Ting Shi

The University of Edinburgh is recruiting a PhD student for a project focused on developing data-driven approaches to improve maternity vaccine equity in Scotland. The research aims to understand inequalities in maternity vaccination uptake by leveraging national health data and qualitative research methods. The project will explore the drivers of unequal vaccine uptake and generate actionable insights to support fairer and more effective maternal vaccination programmes. Supervised by Ting Shi (Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor), Louisa Pollock, and Cheryl Gibbons, and partnered with Public Health Scotland, the student will join the Usher Institute and the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Biomedical Innovation. The research will involve advanced data analysis, including descriptive statistics, pathway visualisation, and machine learning, to map patient journeys and identify bottlenecks in healthcare delivery. Predictive and clustering models will be developed to uncover factors affecting outcomes and health inequalities. The student will be embedded within Public Health Scotland for hands-on experience with real-world data pipelines and policy translation. Training will cover interdisciplinary skills in data science, health informatics, and applied health services research, preparing the student for leadership roles in healthcare innovation. The project is highly relevant to medical science, public health, computer science, statistics, and biomedical engineering, with a strong emphasis on health equity and data-driven policy recommendations. Applicants should have a background in relevant fields and a keen interest in health equity and interdisciplinary research. The position is typically fully funded, including tuition and stipend, as part of the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training. Applications are open for 2026 entry, with a deadline of 20 January 2026. Interested candidates should apply via the University of Edinburgh's application portal and review the project details carefully. For more information, visit the project proposal page and the supervisor's LinkedIn profile. This opportunity offers comprehensive training and the chance to contribute to impactful research in maternity vaccine equity and health informatics.