PhD in Social Care

The Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (Centre-UB) is inviting applications for a Doctoral Studentship in association with Worcestershire County Council to start in October 2026./nThis PhD project, BETW33N: Towards Equitable Digital Wellbeing, aims to co-develop and evaluate a digital tool to improve mental wellbeing among adolescents aged 12–15 living in Worcestershire County. The project responds to local priorities around mental wellbeing, loneliness, and social isolation, with a strong focus on equity and inclusion./nWorking closely with Worcestershire County Council, community partners, and young people, the PhD student will co-design an inclusive digital tool providing psychoeducation and signposting, integrated with social prescribing and community connector models. The PhD will involve mixed methods research, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, and offers opportunities for applied, participatory, and policy-relevant research./nThe student will be supported by an interdisciplinary supervisory team: Dr Julia Gauly, Dr Marco Bardus, Professor Victoria Goodyear, and Dr Lisa McNally./nLocation: Birmingham, Worcestershire County. Start date: October 2026.