Trinity Research Doctorate Award

PhD opportunity at Trinity College Dublin in urban nature-based solutions, active travel, and children's health.

This fully funded PhD studentship is part of the Trinity Research Doctorate Award 2026–2030 and the wider interdisciplinary project Implementing and Evaluating Nature-Based Solutions for Health in Children and Adolescents. The project focuses on adolescent-led and community-based co-design of nature-based solutions (NBS) in Finglas West, north Dublin, with an emphasis on making walking and cycling safer, greener, and healthier.

The PhD student will work with young people and community partners to train child and adolescent co-researchers, map evidence and gaps in NBS interventions related to active travel, identify which NBS to co-develop, and help design and pilot an evaluation of the solution. The work sits across public health, environmental science, urban planning, civil engineering, education, and participatory research.

Supervision is by Professor Brian Caulfield (School of Engineering), Dr Alina Cosma (School of Medicine), and Professor Frédérique Vallières (School of Psychology) at Trinity College Dublin.

Funding includes full tuition coverage and a €25,000 per year tax-free stipend for 4 years. The successful applicant must be ready to commence in autumn 2026.

Eligibility highlights include a 2.1 or equivalent undergraduate degree in a relevant field, strong communication and collaboration skills, commitment to safeguarding and child protection, fluency in English, and willingness to spend at least 2 days per week on site in Finglas West during term time. A master's degree and prior experience in school/community research, participatory methods, or work with children and young people are desirable.

Application deadline: 2026-07-05. Applicants should email a CV, cover letter, and one-page research proposal to Prof Brian Caulfield. The proposal should align with the existing project rather than propose a completely new study design. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed, and the successful applicant will then apply through the Trinity College Dublin PhD process.