How can a ‘living evidence ecosystem’ be established to ensure participant recruitment and retention guidelines for randomised controlled trials remain relevant in real time?

About the Project

The Trial Forge Studies Within A Trial (SWATs) Centre within York Trials Unit (Department of Health Sciences) at the University of York is inviting applications for a fully funded, three-year PhD studentship. This full-time, campus-based programme is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

This studentship offers the opportunity to be part of a large and successful multi-disciplinary unit, renowned for its methodological expertise and commitment to policy relevant research, whilst being supported to develop as a researcher.

Our research aligns with major national and international health challenges across the life-course, leading to significant innovation in the diagnosis, management, treatment, and prevention of health conditions. By joining us, you will become part of a dedicated scientific community, working alongside other PhD students as you pursue your research ambitions.

The Department of Health Sciences is a leader in its field, ranked 6th in the UK for research power in the Times Higher Education ranking of the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), with over 92% of our research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

About the PhD project

Randomised controlled trials are the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine, yet they frequently struggle to recruit and retain enough participants, often leading to delayed or underpowered results. While evidence-based strategies exist, they are often buried in static systematic reviews that quickly become outdated.

This PhD offers a unique opportunity to work at the cutting edge of trial methodology research as part of the Implement SWATs programme. The studentship will be undertaken alongside Dr Adwoa Parker’s NIHR-funded Advanced Fellowship, Implement SWATs, which focuses on using implementation science and Studies Within A Trial (SWATs) to improve participant recruitment and retention in trials (More on the Implement SWATs programme can be found here). SWATs are self-contained studies embedded within a host trial to test the effectiveness of different trial processes, such as strategies to improve participant recruitment or retention (Treweek et al., 2018a).

As the successful candidate, you will play a pivotal role in evolving how we maintain and disseminate SWAT evidence. We are developing recruitment and retention guidelines which are underpinned by two major Cochrane systematic reviews that are currently being updated (Treweek, 2018b; Gillies 2021). To ensure these guidelines remain relevant in a fast-moving research landscape, we aim to transition these reviews into ‘living systematic reviews’ (Elliott, 2017).

The aim of this PhD is to design, develop, and implement a ‘living evidence ecosystem’ to support the real-time relevance of guidelines for recruiting and retaining participants in randomised controlled trials. By bridging the gap between evidence surveillance and dynamic updates, your research will transform how trial methodology evidence is synthesised and disseminated. You will focus on building a framework that enables the seamless identification and integration of emerging data, ensuring that trialists have expedited access to the most effective, evidence-based strategies for participant recruitment and retention.

While there is flexibility to refine the specific methods and methodology based on your background and research interests, we anticipate that your PhD will likely comprise the following work packages:

1. Work package 1 - Evidence synthesis: You will conduct a scoping or systematic review to map the current evidence on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate the systematic review process within trial methodology research. This work will identify how AI tools can be harnessed to streamline the identification, screening, and synthesis of new trial recruitment and retention evidence, establishing the technological foundation for the wider ecosystem.
2. Work Package 2 – Developing the dynamic update framework: Using a mixed methods approach, you will establish the methodological rules governing the ecosystem’s ‘living’ functionality. You will develop the optimal evidence scope, evaluating which data types should be prioritised for regular inclusion. You will investigate surveillance frequency, balancing the need for real-time relevance against practical resource demands. Central to this framework is the identification of ‘update triggers’: defining the specific tipping points (such as shifts in effect size or certainty thresholds) that necessitate a formal guideline recommendation change. Finally, you will develop retirement criteria to identify when a topic has reached a saturation point, allowing it to transition from a living mode back to a standard update cycle.
3. Work package 3 – Implementing the dynamic update framework: Supported by the wider research team, you will integrate the AI-driven evidence synthesis tools from Work Package 1 with the methodological rules established in Work Package 2 to put your framework into practice. By updating the Cochrane recruitment and retention reviews, you will have a hands-on opportunity to apply your ‘living’ methodology to real-world data. This final phase will directly influence the next generation of evidence-based guidelines for trial participation.

Essential and desirable requirements

Applicants will need to hold at least an upper second-class honours degree (2:1) in a relevant subject. Relevant subjects include, but are not limited to: Health Sciences, Public Health, Epidemiology, Statistics, Psychology, Data Science, or Health Services Research. It would be desirable that the candidate will also have a postgraduate (Masters) degree in a relevant subject, as outlined above. Prior knowledge or experience of randomised controlled trials, trial methodology research, systematic reviews, or implementation science is desirable. We particularly welcome applications from candidates with a keen interest in advancing trial methodology research and evidence synthesis.

This studentship is not available for part-time or distance learning routes.

How to apply

Applications should be made using the University of York on-line application website. Please quote ‘Implement SWATs PhD’ in your application reference and Dr Adwoa Parker as the potential primary supervisor.

Applications should be received no later than Friday 5th June 2026. Applications will not be considered for the post after this date.

Shortlisting

Shortlisting will take place as soon as possible after the closing date and shortlisted applicants will be notified promptly.

Start date

September 2026

Interviews

Individuals with the strongest academic record and experience will be shortlisted and invited for interview in June 2026. Interviews will be conducted face to face, via Zoom or similar communication tools.

Informal enquiries

For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Dr Adwoa Parker (adwoa.parker@york.ac.uk).

Funding Notes

The successful candidate will receive a tax-free stipend funded by the University of York, which is currently £21,805 for the 2026/27 academic year (UKRI rates), along with a dedicated training budget of £2,250 for the duration of the programme. The studentship also covers Home tuition fees. Please note that Overseas tuition fees are not covered; therefore, international students will be required to self-fund the difference between the Home and Overseas fee rates.

While the studentship covers a three-year period, funding for years two and three is conditional upon the successful completion of the first-year formal progression milestone.