Chris Dayson

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Sheffield Hallam University invites applications for a Transforming Lives PhD scholarship in the School of Health and Social Care, commencing May 2026. This fully funded opportunity covers home PhD fees and provides a generous annual stipend at the Living Wage Foundation rate (£22,152 for 2025/26, increasing annually). The scholarship is open to Home, EU, and International applicants, but international/EU students must self-fund the fee shortfall (currently around £12,700 per year). The project, titled "Measuring what matters: capturing the impact of the voluntary, community and faith sector on local outcomes including physical activity," addresses the challenge of evaluating the nuanced contributions of voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise organisations (VCFSE) to local health and wellbeing. Traditional surveys often fail to capture the complexity of these interactions, which are highly contextual and relational. This PhD will pioneer the use of voice notes and audio reflections for organic, inclusive data capture, ensuring authentic representation of lived experiences, especially from underrepresented groups. The successful candidate will apply artificial intelligence and natural language processing (NLP) to transform large-scale qualitative data into structured insights. A realist evaluation framework will be used to understand how and why impacts occur in different contexts. The ultimate goal is to develop a weighted composite measure—a scalable, policy-ready metric for use by local and national bodies in commissioning, resource allocation, and recognition of VCFS contributions. This approach aligns with place-based, whole-systems principles, bridging qualitative narratives and quantitative evidence for policymakers. The project is closely linked to Sport England’s National Evaluation and Learning Partnership and the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness, providing access to networks, expertise, and strategic stakeholders. The supervisory team includes Dr. Katie Shearn (global leader in realist evaluation and systems approaches for public health inequalities), Professor Chris Dayson (expert in evaluating VCFS contributions to health and wellbeing, social prescribing, and creative health), and Dr. Gregor Milligan (specialist in AI, machine learning, and NLP for social and health challenges). Applicants should hold a BSc (1st or 2:1 honours degree or equivalent) in public health, sports development, community development, voluntary sector management, or a related discipline, or have relevant equivalent experience. An MSc in a related area and experience working with human participants are desirable. Outstanding candidates from other backgrounds may be considered. All applicants from countries not on the UKVI exemption list must provide an IELTS qualification (minimum overall score of 7, with at least 6.5 in all areas, taken within the last two years). The university encourages applications from diverse groups, including LGBTQIA+, BAME, and disabled communities. To apply, complete the online application form and upload a 1,500-word research proposal addressing the project title, two academic references (dated within the last 2 years), highest degree certificate, passport copy, and IELTS results (if applicable). Add the project title in the personal statement field. The deadline for applications is 16 February 2026 (12 noon UK time). Interviews will be held online in the week commencing 2 March 2026. For further information, contact Dr. Katie Shearn at [email protected] or the Health-PGR admissions team at [email protected].

Sheffield Hallam University invites applications for a fully funded PhD Scholarship in the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness (C4), commencing 1 October 2026. This unique opportunity is ideal for candidates passionate about building strong, cohesive, and resilient communities, and who are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion through local community or social action. The C4 Centre, funded by UKRI, is a major initiative involving academic, community, and policy partners, and is dedicated to generating evidence on effective strategies for participation and connectedness across diverse social, economic, and cultural contexts. The project, titled Community-Level Prediction of Charitable Organisation Survival , will examine predictive factors influencing the survival of charitable organisations in the UK. It will involve secondary analysis of historic organisational birth and death records, as well as administrative data on community-level characteristics, with the aim of identifying the conditions that support or hinder organisational survival. Methodologically, the research will draw on sociology, economics, and machine learning to develop and evaluate predictive models, making it suitable for candidates with backgrounds in these disciplines and an interest in the charitable sector. Students will be supervised by Professor Chris Dayson, a Centre Co-investigator, with additional supervisors from the wider project team and university, depending on the PhD topic and approach. The successful candidate will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary PhD community and benefit from the ESRC White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership. The Centre’s innovative structure includes five community catapults, engaging researchers, citizens, and policymakers in co-designing and co-delivering research priorities and projects. Funding: The scholarship covers home tuition fees and provides an annual stipend at the living wage foundation rate (£21,393 per year for 2025/6), for three and a half years full-time (pro-rata part-time). Only one bursary is available, awarded to the strongest candidate. Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the university during the scholarship period. Eligibility: Applicants should hold a strong, relevant undergraduate degree (2.1 minimum) and/or a relevant master’s qualification (merit minimum). International students must demonstrate English proficiency (IELTS 7.0 overall, no component below 6.5, or equivalent), or have completed a UK Master’s degree (merit minimum) within two years of the programme start date. Nationals of UKVI-exempt countries do not need to provide language evidence. Application Process: Submit a complete online application form for the October 2026 intake, including a research proposal (max 1,500 words), a personal statement addressing four specific questions, copies of qualifications, certificates, and transcripts, details of two referees, and copies of your passport and any relevant visas. The deadline for applications is 17:00 (GMT+1) on 1st May 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. Interviews are expected to take place in-person in late May or early June 2026. For further information or questions, contact Professor Chris Dayson at [email protected] or the Doctoral School at [email protected] . For more details and to apply, visit the project page .