can be used in science communication
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact Dr Mhairi Alexander (mhairi.alexander@uws.ac.uk).
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
Co-design of an NHS peri-operative prehabilitation and rehabilitation pathway for colorectal cancer: an action research approach
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
This project will co-design and evaluate an NHS-integrated peri-operative prehabilitation and rehabilitation pathway for patients undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer, with key focus on personalised exercise interventions. In partnership with NHS Lanarkshire, patients, clinicians, and community stakeholders, the study will use an action research approach to iteratively design, implement, and refine a scalable, patient-centred care pathway.
The pathway will aim to optimise physical readiness for surgery and support recovery through exercise prescription, informed by baseline fitness, clinical status, and patient needs. Exercise interventions will be designed to be accessible, progressive, and adaptable across the peri-operative period, supported by behavioural strategies and digital tools to enhance engagement, adherence, and monitoring.
Co-design principles will underpin the project, ensuring that patients and healthcare professionals shape the content, delivery, and integration of the pathway within existing NHS services. The action research framework will enable continuous refinement through iterative cycles of implementation, evaluation, and feedback, supporting both feasibility and real-world applicability.
The study will be delivered across NHS and community settings, with outcomes focused on feasibility (recruitment, retention, adherence), patient experience, and pathway implementation. Exploratory outcomes will assess changes in physical fitness, functional capacity, and recovery trajectories.
This project will generate practical evidence for embedding personalised exercise-based prehabilitation and rehabilitation within colorectal cancer care pathways, with potential to improve surgical outcomes, enhance recovery, and inform wider NHS implementation.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
Applicants should hold, or be expected to obtain, a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science, Clinical Exercise Physiology or a related discipline. A Master’s degree in a relevant area is desirable.
A strong interest in applied clinical research and healthcare innovation is essential. The candidate should demonstrate a sound understanding of exercise prescription and progression in clinical populations. Experience in data collection with human participants would be advantageous.
Experience or training in exercise delivery for clinical populations, particularly cancer (e.g. CanRehab Trust or equivalent) and/or relevant qualifications in working with people with long-term conditions (e.g. CIMSPA-aligned qualifications), is desirable.
Candidates who are registered, or working towards registration, as Clinical Exercise Physiologists (e.g. via the Academy for Healthcare Science) are encouraged to apply. Strong organisational and communication skills are required, alongside the ability to work independently and collaboratively with patients, clinicians, and external partners.
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact Dr Mia Burleigh - mia.burleigh@uws.ac.uk
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
Data driven discovery in Alzheimer’s Disease: Linking clinical biomarkers, novel proteomic signatures, and demographics for advanced early risk prediction
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability and commitment to join its vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
This is a fully funded PhD Studentship and includes payment of tuition fees for 36 months at the home/UK rate and an annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend rate (£21,805pa from 01/10/2026).
The successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements),
- or have settled status,
- or have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),
- or have indefinite leave to remain.
The Project
Dementia is a growing global health challenge, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for most cases and contributing substantially to disability and health inequalities. Increasing evidence suggests that a significant proportion of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed through improved early‑risk identification and targeted intervention.
This PhD project will investigate molecular, demographic and lifestyle signatures associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk, with the aim of supporting prevention‑focused strategies and reducing inequalities in cognitive ageing. The student will analyse large, well‑characterised cohorts spanning mid‑life to older adulthood, including diverse and under‑represented populations, which integrate blood‑based biomarkers and proteomic data with cognitive, demographic and lifestyle measures. Using advanced statistical and computational approaches, the project will identify biological pathway signatures, stratify individuals into meaningful risk profiles, and develop predictive models to estimate early AD risk.
The student will join an interdisciplinary supervisory team with expertise in chronic disease, biomarker discovery and predictive modelling, and will receive training in data analysis and scientific communication. The project will generate publishable findings, support conference dissemination, and provide a strong foundation for future translational and intervention‑focused research in ageing and dementia.
The candidate/eligibility criteria
Applicants should have a strong academic background (minimum 2:1 or equivalent) in one or more of these topics: computational biology, data science, neuroscience, biomedical or biological sciences, or a closely related discipline. Candidates should demonstrate a clear interest in data‑driven research and enthusiasm for using statistical or computational approaches to address biological questions, particularly in neurodegenerative disease, cognitive ageing or ageing biology. Applicants should be motivated, able to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team, and committed to reproducible and impactful research.
For more information, or to discuss the project informally, please contact Dr Farah Jaber, Farah.Jaber@uws.ac.uk
Application Deadline: 15/06/2026
Start Date: 01/10/2026
PHD STUDENTSHIPS
UWS has a strong and growing research community. We are constantly on the lookout for talented prospective PhD students with outstanding academic ability and commitment to join our vibrant and growing programme of internationally excellent research.
Studentships recognise academic talent by providing a generous financial contribution towards your PhD-level studies.
WHY UWS
UWS is one of Scotland’s most innovative modern universities. In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 90% of UWS research was classed as world-leading, internationally excellent, or recognised internationally.
In the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025, UWS has been ranked in the world’s top 300 universities for sustainable development. And 26th in the world for impact on reducing inequalities (Sustainable Development Goal 10)