Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) PhD scholarship – Exploring identity building and reducing loneliness in children and young people with neuromuscular conditions

The scholarship is for 3.5 years full-time study and covers home PhD fees, currently £4,786, pays an annual stipend at the standard Sheffield Hallam PhD stipend rate (this is aligned with the net Real Living Wage and the current rate for academic year 2024/25 is £20,974 per annum). This stipend payment will increase annually based on the living wage rate for the duration of the scholarship. 

GTA scholarships are designed to develop the next generation of academics, providing structured opportunities for training, development and practical experience in learning, teaching and assessment or other areas of academic practice. As part of this academic development, GTA scholarship holders will receive training and undertake up to 180 hours’ teaching-related activity, or other academic practice, per academic year. This activity forms part of the scholarship holder’s training. There is no additional payment for it. See the Overview of the Graduate Teaching Assistant scheme for applicants for more information. 

Project Title: Exploring identity building and reducing loneliness in children and young people with neuromuscular conditions

This is an exciting opportunity to carry out research to understand loneliness amongst young people with neuromuscular conditions, and to explore the kinds of strategies which could support them. The research will:

·      Involve children and young people in the research design from the outset

·      Map and evaluate current strategies, including peer support and befriending schemes, that support peer engagement and reduce loneliness in children and young people with health conditions

·      Identify the impact of neuromuscular conditions on how children and young people develop and maintain social interactions

·      Identify what support would reduce loneliness and improve social connection

·      Make recommendations to health professionals in relation to supporting children and young people with neuromuscular conditions to have meaningful opportunities to engage with their peers.

The successful applicant will be linked to the Centre for Loneliness Studies, the Campaign to End Loneliness, the Child, Young Person & Family Research Group, and the Centre for Applied Health and Social Care Research.

The proposed research methods include:

1) Establishment of a stakeholder group of children and young people and parents/ caregivers to co-design the study

2) Undertake a mixed method evidence synthesis describing and evaluating strategies that have been developed and evaluated to reduce loneliness in children and young people with a health conditions

3) Undertake a qualitative study using interviews / focus groups and appropriate arts based methods to explore the concept of loneliness for children and young people with neuromuscular conditions, how social / peer interactions are developed and maintained, and what support would reduce loneliness and improve social connections;

5) Undertake a quantitative loneliness survey of children and young people with neuromuscular conditions. 

6) Develop guidance for children and young people with neuromuscular conditions, their families and health care professionals

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact the Director of Studies: Andrea Wigfield, Professor of Applied Social and Policy Research

Director, Centre for Loneliness Studies (Andrea.Wigfield@shu.ac.uk)

or Joanna Smith, Professor of Nursing in Child Health (Joanna.Smith@shu.ac.uk)

We strongly advise all applicants to contact the Director of Studies: Andrea.Wigfield@shu.ac.uk prior to application. 

 Applicants should hold: a BSc (2:1 or above, or equivalent) degree qualification in Health and Social Care, or other relevant areas. An MSc degree qualification in a relevant area is desirable. Professional qualifications and background in Health and Social Care is desirable, but not essential. Applicants without a professional qualification should have a strong academic background in Health and Social Care related discipline. 

We welcome applications from all members of the community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBTQIA+, ethnic minoritised and disabled communities. 

GTA scholarships involve full-time PhD study and a requirement to teach or complete project related work at the University. This means that successful applicants must have completed all study and any employment by the start date of the scholarship, which is 1 October 2025. 

 International / EU applicants – Please read the following information carefully and see the funding notes section of this advert for important fee information.  

Sheffield Hallam University has a mandatory English language requirement of IELTS 7, or equivalent language qualification, for all applicants from countries not included in the UKVI exemption list: https://www.gov.uk/english-language/exemptions. This qualification must have been taken within the last two years, with a score of at least 6.5 in all test areas. The qualification may be required even if you have previous qualifications from UK institutions. Please check with  Health-PGR-admissions@shu.ac.uk  prior to application, as we cannot consider applications if this essential qualification is not submitted. 

 To apply for the scholarship 

Please complete the formal application form, which can be accessed via the following link:  https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/health-and-social-care-management/phd-health-and-social-care/full-time/2025 and choose the October 2025 start date option.  Please add the project title of the scholarship you are applying for clearly in the Personal Statement field of application form. 

Applicants should also ensure that they upload a detailed 1,500-word research proposal addressing the project title and all essential certificates and reference information with their application form. We cannot consider applications where a research proposal and any other essential attachments have not been uploaded to the application system before submission. If you experience issues submitting your online application, or for general enquiries, please contact: Health-PGR-admissions@shu.ac.uk. 

This application form must be submitted by the deadline of 14 May 2025 (12 noon). Late applications will not be accepted.  

Interviews 

Applicants that are successful following our shortlisting process, will be invited to interview in the weeks commencing 9 & 16 June 2025. Please note, we are unable to offer alternative interview slots once allocated to shortlisted candidates.