We are looking to recruit to an ESRC funded +3 collaborative studentship for PhD research, hosted within The Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences (iPCHS) at Keele University. The iPCHS is the largest and most successful Research Institute at Keele (http://www.keele.ac.uk/pchs/). It is dedicated to undertake research that will improve the quality of life for people with arthritis, chronic musculoskeletal pain, mental health and associated comorbidities. It hosts the Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre-of-Excellence, is a current member of the NIHR School for Primary Care Research and holds the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Pioneering the early prevention and treatment of chronic pain. 91% of Keele’s research in Primary Care has been judged world leading or internationally excellent (Ref 2014). 
PhD title: Healthy Work Life Expectancy
Supervisors: Dr Ross Wilkie & Dr Milica Blagojevic-Bucknall
Project partner: Department for Work and Pensions

The PhD project is especially timely in the context of plans to extend working life among older age groups. With increasing emphasis on improving quality as well as quantity of life, both length of nondisabled life and total life expectancy have become useful and important indicators of population well-being and musculoskeletal health. In addition to disability free life expectancy, Healthy Work Life Expectancy (HWLE) has been proposed which provides an estimate of the number of years that adults can be working and healthy. In the United Kingdom (UK), the relationship between musculoskeletal conditions and work is demanding more attention, particularly with plans to extend working life meaning that there will be a greater number of adults with musculoskeletal conditions who are expected to remain in work. However despite acceptance of a strong link, the reasons for work absence for adults with musculoskeletal conditions have yet to be clearly identified. Identifying the key factors and mechanisms to a reduction in HWLE will direct strategies and interventions to reduce work disability and improve quality of life. 

Objectives & methods: 
The overall aim of this PhD project is to investigate population health and well-being through estimation of Healthy Working Life Expectancy (HWLE) with extensive data that has the capacity to explore factors that influence transitions between health and disability and from employment to not being in employment. 
The research draws on (i) a large (n>10,000) well-established longitudinal national study (English Longitudinal Study of Ageing) that has collected information, at 2 year intervals, to understand the health, social and psychological elements of the ageing process in adults aged 50 and over and (ii) a unique study which has been taken place in North Staffordshire in which people aged over 50 years, sampled from the general population, have completed questionnaires about their health, disability, work and social life at 3 year intervals. 
The proposed research is divided into two main parts. In the first part, the aim is to provide estimates of HWLE for adults with musculoskeletal health conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis). The second part of the study aims to explore the factors influencing transitions into normal function to disability and work loss. The issue examined in this part of the research concerns how health (having additional health problems), behavioural and occupational (e.g. flexible working hours) and social (e.g. living in poverty) elements combine to influence levels of HWLE. Analysis will involve use of multi-state life tables and Interpolated Markov chain modelling.
Throughout the project the student will work with the Department for Work and Pensions to develop the research, facilitate dissemination and the implementation of findings. There is a three month secondment with the DWP in the project which may also involve further analysis of datasets.
Applicants should have a good first degree (2:1 or above) in mathematics, statistics or an allied subject with substantive quantitative methodological component, and a Masters degree in statistics is desirable. Funding is available for three or four years to cover fees for PhD registration and a research studentship stipend of currently £17,553 per annum for 2017/18. Non-EU students would be required to pay the balance (currently approximately £11,000 per annum) of the overseas fees themselves. A programme of research training will also be provided and it is anticipated that students will be involved in a number of Keele and institute-wide activities including research seminars, journal clubs and an annual student conference. 

For further information please contact:
Dr Ross Wilkie on 01782 734845,  [log in to unmask] or 
Dr Milica Blagojevic-Bucknall on 01782 734852,  [log in to unmask] 

Please apply here; http://www.keele.ac.uk/pgresearch/studentships/ 
Closing date for applications is 5th May 2017 
Interview dates will be during the week beginning 22nd May 
For any queries relating to the application process, please contact Zara Richards ([log in to unmask])

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