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Funded PhD Postion available within the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia I-Care DTC at the London School of Economics, choice of projects available
A fantastic opportunity for PhD students planning to develop a research career in dementia research who are passionate about improving care for people living with dementia to study within a cutting edge, supportive national network of leading dementia researchers.
The fellowships are funded by the Alzheimer’s Society Doctoral Training Centre for Integrated Care (ICare-DTC), which brings together five leading institutions in dementia care research: Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), University College London (UCL), London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Leeds Beckett University (LBU) and University of Plymouth (UoP). ICare-DTC has funding for 29 PhD students over 8 years, with a new cohort each year for five years.
Our experienced and passionate team will support a cohort of students in developing PhD studies that not only contribute to international research individually but also collectively create a unique body of knowledge. This research will focus on delivering seamless care from diagnosis to end of life, ensuring independence, autonomy, and choice for all, with a particular emphasis on reaching under-served populations.
Our interdisciplinary group (primary care, allied health, psychiatry, psychology, geriatrics, neurology, nursing, social care) spans health and social care, people living with dementia, and current/former carers/supporters. Students will be supported by cross-institutional supervision teams. Their research projects will be co-produced with PPIE, and key stakeholders.
Students will learn from experts in different research methods to develop projects to understand and improve care and support. We will prioritise student wellbeing, with cohort-building and networking, and peer support including annual residential retreats, mentorship from PPIE, policy and international experts.
Through the ICare-DTC, students will also benefit from unique opportunities, including policy workshops, public engagement sessions teaching how to communicate our research to the public, individual training and development budgets, and with potential placements with our partners at Nuffield Trust, Marie Curie and many more.
Our second student cohort will start in October 2026. In this cohort, each of the five institutions will support and nurture a future dementia research leader to conduct a 4-year PhD. With 19 projects to choose from across the five institutions, the following options are projects aligned to London School of Economics.
For the PhD opportunities, we invite applications from individuals who have a 2:1 or above for their degree (or equivalent) and/or relevant master’s degree or equivalent post-graduate research experience and training.
If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with no less than 6.5 in each component test area) or equivalent.
Please note the studentships will cover the cost of home fees only. International students are welcome to apply, although they will be responsible for covering the difference in fees.
Skills, knowledge, attributes and experience:
- An interest in research and improving services and support for people living with dementia.
- Experience of writing up research, for example for publication, dissertation or a thesis
- Ability to work under pressure, to meet tight deadlines, and proven problem-solving skills
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a research team
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Prior experience of research in ageing, dementia or older people, or long-term conditions
Project 9
Title: Autonomy, independence and technology acceptance and use decisions by people with dementia
Theme: Personalised care
Supervisor and lead contact: Professor Martin Knapp, email: M.Knapp@lse.ac.uk
Background: Information and communication technologies and electronic assistive technologies may support independent living for people with dementia by reducing risks of harm, promoting autonomy, and compensating for cognitive, memory or functional difficulties. But there can be trade-offs between autonomy and functional independence. For example, technologies like remote continuous surveillance that aim to keep people living safely at home risk encroaching upon someone’s sense of autonomy. People with dementia might find that a carer managing their banking poses similar risks. Many people with dementia and families use/purchase technologies without involving health/social care services.
Aim: How can carers make person-centred choices that recognise autonomy of someone with dementia when looking for technologies to support independent living? What support can formal services provide? How does sense of autonomy of someone with dementia relate to decisions to adopt/use technology?
Methods: The student can propose what methods they think would be suitable to address this topic, taking into account their academic training, experience, and career-developing aspirations.
Project 10
Title: Developing an evaluation framework and data solutions for dementia-focused community-based initiatives: cross-national case studies
Theme: Personalised Care
Supervisor and lead contact: Professor Martin Knapp, email: M.Knapp@lse.ac.uk
Background: Community-based initiatives (CBIs), such as Meeting Centres (MCs) and peer-support groups, can support people with dementia. They provide emotional, cognitive, and social support, helping individuals remain connected and delaying institutionalisation. This PhD would build on NIHR-funded evaluations of the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of MCs, and the NIHR/ESRC-funded Neighbourhoods and Dementia programme. Previous research emphasised the importance of locally driven, person-centred approaches and highlighted the need to strengthen methods and measures for understanding the value of CBIs and generating consistent, actionable data.
