"Nature is not a place to visit, it is home": The value of nature on the quality of life of people with dementia

Director of Studies: Dr Nicolas Farina 

2^nd Supervisor: Dr Kayleigh Wyles 

3^rd Supervisor: Dr Hannah Wheat 

4^th Supervisor: Dr. Ben Hicks (b.hicks@bsms.ac.uk) Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 1 October 2024.

Embark on a pioneering PhD journey investigating the impact of engagement with nature on the quality of life for people with dementia. As dementia rates surge globally, you will be responding to the pressing need for innovative approaches to ensure people can live well with dementia. 

While policy recognizes the importance of green and blue spaces, the precise mechanism to improve quality of life remains unclear. This PhD studentship addresses the critical gap in understanding the nuanced relationship between engagement with nature and quality of life for people with dementia. Using mixed methods (e.g., questionnaires, go-along interviews and ecological momentary analysis), you will unravel this complexity. The PhD has the following objectives:

You will sit within the Community and Primary Care Research Group , a multidisciplinary hub fostering collaborations with over 30 health and care experts. The PhD will be supervised by academics in applied health, environmental psychology and dementia-specific research.  

Join us in shaping the future of dementia care, where nature's healing power intersects with cutting-edge research. Uncover transformative insights and forge connections within a vibrant community committed to enhancing the lives of individuals living with dementia.

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree in an appropriate subject and either a relevant masters qualification or a wider range of experience in a relevant career path (which is equally as important).

The project will involve visiting participants in the community across the South West and while not essential, a valid driving license and access to a car would be beneficial.

This vacancy will involve working with vulnerable adults and any appointment will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent. 

The studentship is supported for 3 years and includes full Home tuition fees plus a stipend of £18,110 per annum 2023/24 rate (2024/25 rate TBC).  The studentship will only fully fund those applicants who are eligible for Home fees with relevant qualifications.  Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates (approximately £13,244 per annum 2024/25 rate).

NB: The studentship is supported for three years of the four-year registration period. The fourth year is self-funded ‘writing-up’ year. 

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr Nicolas Farina.

Please see our how to apply for a research degree page for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application.

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our how to apply for a research degree webpage or contact The Doctoral College at research.degree.admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview shortly after the deadline. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.