PhD Studentship: Loneliness, mental health and wellbeing in policing Examining rates, associations and experiences of UK Police Investigators

University of Birmingham - School of Psychology

The Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (Centre-UB) is inviting applications for a Doctoral Studentship in association with our collaborative partners, The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and West Midlands Police to start in October 2026.

The aim of this mixed methods PhD is to investigate the rates and experiences of loneliness in UK Police Investigators and assess the associations/relationships with mental health, wellbeing and workplace performance outcomes.

Loneliness is a significant public health concern as it is associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes. A 2023 systematic review identified that no studies had investigated loneliness in high-risk occupations such as those working in the Police.

In the UK, Investigators in policing are responsible for investigating crimes and building cases for prosecution. The nature of Investigator roles may exacerbate experiences of loneliness such as long work hours/isolated work settings, and increased exposure to distressing materials. There is a substantial evidence gap to understand if and how loneliness might manifest for Police Investigators.

The PhD will conduct a systematic review and, using in-depth interviews and quantitative surveys with Police Investigators, aim to examine loneliness and any impact on health and wellbeing. The study will shape recommendations/interventions to inform future provision of support. The student will work closely with the NPCC/West Midlands Police, including a placement with the partner organisations.

The student will be supervised by Dr Marie-Louise Sharp and Professor Jessica Woodhams. Marie-Louise’s research interests focus on the health and wellbeing of those who work in high-risk occupations such as the Armed Forces and Emergency Responders. Jess has collaborated on multiple studies about the mental health of police professionals and has proposed a model on how PTSD develops from exposure to distressing material, recently co-producing a training course on the topic.

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1st class or 2:1 degree in a relevant field including psychology, epidemiology, psychiatric research and social sciences. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Any previous experience is desirable including:

• Working knowledge of quantitative and/or qualitative research methods – for example, epidemiology, statistics, qualitative interviews.
• Experience of recruiting participants/data collection.
• Knowledge of research ethics processes/concepts.
• Excellent communication/interpersonal skillsGood writing and organisation skills
• Experience using Stata, NVivo or other research software
• Experience of working with individuals who have experienced trauma
• Interest in health/wellbeing of the Police community
• Stakeholder relationship development/research impact.

To be considered for this PhD, please follow the instructions, click the 'Apply' button above.

Application deadline: February 17 2026

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place March 19 and March 23 2026.

Centre-UB studentships cover tuition fees, a maintenance stipend, support for research training, as well as research activity support grants. Due to funding stipulations set by UKRI, we are able to recruit up to 30% of international applicants to the cohort each year. You can find further details at https://www.centre-ub.org/studentships/call-for-applicants/

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Marie-Louise Sharp (m.sharp@bham.ac.uk)