Transforming Lives PhD Scholarship: Child Body Shape Phenotypes & Health Risk Prediction

About the Project

Applications are invited for a Transforming Lives PhD scholarship at the School of Sport and Physical Activity, commencing 01 October 2026.

This fully funded scholarship covers Home PhD fees and provides a stipend at the Living Wage Foundation rate (£22,152 for 2025/26). The stipend increases annually according to the Living Wage rate.

Sheffield Hallam University delivers worldleading applied health and wellbeing research. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), 88% of our research was judged worldleading or internationally excellent: https://www.shu.ac.uk/sport-physical-activity-research-centre.

You will join a thriving community of ~65 doctoral researchers supported through a comprehensive doctoral training programme and will be colocated within the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) - a worldleading hub for health innovation: https://www.shu.ac.uk/advanced-wellbeing-research-centre.

You are encouraged to contactDr Alice Bullas (a.bullas@shu.ac.uk) for informal enquiries.

PhD Title: Child Body Shape Phenotypes & Health Risk Prediction.

Traditional measures such as BMI reduce children’s growth to a single number, obscuring complex differences in body shape, fat distribution, and developmental timing. With advanced 3D/4D surface imaging, we can now capture shape in exquisite detail - offering a new window into how children grow, and how early shape patterns might predict emerging health risk.  Your project will use 3D/4D scans, anthropometry, MRI/DXA, and early cardiometabolic markers. You will identify body shape phenotypes, examining how children differ not just in size, but in proportions and form.

This is a genuinely pioneering opportunity: few researchers globally work on developmental body shape modelling. Your findings will carry importance for public health, clinical practice, product design, and health inequalities research.

Because this PhD sits under a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, you will join the Morphology Research Team at the AWRC - an ambitious, growing group pushing forward novel work on body shape, measurement innovation, and health prediction. You’ll be part of a dynamic team shaping the next generation of child health assessment. We particularly value applicants with strong personal attributes: curiosity, critical thinking, attention to detail, motivation, and a desire to contribute to meaningful research. You do not need specialist imaging or statistical expertise - full technical training will be provided

- from 3D imaging to geometric morphometrics, R/Python statistical modelling.

This PhD sets a strong foundation for careers in academia, data science, public health modelling, clinical research, or specialist roles in health technology and design. With its interdisciplinary nature and high translational relevance, the project offers excellent opportunities for conference presentations, first­author publications, and postdoctoral progression.

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, climbing 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.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold a 1st class or 2:1 degree in Sport Science, Data Science, Biomedical Science, Engineering, or related subjects. Quantitative skills are desirable; training in specialist methods will be provided. We are offering this as a full-time PhD scholarship, though flexible working hours can be discussed. 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 applicants

Please read the funding notes section for important information about tuition fees for this scholarship.

Sheffield Hallam 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 here: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 and may be required even if you have previous qualifications gained at UK institutions. Please do check with the Postgraduate research team: DoctoralSchool-HWLS-PGR@shu.ac.uk prior to application as thisqualification must be submitted as part of the scholarship application.

How to Apply

Complete and submit the online application form at: https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/sport-and-physical-activity/phd-sport-and-physical-activity/full-time/2026

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 must submit IELTS results (or equivalent) taken in the last two years

We do not accept proposals setting out an applicant's own research and cannot consider applications where a research proposal addressing this specific project has not been submitted.

When completing the application form, please add the project title within the Personal Statement field and ensure that all attachments have been uploaded to the application system before submission.

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

Application deadline: 18 May 2026, 12 noon UK Time (***Late applications will not be accepted**)

Interviews: W/C 15 June 2026. Please note, we are unable to offer alternative interview slots once allocated to shortlisted candidates.

Funding Notes

Our PhD 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 £13,362 per year, must be covered by the student for the duration of the scholarship. No additional funding will be available to assist International students with this fee gap.

 Applicants must have the resources set out above to fund their study. Please note that the monthly stipend payments cannot be used to fund this fee gap, as they cover basic living expenses only.