The °®ÍþÄÌapp of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is pleased to invite applications as part of the NIHR funded Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU). The studentship will start in January 2026 and comes with 3 years of funding.
The award will cover a tax-free stipend of £22,780 per year, tuition fees at home rates and research expenses.
Only those applicants who meet all the eligibility criteria outlined below can be considered for the studentship.
The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Vaccines and Immunisation is a partnership between and the , in collaboration with the and . The unit at LSHTM is one of 14 Health Protection Research Units (HPRUs) across England, part of an investment by the to protect the health of the nation. The HPRUs fund high quality research that enhances the ability of UKHSA to use innovative techniques to protect the public’s health and minimise the health impact of emergencies, such as COVID-19.
Each NIHR HPRU undertakes high quality research that is used by UKHSA to keep the public safe from current and emerging public health threats.
The HPRU aims to:
- ​reverse the decline in immunisation coverage in children
- increase vaccine uptake in adults, and
- reduce inequalities in the vaccine service  
The research training environment
Students, academics, and professionals come to LSHTM from all over the world because of its international presence, collaborative ethos, research excellence and prestigious study programmes in public and global health. Find out details of the School’s rankings and awards as well as current research in action.
General information about the MPhil/PhD programme structure at LSHTM can be found on the Research Degrees and Doctoral College pages. Students are mentored by a supervisory team composed of two-three members. Students are expected to take part in the academic life of their department and can also be members of Academic °®ÍþÄÌapp. All research seminars and journal clubs are open to PhD students from across LSHTM. Students are able to take up to four master’s level study modules per academic year, subject to approval from their supervisor. The PhD programme also facilitates national and international conference attendance by students.
Support for research students’ future career development is covered through the supervision process, through the Transferable Skills Programme (in the School and the Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network) and the LSHTM’s Careers Service.
The successful applicant will have unprecedented opportunities to network and establish professional contacts through formal and informal interactions with members of staff at LSHTM and other students.
Doctoral research project
The exact focus of the PhD will be developed with the successful candidate and will depend on their interests and prior expertise. Applicants are asked to contact the project supervisors for an informal discussion prior to applying.
- Project Title: Optimising the use of electronic health record data sources and methods to improve estimates of maternal vaccine uptake and safety
Faculty: Epidemiology and Population Health
- Supervisor: Dr Caroline Minassian, LSHTM (caroline.minassian@lshtm.ac.uk)
- Co-supervisor: Dr Julia Stowe, UKHSA (Julia.Stowe@ukhsa.gov.uk)
Background
Since 1st September 2024, pregnant women in England have been offered a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), in addition to the seasonal flu and pertussis vaccines, to protect their babies against serious illness. As the maternal vaccination programme continues to expand, there is a growing need to monitor uptake and safety in real-world settings. Large, linked electronic health record (EHR) datasets provide a wealth of opportunity for post-authorisation assessment of maternal vaccine uptake and safety. However, there is uncertainty around which data sources and methods are most appropriate. Establishing the optimal EHR data sources and methods for determining maternal vaccination status and adverse outcomes in pregnancy is crucial for valid uptake and safety assessment. This project will harness a range of EHR data sources from England (including linked primary and secondary care datasets) and apply novel methods to generate robust estimates of uptake and safety of maternal vaccines.
Project objectives
- Triangulate EHR data sources to establish best practice for determining maternal vaccination status and adverse events of special interest (AESIs) in pregnancy
- Assess the uptake and safety of vaccines recommended in pregnancy, using novel methods to minimise bias
- Develop a methods template for future post-authorisation EHR studies of new maternal vaccines
Skills/methods
- Review existing methodological approaches to assess maternal vaccine safety in EHR datasets
- Develop algorithms for determining maternal vaccination status and adverse outcomes in pregnancy across EHR data sources
- Explore the use of novel methods, e.g., a target trial emulation framework, to evaluate vaccine safety in pregnancy
Support structure
- Supervisory team meetings every ~2-3 weeks
- Advisory panel meetings every 2 months, including 1–2 UKHSA members
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must hold, or expect to obtain before the start of the PhD, a relevant Master’s Degree awarded with good grades, or have a combination of relevant qualifications and experience which demonstrates equivalent ability and attainment.
Applicants must meet the criteria for home fees to be eligible to apply. The studentship is not available to candidates who would be liable for overseas fees. Your fee status is determined in accordance with the Fee Assessment Policy of LSHTM and .
Please note that due to the high volume of enquiries we receive, we will not be able to respond to emails from applicants who do not meet these eligibility criteria.
How to apply
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their proposed primary supervisor for an informal discussion before applying. Applicants must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria before contacting their proposed primary supervisor. When contacting their proposed supervisor, applicants are encouraged to write a short paragraph about their experience and research interests, including ideas for the PhD and explaining how these match the proposed supervisor’s expertise, and to provide a short CV.
To apply, submit a completed research degree application online using the LSHTM . The deadline for applications for this scholarship is 23:59 (BST) 4 August 2025.
Applicants must ensure all information and standard required documents outlined on the LSHTM ‘before you apply’ page is included/uploaded with the application, including:
- academic transcripts (official transcripts for all completed study; interim transcripts for any ongoing programmes of study);
- a two-page Curriculum Vitae;
- a research proposal (the research proposal should identify a specific research question or hypothesis, expanding on the topic listed on the website, summarise the relevant background information (with no more than five key references) and should outline an appropriate research methodology by which the question can be addressed); and
- References.
In addition, applicants for this scholarship must upload the following documents:
- A personal statement outlining why you are interested in, and suited to, undertaking a PhD in this area at LSHTM; and
Applicants must indicate that they wish to apply for this funding by writing 'HPRU - maternal vaccine uptake and safety' in the funding section of the application form.
Incomplete applications will not be considered for this studentship. This includes any applications missing supporting/supplementary documents (e.g. transcripts or references) at the deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete and therefore applications should be submitted as early as possible to give referees time to submit their references prior to the deadline.
By submitting an application for this funding applicants agree to its Terms & Conditions.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview.