Call for Applications – 2023/24
Migration and Movement
The University of Kent is delighted to invite applications for doctoral scholarships on two projects starting in the academic year 2023 (from September 2023). One of the two scholarships will be named in honour of Emeritus Professor Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature and a former student and staff member at the University of Kent, whose work and personal life have highlighted the experience of migrants and refugees.
The call is open to candidates interested in pursuing a PhD programme at the University of Kent on two staff-led research projects directly linked to the themes of migration and movement.Our projects are: (1) ‘Modelling of Human Population Registers’, led by Dr Eleni Matechou in Statistics (2) Culture, Migration and Mental Health, led by Professor Lisa Dikomitis in the Kent and Medway Medical School. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from minority backgrounds (as protected by the UK Equality Act 2010) and people with lived experience of migration and/or forced displacement as they are under-represented at this level in this area.
About the Migration and Movement Signature Research Theme (SRT)
The Migration and Movement SRT is a vibrant community of over 100 scholars and practitioner academics working in the field of migration and movement, led by Professor David Herd (English), Dr Bahriye Kemal (English), Dr Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels (Politics), Dr Margherita Laera (Drama), Dr Tom Parkinson (Higher Education) and Dr Sweta Rajan-Rankin (Sociology). Members bring a number of interdisciplinary perspectives, from International Law to Urban Planning, Medicine, Health, Pharmacy, Statistics, Politics and Entrepreneurship. The SRT aims to expand our understanding of migration beyond the movement of people to include the migration of pathogens, remittances, technologies, cultures, scriptures, coffee, drugs, medicines, labour, and ideas.
The Migration and Movement SRT was launched in September 2021, at a historical moment when intersecting crises of movement were (and still are) taking place. As the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading, governments were enforcing lockdowns and movement restrictions, yet the UNHCR reported forced displacement at upwards of 75 million people. The year 2022 opened with new refugee crises in Ukraine and Ethiopia, while climate catastrophes and other military conflicts reaped havoc across the planet, notably in Pakistan. People facing hardship will continue to seek sustainable existences elsewhere and will be compelled to move, yet governments in the global north are preparing to render the seeking of asylum more difficult or even illegal.
As a public-facing, civic-oriented research group, we believe universities – the University of Kent in particular – can play a key role as leaders of intellectual debates and as creators of advocacy and evidence-based research around migration, its contexts, histories and benefits. We are committed to learning from the work of decolonial and postcolonial colleagues, and from the perspectives of persons with lived experience. Reflexive learning and intersectional empathy underpin every aspect of our ethics. We are keen to foster the next generation of scholars working on issues of migration and movement, broadly conceived, and welcome applications from scholars currently living in all parts of the world. For more information on the Migration and Movement SRT, please visit the Migration and Movement homepage.
PROJECT 1: MODELLING OF HUMAN POPULATION REGISTERS
Scholarship value
Signature Research Theme scholars will receive the following:
- Annual stipend at UKRI rates (£17,668 in 2022/23);
- Annual tuition fees at Home rates (£4,596 in 2022/23)
2023/24 rates to be announced.
Home and International candidates are eligible to apply. The Abdulrazak Gurnah Doctoral Scholarship will cover International fees, while the Migration and Movement Doctoral Scholarship will cover Home fees only, including for those with UK settled or pre-settled status.
Deadline
The deadline for Signature Research Theme scholarship applications is midnight on 3 February. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview taking place the week commencing 27 February 2023.
Criteria
Applicants to a PhD programme should hold a good Honours degree (First or 2:1) and a Master’s Degree (at Merit or Distinction) in a relevant discipline, or the equivalent from an internationally recognised institution. In addition, for Modelling of Human Population Registers, we seek a candidate with a strong quantitative background, for example an MSc in Statistics or an MSc with high statistics content, or a background in demographic modelling. Experience coding in R, or similar, is essential.
The University of Kent requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree. For more information on English language requirements, please visit the English language online requirements page.
