Fully Funded PhD: Reach, Impact, Equity and Cost Evaluation of Childsmile: Scotland's National Child Oral Health Improvement Programme

About the Project

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Project Description

Childsmile is the national child oral health improvement programme for Scotland. The programme aims to improve children's oral health and reduce inequalities through a range of evidence-based interventions delivered in families, communities, nurseries, schools, and dental practices.

What you will do

This fully funded (UK fees only) project offers an exciting opportunity to evaluate the reach, impact, equity and cost-effectiveness of the Childsmile programme as it reaches its 20th anniversary. The project will analyse linked routine health and administrative data within Scotland’s National Safe Haven and hosted within Glasgow Dental School’s Child Oral Health Data Lab using statistical, epidemiological and health economics approaches designed for the evaluation of complex public health interventions. This will help inform the Scottish Government’s public health policies and shape the future directions of the Childsmile programme as well as informing child oral health policy/programmes internationally.

Who We're Looking For

You don't need to be an expert in everything; curiosity, potential, and core skills matter most. We welcome applicants who have:

• A first degree (2:1 or above) in a quantitative discipline and/or a Master's-level background in epidemiology, mathematics, statistics, public health, health economics or a related field.
• Experience in statistical approaches and quantitative methods as applied to large datasets.
• Experience with coding in the R programming language.
• An understanding of health inequalities.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• An enthusiasm for research that connects directly to policy and practice.
• Experience in health economic methods is desirable but not essential, training will be provided.

What You'll Gain

This PhD offers a rare combination of methodological rigour and real-world policy relevance. You will develop:

• Advanced skills in data management of large linked administrative and health datasets.
• Advanced skills in statistical/epidemiological analyses (eg Causal analyses) and R coding.
• Health economic methods, including economic evaluations using real world data and using decision-analytic modelling.
• Experience engaging with a national public health programme and its stakeholders.
• Academic skills including critical appraisal skills, writing for publication and presenting at conferences.
• A professional network spanning dental public health, epidemiology, health economics, and national programme evaluation.

These capabilities are highly valued in academia, public health practice, government, and health research organisations.

Where You'll Be Based

You will be based in Glasgow Dental School and will join a vibrant Community Oral Health team (including PhD students and Research Assistants within the Oral Health Research Hub) with expertise in public health, statistics, epidemiology, evidence synthesis, health economics, development and evaluation of health policy and evaluation of complex interventions and will be co-supervised by colleagues within the Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment research group (University of Glasgow - Schools - School of Health & Wellbeing - Research - Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment).

Ready to Apply?

We encourage you to get in touch before applying to discuss your background and interests. Informal enquiries are welcome and will be treated in confidence.

This studentship covers UK home tuition fees. International applicants are welcome to apply; those offered a place will be expected to secure funding to cover the difference between home and international fee rates.

Funding Notes

All students welcome to apply, however UK student fees only covered. Stipend at the standard UKRI rate.