Aim: To develop and validate an evaluation framework for UK dementia-focused CBIs, incorporating economic, social, and strategic dimensions, and explore how digital tools can support real-time data visualisation and use to inform service delivery, commissioning, and funding.
Methods: The study will map existing projects and datasets, pilot new indicators, and conduct UK case studies with comparative insights from Italy and the Netherlands. It will co-design dashboards and guidance tools, testing feasibility in real-world settings.
Project 11:
Title: Addressing inequalities in social care
Theme: Underserved populations
Supervisor and lead contact: Professor Martin Knapp, email: M.Knapp@lse.ac.uk
Background: People with dementia and their families have variable experiences of social care, including differences in access to social care assessments; availability and quality of care; carer support; help with navigating an increasingly complex system of social care and its interactions with healthcare; and costs of these services.
Aim: To explore the nature of inequalities in social care for people with dementia and their unpaid carers; some of the reasons for these disadvantages; and how policy makers, service providers, and others could reduce these variations to improve the independence and wellbeing of people with dementia and their carers.
Methods: The student can propose methods they think would be suitable to address this topic, with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches all options. Involving people with lived experience of dementia, unpaid care and social care will be essential.
Project 12:
Title: Service provision and equity: Identifying ‘dementia care deserts.’
Theme: Underserved populations
Supervisor and lead contact: Professor Martin Knapp, email: M.Knapp@lse.ac.uk
Background: Dementia prevalence is rising across the UK, yet access to appropriate care remains uneven, particularly at the local level. Some areas face high need but limited services, creating ‘dementia care deserts’. Understanding the spatial distribution of dementia risk and service availability is crucial for targeted resource allocation and improved outcomes for people with dementia and their carers.
Aim: This project aims to map local dementia prevalence, identify mismatches between need and service provision, and explore the factors (such as deprivation, rurality, and funding levels) that contribute to these disparities.
Methods/Approach: A mixed-methods approach may be adopted. Quantitative analyses could use geocoded data from sources including Primary Care Dementia Data, Hospital Episode Statistics, and CQC records to examine local service accessibility. Qualitative research could explore the experiences of people with dementia, carers, and service providers in underserved areas. Together, these approaches may provide a comprehensive geographical perspective on dementia care provision.
How to apply
To apply, please email the following to icare-dtc@qmul.ac.uk:
- A completed application form, including:
- Selecting either PhD or Clinical Studentship opportunity
- Details of two referees
- Your ranked order of preference for the PhD projects
- A one-side (1,000 words maximum) A4 personal statement. This should set out:
- Why you wish to apply for a PhD and particular project/s
- Your previous academic or other experience relevant to the proposed research
- Your previous research or professional training and what further training you think you will need to complete a PhD
- How you meet the Skills, knowledge, attributes and experience listed in the about you section.
- Two-page Curriculum Vitae (CV) including relevant education and employment history (please send using Word format).
- A completed Diversity and Equality form (please send using Word format).
- Proof of English language ability for overseas applicants from non-English speaking countries.
Applications close at midnight on Monday 12th January 2026.
Interviews will be held in person at Queen Mary University of London, Whitechapel Campus on Thursday 19th February 2026. We will reimburse reasonable, standard class travel for shortlisted candidates on provision of valid receipts. If attendance in person is not possible, in line with our inclusive ethos we will liaise with shortlisted candidates to enable virtual participation.
ICare-DTC and associated institutions are committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion. We welcome applications, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, or transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
For more information or to ask questions, please join the ICare-DTC lunchtime Webinar on Thursday 11th December 2025 12:00 – 13:00 hosted by the centres co-leads Prof Nathan Davies and Prof Claudia Cooper.
To apply for this job email your details to icare-dtc@qmul.ac.uk.
