PhD

The MPhil/PhD at the UCL Social Research Institute provides a route for students to carry out their own research project within a multidisciplinary and multi-method environment. Our research students engage with the academic community within UCL and benefit from a comprehensive research training programme. See here for more details: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/research-degrees/social-science-mphil-phd

The UCL, Bloomsbury and East London Doctoral Training Partnership (UBEL DTP) offers ESRC funded studentships. One pathway, the Social Policy pathway, is based at EPPI Centre’s home, the UCL Social Research Institute. For more information about the studentships and how to apply see here: https://ubel-dtp.ac.uk/esrc-studentships-main-competition/ or contact janice.tripney@ucl.ac.uk

Interested applicants should, in the first instance, make contact with a potential supervisor.

Supervisors

Below is a list of EPPI Centre team members who are available to supervise PhD students. The table provides the following information:

Supervisors details: Click on a name in the ‘supervisor’ column to access their UCL profile page. The profile page lists their contact details as well as details about their other expertise (substantive interests and methodological interests beyond evidence synthesis) so you can find good match with your own research interests.
Supervisory role: At UCL students have at least two supervisors, typically a Principal and Subsidiary, but there are many models of co-supervision.
Evidence synthesis methods interests: This list is just an overview and not exhaustive. Each supervisor may have additional evidence synthesis expertise that is not listed – please see their UCL profile page for more information. There is a wide range of expertise among other EPPI staff who could contribute to your PhD even if they are not eligible to formally supervise – information about other EPPI staff members can be found here.

Supervisor	Supervisory role	Evidence synthesis methods interests
Alison O’Mara-Eves	Principal or subsidiary	Synthesis of quantitative data (statistical meta-analysis) Synthesis of textual data Multimethod reviews and mixed data synthesis Participatory and co-productive methods Use of logic models and theory within reviews
Antonia Simon	Subsidiary	Multimethod reviews and mixed data synthesis Mixed method research – with systematic review element Rapid reviews Systematic evidence mapping
Claire Stansfield	Subsidiary	Information retrieval methods to support systematic reviews of research Application of machine learning/automation for study identification Implementing tools for supporting study identification, mapping and visualisation Evidence use support
Dylan Kneale	Principal or subsidiary	Multi-methods reviews and mixed data synthesis Meta-analysis and Individual Participant Meta-analysis Qualitative Comparative Analysis Evidence use, implementation, and knowledge mobilisation Use of logic models and theory within reviews
Gareth Hollands	Principal or subsidiary	Synthesis of quantitative data (effectiveness of interventions) Communication of evidence (e.g. concerning effectiveness of interventions) Systematic evidence mapping (classification systems)
Gillian Stokes	Subsidiary	Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Participatory and co-productive methods Multimethod reviews and mixed data synthesis Systematic evidence mapping Marginalised/excluded populations and equity-focused reviews
James Thomas	Principal or subsidiary	Qualitative evidence synthesis Multimethod reviews and mixed data synthesis Using machine learning / AI in systematic reviews / evidence synthesis
Karen Schucan Bird	Principal or subsidiary	Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Multimethod reviews and mixed data synthesis Systematic evidence mapping Participatory and co-productive methods Ethics and systematic reviews
Katy Sutcliffe	Principal or subsidiary	Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Multimethod reviews and mixed data synthesis Qualitative Comparative Analysis Intervention Component Analysis Implementation reviews
Mark Newman	Principal or subsidiary	Using research evidence to inform practice Interpretation of research synthesis in different kinds of review approaches Comparison of different review approaches
Meena Khatwa	Subsidiary	Qualitative Evidence Synthesis, Multimethod reviews and mixed data synthesis Ethics and reflexivity in QES Participatory and co-productive methods
Melissa Bond	Subsidiary	Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Scoping reviews Systematic evidence mapping (Interactive evidence gap maps)
Michelle Richardson	Subsidiary	Multimethod reviews and mixed data synthesis Systematic evidence mapping Communication of evidence
Mukdarut Bangpan	Principal or Subsidiary	Evidence-Ecosystem in evidence synthesis Evidence synthesis methods to inform decision making in low- and middle-income settings Institutionalisation of evidence-inform decision making
Preethy D’Souza	Subsidiary	Synthesis of quantitative data Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Multimethod reviews and mixed data synthesis
Rachael Edwards	Subsidiary	Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Multimethod reviews and mixed data synthesis Systematic evidence mapping
Rebecca Rees	Subsidiary	Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (quality appraisal, ethics and reflexivity) Participatory and co-productive methods Multimethod reviews and mixed data synthesis