MODELLING OF HUMAN POPULATION REGISTERS
Supervisors: The PhD student will be supervised by an interdisciplinary team across four international institutions, with expertise in
(1) Statistics (Dr Bruno Santos) and Statistical Ecology (Dr Eleni Matechou), University of Kent, Canterbury, England
(2) Demography (Dr Eleonora Mussino), University of Stockholm, Sweden
(3) Bayesian Inference/Statistical Ecology (Professor Ruth King), University of Edinburgh, Scotland
(4) Ecology/Statistical Ecology (Dr Blanca Sarzo), University of Valencia, Spain
Research background: Monitoring the size and characteristics of human populations using official censuses is a lengthy and costly process. As a result, in recent years, there has been an increased focus on using a statistical framework instead, referred to as multiple systems estimation (MSE), to infer population size of specific groups using opportunistic registers and incomplete lists. Examples include estimating the number of drug users in a city [1] and the number of victims of human trafficking [2]. MSE builds on well-established statistical theory and models, and can be employed using existing software [3]. However, MSE does not follow the same individuals over time to learn from their past experiences or behaviours and hence cannot account for individual heterogeneity in the probability of being observed in one or more registers, for dependence between individuals or to identify the factors behind temporary emigration.
These incomplete and imperfect human population registers are similar to ecological data, referred to as capture-recapture (CR) data, collected on wildlife populations, such as birds and mammals [4]. The corresponding ecological CR models have the same aims as MSE, namely estimating population size and monitoring population characteristics, but rely on completely different modelling approaches, with a strong focus on modelling individual time series [5]. However, CR models are computationally more demanding than MSE, and as a result do not scale well to large populations [6].
Project aims: The project aims to bring together MSE and CR modelling approaches and provide a general and unifying modelling framework for human population registers. The new models to be developed will overcome the shortcomings of the existing approaches, and hence will be applicable to high-dimensional data sets typically observed in human populations, and increasingly in wildlife populations, whilst at the same time modelling individual time-series data.
The models will be applied to data from several countries that routinely collect register data, such Sweden, Norway and Italy. We will obtain estimates of population size for different sub-populations, such as the migrant population each year, as well as of the probability of individuals of certain characteristics, such as age, sex etc., to appear in each register, e.g. employment. These estimates will then be compared to currently used metrics by each country to quantify the effect of over-coverage, which is the bias introduced by considering individuals who are not part of the population in demographic rates, such as mortality. The developed models and corresponding code will be made freely available and the methods will be disseminated through close collaboration with demographers in the different countries and corresponding workshops, as appropriate.
References
[1] King, R., Bird, S. M., Overstall, A. M., Hay, G., & Hutchinson, S. J. (2014). Estimating prevalence of injecting drug users and associated heroin‐related death rates in England by using regional data and incorporating prior information. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A (Statistics in Society), 177(1), 209-236. [2] Zhang, S. X., & Larsen, J. J. (2021). Estimating the size of the human trafficking problem: MSE and other strategies. Crime & Delinquency, 67(13-14), 2169-2187. [3] Overstall, A., & King, R. (2014). conting: An R package for Bayesian analysis of complete and incomplete contingency tables. Journal of Statistical Software, 58(7), 1-27. [4] McCrea, R. S., & Morgan, B. J. (2014). Analysis of capture-recapture data. CRC Press. [5] Matechou, E., & Argiento, R. (2022). Capture-recapture models with heterogeneous temporary emigration. Journal of the American Statistical Association, (just-accepted), 1-32. [6] King, R., Sarzo, B., & Elvira, V. (2022). Large Data and (Not Even Very) Complex Ecological Models: When Worlds Collide. arXiv preprint arXiv:2205.07261.
Further details
The University of Kent is delighted to invite applications for doctoral scholarships on two projects starting in the academic year 2023 (from September 2023). One of the two scholarships will be named in honour of Emeritus Professor Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature and a former student and staff member at the University of Kent, whose work and personal life have highlighted the experience of migrants and refugees.
The call is open to candidates interested in pursuing a PhD programme at the University of Kent on two staff-led research projects directly linked to the themes of migration and movement. Our projects are: (1) ‘Modelling of Human Population Registers’, led by Dr Eleni Matechou in Statistics (2) Culture, Migration and Mental Health, led by Prof Lisa Dikomitis in the Kent and Medway Medical School. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from minority backgrounds (as protected by the UK Equality Act 2010) and people with lived experience of migration and/or forced displacement as they are under-represented at this level in this area.
The Migration and Movement SRT is a vibrant community of over 100 scholars and practitioner academics working in the field of migration and movement, led by Prof. David Herd (English), Dr Bahriye Kemal (English), Dr Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels (Politics), Dr Margherita Laera (Drama), Dr Tom Parkinson (Higher Education) and Dr Sweta Rajan-Rankin (Sociology). Members bring a number of interdisciplinary perspectives, from International Law to Urban Planning, Medicine, Health, Pharmacy, Statistics, Politics and Entrepreneurship. The SRT aims to expand our understanding of migration beyond the movement of people to include the migration of pathogens, remittances, technologies, cultures, scriptures, coffee, drugs, medicines, labour, and ideas.
