Applications are invited for a fully funded 3-year PhD studentship within the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Radiation Threats and Hazards (NIHR HPRU RTH) at Imperial College London

Project Title: Uncovering Shift Work Patterns via Machine Learning and Exploring Links to Long-Term Health Outcomes

Supervisors: Dr David Muller, Dr Chiara Di Gravio, Professor Paul Elliott

Overview

Shiftwork is associated with disruption of the circadian rhythm leading to detrimental effects on health and well-being, including increased risk of diabetes and cardio-metabolic diseases.

The Airwave Health Monitoring Study is an occupational cohort investigating the health of police officer and staff across Great Britain, Established in 2004, in collaboration with the Home Office, the study collected information on health, occupational, lifestyle, and biological data on approximately 50,000 participants.

A unique feature of the study is the availability of objective radio usage data provided by the network operator and the Home Office. The data recorded every time a personal radio was used and can provide detailed information on shift patterns among police officers.

Aims and Objectives

This PhD project aims to explore the relationship between shift work and long-term health outcomes with a particular focus on cancers, cardiovascular diseases and cognitive functions. Using radio data provided by the Home Office, the project will use machine learning methods to identify and characterize patterns of shift work across a cohort of police officers. These patterns will be compared with self-reported data to assess reliability and consistency.

The key objectives are:

  • Data extraction and pattern recognition
    • Apply machine learning algorithms to extract meaningful information on shift work patterns from the objective radio data
  • Data validation
    • Compare extracted features of shift work with self-reported data to assess accuracy and potential biases
  • Longitudinal Health Risk Analysis
    • Investigate associations between shift work patterns and the risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease and/or cognitive decline. Study how the patterns evolve over time and how they influence disease trajectories in comparison with the general population.

About the NIHR HPRU RTH

The NIHR HPRU in Radiation Threats and Hazards is led by Professor Paul Elliott and Professor Liz Ainsbury. Our vision is to improve evidence and capacity for effective protection of the population from radiation risks, reduce health inequalities from such risks, and influence public health policy in this important area. We aim to advance knowledge on the distribution, determinants, mechanisms and pathways linking radiation exposures to health effects and strengthen response to ionising radiation accidents.

Successful PhD candidates will be supported by a bespoke training programme to ensure that they are equipped with the appropriate skills and experience to become first-class researchers.

Eligibility Criteria

Essential:

  • Candidates should hold, or achieve by the start of the programme, a Master’s degree in addition to a Bachelor’s degree with a UK First- or Upper Second-Class honours grade or equivalent in a relevant life science or quantitative science subject.
  • Strong background in statistics and quantitative data analysis and familiarity with statistical/computational tools (e.g., R, Python, Stata).
  • Candidates must meet Imperial College’s English language requirements (Higher level) unless exempt.

Desirable:

  • Experience in machine learning, public health, or epidemiological research.

Funding and Start Dates

  • Home tuition fees covered plus a tax-free annual stipend starting at around £22,780+ based on UKRI 2026/27 UK PhD stipend.
  • Start date: 1 October 2026.
  • Open only to applicants eligible for Home fee status.

Research Environment

The student will be based in the HPRU team within Imperial’s School of Public Health, located at the White City Campus. The Unit provides an interdisciplinary environment and opportunities for collaboration across Imperial and partner institutions.

You will also collaborate with our partner institutions UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), King’s College London, Institute of Cancer Research and MRC Toxicology Unit at the University of Cambridge.

Application Process

Submit the following to hpru-rth@imperial.ac.uk, using the subject line “HPRU RTH PhD Studentship Application”:

Closing date: 23:59 GMT, Monday 23 February 2026

Interviews: March 2026

For enquiries, contact hpru-rth@imperial.ac.uk 

Selected References

Airwave Health Monitoring Study

  1. Elliott, P., et al. The Airwave Health Monitoring Study of police officers and staff in Great Britain: rationale, design and methods. Environ Res 134, 280-285. (2014)
  2. Vergnaud, A. C., et al. Validation of objective records and misreporting of personal radio use in a cohort of British Police forces (the Airwave Health Monitoring Study). Environ Res 148, 367-375. (2016)
  3. Vergnaud, A. C., et al. Estimation of TETRA radio use in the Airwave Health Monitoring Study of the British police forces. Environ Res 167, 169-174. (2018)

Shiftwork

  1. De Bacquer D, Van Risseghem M, Clays E, Kittel F, De Backer G, Braeckman L: Rotating shift work and the metabolic syndrome: a prospective study. International journal of epidemiology 2009, 38(3):848.
  2. Tüchsen F, Hannerz H, Burr H. A 12 year prospective study of circulatory disease among Danish shift workers. Occup Environ Med. 2006 Jul;63(7):451-5.