Health Living

• Dr Rob Southall-Edwards - Institute Research Fellow 

Long Term Conditions

• Dr Noreen Cushen-Brewster - Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health

Biosciences for Human Health

• Dr Nick Tucker - Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange in the School of Allied Health Sciences

• Dr Paul Freeman, University of Essex  

• Dr Jo Barton, University of Essex 

• Dr Jamie Pethick, University of Essex  

• Dr Oonagh Corrigan, Anglian Ruskin University  

Also: 

• Active Essex 

• Essex County Council 

• Suffolk Mind

• Dr Gerry Rayman - Visiting Professor of Diabetes Medicine 
• Dr Maurizio Bertollo - Visiting Professor of Human Performance
• Prof Paul Hackett - Visiting Professor of Health Research Methods 
• Prof Dave Muller - Visiting Professor of Rehabilitation Psychology
• Dr Stuart McErlain-Naylor - Visiting Senior Fellow in Sport Science
• Prof Ian Philp - Visiting Professor of Elderly Care
• Martin Sinclair - Visiting Professor of Gastro-intestinal disease 
• Dr Judith Fynn - Visiting Senior Fellow in Public Health Evaluation
• Prof Victor Preedy - Visiting Professor of Health Sciences
• Dr James Nobles - Visiting Senior Fellow in Public Health
• Prof Colin R Martin - Visiting Professor of Perinatal Wellbeing 
• Dr Ruta Gada - Visiting Senior Fellow in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Joe Sawyer - Visiting Senior Fellow in End of Life Care

Proposed PhD Title: Evaluating System Dynamics in Place-Based Physical Activity Interventions: An Embedded PhD within Active Suffolk Using the ENCOMPASS Framework 

Institution: University of Suffolk (in partnership with University of Essex) 
Location: Suffolk, UK 
Funding: Fully funded (UK/home fees and stipend) 
Duration: Full-time, 3 years 
Application Deadline: 15th August 2025 
Start Date: 1st October 2025 

Project Overview

Are you passionate about real-world public health research and making a difference to communities through systems change or thinking in a different way? 

We are offering a fully-funded PhD opportunity (UK/home fees with stipend) embedded within Active Suffolk, part of Sport England’s £250 million national place-based partnerships.  This exciting project aims to evaluate and enhance physical activity systems communities of focus (Ipswich and Lakenheath) using the innovative ENCOMPASS framework—an adaptive, non-linear approach to evaluating complex systems change. 

Suffolk is a rural English county of 760,000 people, who live in tightly packed towns, small villages, and coastal hubs. The population lives in relative deprivation, with a lack of investment and infrastructure required to keep people healthy. In Suffolk, more than one-third of the population do not do enough physical activity. Not moving enough can damage our health and wellbeing. Working in partnership with the county-wide organisation promoting physical activity (Active Suffolk), we have developed a group consisting of Suffolk’s government and public bodies, charities, deliverers and provisions, and lived experience organisations. Working with these organisations, we mapped the factors that affect physical activity participation, and used this to find places (i.e., leverage points) to modify which would have the biggest effect in helping people do more physical activity. 

We are now interested in understanding how this approach can be applied and evaluated within a place-based approach. As a PhD student, you will be at the heart of this place-based initiative, working closely with community partners, policymakers, and leading academics from the University of Suffolk and University of Essex. Your research will bridge academia and practice, influencing how local systems create sustainable change in physical activity and wellbeing. 

Research Objectives 

• Use the ENCOMPASS framework to map and evaluate a complex systems intervention in Suffolk. 
• Identify leverage points for sustainable increases in physical activity. These are places in the system which effect change. 
• Produce place-specific and system-wide recommendations. 
• Publish in high-quality journals and contribute to national learning on whole-systems approaches. 

Why This PhD? 

• Embedded Research: Two days per week working with Active Suffolk—real-world immersion in the local system. 
• Expert Supervision: Mentored by a team with national and international recognition in systems thinking, evaluation, and physical activity promotion. 
• Strategic Impact: Influence public health strategy locally and nationally through timely, applied research. 
• Career Development: A stepping stone to postdoctoral roles or system-level impact positions within academia, local government, or policy. 
• Fully Funded: This PhD studentship is fully funded, covering tuition fees and a maintenance stipend for eligible UK/Home applicants. 

Supervision Team 

• Prof Valerie Gladwell (University of Suffolk)  
• Dr Rob Southall-Edwards (University of Suffolk)  
• Dr Andrew Brinkley (University of Essex)  

Candidate Requirements 

We are seeking a highly motivated individual with: 

• An undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in public health, sport and exercise science, health psychology, policy, epidemiology or related disciplines 2.1 or above 
• Strong qualitative and/or mixed methods research skills (or interest in developing these) 
• A keen interest in systems thinking, evaluation, policy, and real-world impact 
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills 

How to Apply 

Please submit: 

1. An academic CV 
2. A covering letter (max 2 pages) explaining your interest and suitability for this specific studentship 
3. Contact details for two referees 

Apply via: ihwb@uos.ac.uk

Enquiries: Prof Valerie Gladwell – v.gladwell@uos.ac.uk