The Migration and Movement SRT was launched in September 2021, at a historical moment when intersecting crises of movement were (and still are) taking place. As the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading, governments were enforcing lockdowns and movement restrictions, yet the UNHCR reported forced displacement at upwards of 75 million people. The year 2022 opened with new refugee crises in Ukraine and Ethiopia, while climate catastrophes and other military conflicts reaped havoc across the planet, notably in Pakistan. People facing hardship will continue to seek sustainable existences elsewhere and will be compelled to move, yet governments in the global north are preparing to render the seeking of asylum more difficult or even illegal.
As a public-facing, civic-oriented research group, we believe universities – the University of Kent in particular – can play a key role as leaders of intellectual debates and as creators of advocacy and evidence-based research around migration, its contexts, histories and benefits. We are committed to learning from the work of decolonial and postcolonial colleagues, and from the perspectives of persons with lived experience. Reflexive learning and intersectional empathy underpin every aspect of our ethics. We are keen to foster the next generation of scholars working on issues of migration and movement, broadly conceived, and welcome applications from scholars currently living in all parts of the world. For more information on the Migration and Movement SRT, please visit the Migration and Movement Home page.
How to apply
Applicants should follow the University of Kent’s online application process.
Please apply through a PhD in Statistics.
As part of the process, please fill out this online form.
PROJECT 2: CULTURE, MIGRATION AND MENTAL HEALTH
Scholarship value
Signature Research Theme scholars will receive the following:
- Annual stipend at UKRI rates (£17,668 in 2022/23);
- Annual tuition fees at Home rates (£4,596 in 2022/23)
2023/24 rates to be announced.
Home and International candidates are eligible to apply. The Abdulrazak Gurnah Doctoral Scholarship will cover International fees, while the Migration and Movement Doctoral Scholarship will cover Home fees only, including for those with UK settled or pre-settled status.
Deadline
The deadline for Signature Research Theme scholarship applications is midnight on 3 February. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview taking place the week commencing 27 February 2023.
Criteria
Applicants to a PhD programme should hold a good Honours degree (First or 2:1) and a Master’s Degree (at Merit or Distinction) in a relevant discipline, or the equivalent from an internationally recognised institution.
The University of Kent requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree. For more information on English language requirements, please visit the English language requirements page.
CULTURE, MIGRATION AND MENTAL HEALTH
A cross-generational mixed methods study among Panjabi Sikh and Greek Cypriot migrant communities in the UK
SUPERVISORS: The PhD student will be supervised by an interdisciplinary team of 3 senior researchers, with expertise in
(1) Community Pharmacy and Ethnobotany and South Asian culture (Dr Sukvinder Bhamra), Medway School of Pharmacy, University of Kent
(2) Medical Anthropology and Ethnographic/Qualitative Research and Greek Cypriot culture (Professor Lisa Dikomitis), Kent and Medway Medical School (University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University)
(3) Mental Health and Psychiatry and Panjabi Sikh culture (Professor Sukhi Shergill), Kent and Medway Medical School (University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University)
BACKGROUND: Mental health significantly affects members of migrant communities in the UK, not only those community members born outside the UK, but also second and third generation migrants. Despite free access to mental health care and availability of effective treatments, healthcare seeking for mental health problems and the uptake of/adherence to mental health treatments and therapies among UK migrants remains low. Research has identified commonly reported barriers to include cultural differences, language difficulties, discrimination, racism, which, in turn, often lead to disengagement and/or dissatisfaction with mental health care.
AIMS: The PhD student will conduct a co-produced study exploring Panjabi Sikh and Greek Cypriot migrants’ perspectives on mental health. How, in their communities, mental health is understood and in which different ways (health) care is sought. This doctoral research seeks to identify the facilitators, barriers and risk factors for mental health issues and access to/adherence to appropriate care in these two large established UK migrant communities. This overarching aim will be met through addressing the following three research questions:
(1) How has stigma and taboo around mental health issues evolved over time, since the first community members migrated to the UK in the 1960s?
(2) What can an intergenerational perspective offer on mental illness?
(3) Which strategies and solutions do migrants propose to address the challenges around mental health issues in their communities?
