Ph.D. Studentships
Investigating and developing methods to improve the commissioning, design,
and conduct of RCTs. (The MRC ConDuCT Trials Methodology Hub).
The MRC ConDuCT Trials Methodology Hub brings together research, into the
commissioning, design and conduct of RCTs, being conducted in the University
of Bristol Departments of Social Medicine and Community Based Medicine.
The Hub has funding for five four-year PhD studentships, joint funded by the
MRC and the University of Bristol. We would like to hear from prospective
students who are keen to study for a Ph.D., either in the area of one of our
proposed projects (see our prospectus) or an area of the students’ choosing
and related to the work of the hub.
In the first year students will attend courses from Social Medicine's popular
short course programme, and elsewhere, to build a comprehensive knowledge
of RCT design and conduct. The first year will also provide the opportunity to
conduct small studies in different areas of trials methodology, allowing
students to confirm their area of interest, build their research skills, formulate
a detailed research plan for the subsequent three years, conduct feasibility
studies of intended research procedures, and meet and work with theme leads
within the Hub.
Current and forthcoming areas of work are as follows:
--Developing and integrating qualitative research methods to improve the
design and conduct of RCTs
--Statistical methods in the design and analysis of challenging RCTs
--Methods for dealing with missing data, baseline covariates and incorporating
productivity costs in economic evaluations conducted alongside RCTs
--Evidence synthesis and expected value of information for prioritisation and
design of RCTs
--Improving trial conduct
--Embedding clinically meaningful patient reported outcomes into RCTs
Many hub members are also involved with the Bristol Randomised Trials
Collaboration, which has links with many ongoing and recently completed RCTs.
For further details and the application procedure please see the ConDuCT
Ph.D. programme prospectus, available under “Other funding opportunities” on
the University of Bristol Department of Social Medicine postgraduate
opportunities web-page:
<http://www.epi.bris.ac.uk/postgrad/pg.htm>
Please get your application to us by Friday 27th March to ensure it is
considered for an October 2009 start. Later applications will be considered if
there are studentships still available.
----------------------
Chris Metcalfe PhD
Lecturer in Medical Statistics
Department of Social Medicine
University of Bristol
Canynge Hall
39 Whatley Road
Bristol
United Kingdom
BS8 2PS
T: +44(0)117 928 7326
F: +44(0)117 928 7325
E: [log in to unmask]
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