PhD Studentship: Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Health Economic Modelling - Insti

3.5 Year PhD Studentship:
Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Health Economic Modelling - Institute of Health Informatics, UCL

r B02-10752 Professional Expertise Student Recruitment and Admissions Department School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02) Location London Working Pattern Full time Salary See advert text Contract Type Fixed-term Working Type On site Available for Secondment No Closing Date 23-Jun-2026

PhD Studentship:
Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Health Economic Modelling

Institute of Health Informatics, UCL

A 3.5-year teaching PhD Studentship in infectious disease epidemiology and health economic modelling is available within the Institute of Health Informatics. The studentship will commence on 1 October 2026 under the supervision of Dr Rebecca Baggaley and Dr Johan Thygesen
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Evidence to inform targeted infection testing strategies for migrants to high-income countries

The Institute of Health Informatics is looking to recruit a PhD studentship to join our welcoming and vibrant Institute. The purpose of this studentship is to generate evidence to support a wider programme of work aimed at designing a primary care-based targeted testing approach for key infections (tuberculosis (TB), HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)) among migrants to high‑income countries.

The student will contribute to this programme by undertaking some or all of the following activities:

• Adapt existing health economic models of infection screening (HIV, HBV, HCV and Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) testing to identify individuals with latent TB or prior exposure to TB) to evaluate the cost‑effectiveness of approaches to infection testing of migrants in primary care. This may include:
• assessing the cost‑effectiveness of the COMBAT‑ and exploring its generalisability to other UK regions;
• evaluating the yield, cost‑effectiveness and cases missed from alternative targeted testing approaches based on risk factors for infection ;
• examining how different GP clinic eligibility criteria for national migrant testing programmes (e.g., HIV prevalence strata, proportion of late HIV diagnoses) influence their effectiveness and cost‑effectiveness;
• analysing the cost‑effectiveness of alternative IGRA testing strategies for unaccompanied asylum‑seeking children who present for a new arrival health check in Switzerland.
• Update estimates of the number of chronic HBV cases among foreign‑born populations in EU/EEA countries.
• Build on previous work linking administrative immigration data with electronic health records to explore healthcare utilisation related to HIV, TB, HBV and HCV among migrants in the UK.

Research environment

This position presents a unique opportunity to join a multidisciplinary research team working across epidemiology, health economics and qualitative research. The student’s modelling and analytical work will directly inform the co-design of the targeted testing approach, helping shape the testing strategies to be explored in the feasibility study and contributing to an integrated programme of research.

Beyond the research-focused deliverables outlined above, which will form the basis of the candidate's PhD thesis, the successful applicant will also contribute to the development, delivery and support of teaching across our two institute programmes. Tasks may include enhancing teaching quality by creating new and reviewing existing materials, assisting with teaching as a postgraduate teaching assistant, engaging with our highly motivated students through thesis supervision or co‑supervision, as well as engaging with and helping support other teaching‑related events at the Institute.

This PhD position offers a highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions. The student will receive regular guidance and support from their project supervisors as well as from an independent thesis committee. The candidate will be supported in all aspects of teaching by our collaborative and supportive teaching team. In addition, the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme (DSDP) is designed to help doctoral researchers develop skills for research, professional development…