METHODS: This doctoral research will adopt a co-produced mixed methods design, collecting data in the two migrant communities through 3 complementary work packages (WPs):
WP1: national survey among Panjabi Sikh and Greek Cypriot migrant communities
A newly designed questionnaire will be piloted with Greek Cypriot and Panjabi Sikh migrants in Kent, before rolling out nationally through our existing networks of Greek Cypriot and Panjabi Sikh migrant community organisations, places of worship and mental health service providers.
WP2: interview study with Kent-based Panjabi Sikh and Greek Cypriots
Semi-structured interviews (n=15-20 in each community) to explore experiences of mental health, and barriers and enablers to mental health care. The interview topic guides will be informed by the survey analysis. This WP will collect data in Kent.
WP3: stakeholder consultation
WP1 and WP2 findings will be discussed in stakeholder meetings, resulting in a set of recommendations for community organisations and mental healthcare professionals
ANTICIPATED IMPACT: The study will offer real-world impact for responding to mental health challenges among UK-based migrants, and will be of value to other communities with a high prevalence of mental health conditions. Our goals are to:
(1) Contribute to knowledge and to our intersectional understanding of barriers and facilitators to mental health services for UK-based migrants
(2) Improve health agency among UK-based migrants
(3) Facilitate greater public awareness of migrant mental health, including among those supporting migrants
We will create a summary for rapid dissemination among stakeholders. All outputs will be strategically disseminated to community organisations, public and NHS and social care partners to facilitate maximum reach.
For more information about this studentship, please contact Professor Lisa Dikomitis on lisa.dikomitis@kmms.ac.uk (please contact directly via email and not via a PhD forum).
Further details
The University of Kent is delighted to invite applications for doctoral scholarships on two projects starting in the academic year 2023 (from September 2023). One of the two scholarships will be named in honour of Emeritus Professor Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature and a former student and staff member at the University of Kent, whose work and personal life have highlighted the experience of migrants and refugees.
The call is open to candidates interested in pursuing a PhD programme at the University of Kent on two staff-led research projects directly linked to the themes of migration and movement.Our projects are: (1) ‘Modelling of Human Population Registers’, led by Dr Eleni Matechou in Statistics (2) Culture, Migration and Mental Health, led by Prof Lisa Dikomitis in the Kent and Medway Medical School. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from minority backgrounds (as protected by the UK Equality Act 2010) and people with lived experience of migration and/or forced displacement as they are under-represented at this level in this area.
The Migration and Movement SRT is a vibrant community of over 100 scholars and practitioner academics working in the field of migration and movement, led by Prof. David Herd (English), Dr Bahriye Kemal (English), Dr Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels (Politics), Dr Margherita Laera (Drama), Dr Tom Parkinson (Higher Education) and Dr Sweta Rajan-Rankin (Sociology). Members bring a number of interdisciplinary perspectives, from International Law to Urban Planning, Medicine, Health, Pharmacy, Statistics, Politics and Entrepreneurship. The SRT aims to expand our understanding of migration beyond the movement of people to include the migration of pathogens, remittances, technologies, cultures, scriptures, coffee, drugs, medicines, labour, and ideas.
The Migration and Movement SRT was launched in September 2021, at a historical moment when intersecting crises of movement were (and still are) taking place. As the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading, governments were enforcing lockdowns and movement restrictions, yet the UNHCR reported forced displacement at upwards of 75 million people. The year 2022 opened with new refugee crises in Ukraine and Ethiopia, while climate catastrophes and other military conflicts reaped havoc across the planet, notably in Pakistan. People facing hardship will continue to seek sustainable existences elsewhere and will be compelled to move, yet governments in the global north are preparing to render the seeking of asylum more difficult or even illegal.
As a public-facing, civic-oriented research group, we believe universities – the University of Kent in particular – can play a key role as leaders of intellectual debates and as creators of advocacy and evidence-based research around migration, its contexts, histories and benefits. We are committed to learning from the work of decolonial and postcolonial colleagues, and from the perspectives of persons with lived experience. Reflexive learning and intersectional empathy underpin every aspect of our ethics. We are keen to foster the next generation of scholars working on issues of migration and movement, broadly conceived, and welcome applications from scholars currently living in all parts of the world. For more information on the Migration and Movement SRT, please visit the Migration and Movement Home page.
How to apply
Applicants should follow the University of Kent’s online application process. Depending on your expertise, you have a choice of whether to apply for a PhD in Anthropology, PhD in Applied Health Service, PhD in Sociology or a PhD in Psychology.
As part of the process, please fill out this online form.