Graduate Teaching Assistant PhD scholarship: Evaluation of Pelvic Support Garments for Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain

About the Project

Applications are invited for a Graduate Teaching Assistant PhD scholarship in Health and Social Care commencing 01 October 2026

The scholarship is for three and a half years full-time study and covers home PhD fees, currently £5006 and pays an annual stipend at the living wage foundation rate of £22,152 per year in the academic year 2025/26 This stipend payment will increase annually based on the rate set by the living wage foundation for the duration of the scholarship.

This project is part of a Graduate Teaching Assistantshipscheme, in which the successful applicant will undertake certain teaching duties associated with the student experience, in addition to working towards a PhD qualification. They will contribute up to 180 hours of support for research or teaching related activity per academic year. This activity forms part of the scholarship and there is no additional payment.

PhD Project:  Evaluation of Pelvic Support Garments for Pregnancy‑Related Pelvic Girdle Pain

Pregnancy‑related pelvic girdle pain (PGP) affects up to half of pregnant women and can have a profound impact on mobility, sleep, daily functioning and participation in physical activity. Physiotherapists commonly prescribe pelvic support garments, yet surprisingly little evidence exists about how well these garments fit, whether they genuinely influence pelvic stability and movement, or what users think about wearing them.

This exciting PhD project offers the opportunity to address these gaps through a genuinely interdisciplinary programme spanning anthropometry, biomechanics and qualitative research. Working across the College of Health, Wellbeing & Life Sciences and the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC).

Aims of the project:

• To evaluate the effectiveness, fit and user experience of pelvic support garments for pregnant women with PGP.
• To examine how pregnancy‑related body‑shape changes influence garment performance.
• To understand the biomechanical effects of support garments on gait, pelvic stability and functional movement.
• To explore comfort, usability, acceptability and the day‑to‑day experiences of pregnant women who use these garments.
• To develop evidence‑based recommendations for improved garment design and clinical practice.

What your proposal should address:

• Working across mixed methods (anthropometric, biomechanical and qualitative).
• Exploring the lived experience of PGP and maternity support strategies.
• Translating findings into meaningful clinical and/or design recommendations.

Why apply?

You will join a supportive supervisory team with expertise in women’s health, biomechanics, movement analysis, digital measurement and qualitative inquiry. You will have access to state‑of‑the‑art AWRC facilities, including 3D surface‑imaging and motion‑capture laboratories. This PhD offers an exceptional opportunity to contribute to research with immediate clinical relevance.

Sheffield as your research base: Sheffield is one of the UK’s greenest and most welcoming cities. With over a third of the city inside the Peak District National Park, outstanding cycling and walking routes, and a vibrant science and healthcare ecosystem, Sheffield offers a rare combination of natural beauty and research excellence. It is an ideal environment for both academic focus and a high quality of life - a supportive place to thrive during a PhD.

We strongly advise all applicants to contact the Director of Studies: Dr Vicky Hoodv.hood@shu.ac.uk prior to application.

Applicants should hold:a BSc (2:1 or above, or equivalent) degree qualification in Health and Social Care, or other relevant areas. A Master’s degree qualification in a relevant area is desirable.

We are offering this as a full-time PhD scholarship. We welcome applications from all members of our community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBTQIA+, BAME and disabled communities.

International / EU applicants

Please see the funding notes section of this advert for important fee information.

Sheffield Hallam University has a mandatory English language requirement of IELTS 7, or equivalent language qualification, for all applicants from countries not included in the UKVI exemption list:https://www.gov.uk/english-language/exemptions.

This qualification must have been taken within the last two years, with a score of at least 6.5 in all test areas. The qualification may be required even if you have previous qualifications from UK institutions.

Please check with Health-PGR-admissions@shu.ac.uk prior to application, as we cannot consider applications if this essential qualification is not submitted.

How to apply for the scholarship

Our PhD scholarships involve full-time PhD study and a requirement that successful applicants must have completed all study and any employment by the start date of the scholarship, which is 01 October 2026.

Please complete and submit an application form: https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/health-and-social-care-management/phd-health-and-social-care/full-time/2026

Please add the project title of the scholarship you are applying for clearly in the Personal Statement field of application form.

You must ensure that you upload:

1. A 1,500-word research proposal addressing this specific project.
2. Two letters of reference, or details of two academic referees
3. Copy of your highest degree certificate
4. Copy of your passport
5. International applicants only
   • must submit IELTS results (or equivalent) taken in the last two-years
   • must confirm that they have the personal resources to cover the scholarship fee gap set out within the funding section of this advert.

We do not accept proposals setting out an applicant's own research and cannot consider applications where the above mandatory documents have not been submitted.

If you experience issues submitting your online application, or for general enquiries please contact: DoctoralSchool-HWLS-PGR@shu.ac.uk

Submission deadline: 19 May 2026 (12 noon BST) Late applications will not be accepted.

Interviews:  16 June 2006Please note, we are unable to offer alternative interview slots once allocated to shortlisted candidates.

Funding Notes

Our scholarships are open to Home, EU and International applicants, however, the bursary will cover the Home fee only. The shortfall between the Home and EU/ International fee, currently around £12,700 per year, must be covered by the student for the 3.5-year duration of the scholarship. No additional funding will be available to assist international students with this fee gap.

Please note that the monthly stipend payments cannot be used to fund this fee gap, as they cover basic living expenses only.