Overview
Shape the future of public health with a fully funded PhD at the University of Liverpool. Join a world-leading team using cutting-edge data science and AI to tackle real-world challenges—like homelessness, housing, and urban health—driving policy change and health equity across Liverpool.
About this opportunity
Are you passionate about making a difference for people’s health and wellbeing? Want to learn cutting edge data science skills for real impact? The University of Liverpool University is excited to announce two fully funded three-year PhD studentship, starting in January 2026. The PhDs will be based in the Liverpool Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) https://liverpool.gov.uk/council/hdrc-liverpool/ a pioneering initiative aiming to boost research capacity and capability within Liverpool City Council to develop evidence for better health outcomes for all.
You will work with and be supported by world leading academic expertise as part of the University of Liverpool’s Heath Inequalities policy research Group (https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/population-health/research/groups/health-inequalities-policy/ a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Policy Research on Determinants of Health Equity and the Civic Health Innovation Lab (CHIL) that is leading new models for progressive data uses and responsible artificial intelligence in civil society, fuelling innovations for health, social and economic advancement.
The PhD studentships will support successful candidates to undertake research in priority areas identified by Liverpool City Council. Developing new insights for early identification of need and evaluation of effective and cost effective actions on health in one or more of the following areas:
- Homelessness – developing tools to support early identification of people at risk of homelessness and evaluating effective prevention initiatives.
- Housing – developing models to inform housing strategy and assessing the cost / benefits of alternative approaches.
- Healthy urban places – developing healthy urban regeneration and evaluating what works for health promoting urban environments.
- Understanding effective economic strategies for Liverpool that are inclusive, reduce poverty and promote health and wellbeing.
We welcome applications that align with these themes with a focus on using data driven approaches that maximize the benefits of using linked civic data across sectors (health, local government, Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise ). The successful candidate should have some prior research or relevant practice experience and a passion for addressing health equity.