Making our Move PhD opportunities

Are you looking for a PhD that can make a direct impact to individuals and communities? A PhD that has real-world national impact and can make a difference to understanding how to address inequalities? Do you have an interest in understanding how to achieve system change to increase physical activity? If so, this opportunity could be for you, as Leeds Beckett are looking to recruit two full-time PhD students to explore the implementation and impact of Making our Move. Making our Move (MoM) sets out a shared vision for Uniting the Movement in Notts and Derbyshire. It adopts a systems approach to addressing inequality and inactivity in Notts and Derbyshire, focusing efforts and resources where the biggest difference can be made, seeking to empower communities and shape action. Making our Move aims to bring partners and stakeholders together around a united approach by: Growing insight and understanding of people and communities by working closely with lived experience and listening carefully to resident voices Supporting and developing people who can lead and influence others to move more Working collaboratively across and between partners and sectors Focus on learning and adapting, understanding what works as well as what doesn’t and applying it to our work on an ongoing basis Advocating for and influencing policy and practice Targeting and aligning investment to where it’s most needed Leeds Beckett University are offering two PhDs linked to MoM and welcome applications which show creative and innovative approaches to exploring and understanding the implementation and systemic impact of MoM. We are looking for the candidate to act as an Embedded Researcher, working closely Active Partners Trust and stakeholders. Embedded researchers work “with” practice- or policy-based colleagues, rather than simply providing research “on” or “for” them. This process builds rapport and co-creates knowledge between researchers and stakeholders, which offers an effective mechanism for information to be fed back to stakeholders. Being embedded establishes a deep understanding of the organisational structures, practices, culture and relationships, enabling them to better identify, describe, analyse and understand changes. Being in close commute to the area would therefore be an advantage. For both PhDs, candidates demonstrating a range of methodological and analytical skills will be considered favourably, as will those with a demonstrated track-record in linking research to practice and policy development. A postgraduate qualification (MSc/MA/MRes) is desirable but not essential. The PhD is supported by Leeds Beckett University. Our environment for supporting and sustaining research at the University has been independently assessed as part of the nationwide Research Excellence Framework. Across the areas the PhD students will be located, the environment was regarded as “an environment that is conducive to producing research of internationally excellent quality and enabling very considerable impact, in terms of its vitality and sustainability.” Your supervisory team bring international excellence in relation to: whole systems approaches; physical activity; embedded research approaches; public health and health promotion; and a range of analytical expertise.