PhD Studentship: A qualitative intersectional investigation into the experiences and consequences of Whistleblowing for women nurses.

This fully funded (fees + stipend) PhD studentship sits within a Wellcome Trust-funded project: Revisioning distress and suicidality in women nurses through a feminist, critical suicidology lens. You’ll be based in the School of Health Sciences and be part of a supportive and vibrant research community within the Workforce, Organisation and Wellbeing expert group.

You’ll have the opportunity to design a research project that may include these objectives:

1. To characterise how experiences of whistleblowing impact the mental health and wellbeing of diverse nurses.
2. To identify any links between whistleblowing and (moral and/or) suicidal distress.
3. To understand the decision-making processes that women nurses engage with, in the context of whistleblowing.
4. To understand the supportive factors and barriers which influence women nurses’ ability to whistleblow.
5. To assess the consequences for women nurses of whistleblowing.
6. To identify recommendations to improve whistleblowing systems and after-care for whistleblowers.

Proposed Methodology

In line with methodology underpinning the Wellcome Trust Project, we propose a feminist intersectional approach employing qualitative methods.

Support

You’ll have a knowledgeable and supportive supervisory team and access to clinical supervision to provide regular emotional and psychological support throughout your PhD.

Supervisors: Dr Hilary Causer, Dr Carin Magnusson and Dr Anna Conolly.

Entry requirements

Open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees. See UKCISA for further information. Starting October 2025.

You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our PhD programme.

• Completed a MSc/MA achieving a 2:1 or above in your degree and dissertation module.

• Some experience of undertaking qualitative research at postgraduate level and/or through work experience.
• Ability to undertake academic research, organise own research activities to agreed deadlines and standards.
• Good understanding of how qualitative data are analysed, presented and interpreted.
• Ability to develop internal and external contacts to enhance knowledge and understanding, and form relationships for future collaboration.
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently using own initiative.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information effectively to different audiences.
• Ability to take on board and apply constructive feedback
• Alignment with a feminist-intersectional perspective and wider-project values
• Understanding of healthcare contexts
• Willingness to travel

The University of Surrey welcomes diverse communities and we strive to be inclusive. We particularly encourage applications from nurses and/or people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, and communities who are underrepresented at the University. We offer family-friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support staff and students. We can offer hybrid working but aren’t able to offer a fully remote PhD.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted via the Health Sciences PhD programme page.

Please complete the PhD application form, uploading an anonymised CV and cover letter as part of the online application, detailing how you meet the criteria. In your cover letter, please indicate your preferred PhD topic (bullying, whistleblowing or either). Shortlisted applicants will need to provide transcripts from their MSc and two references.

Funding

We offer a full UKRI-rate stipend (£20,780 for 2025-26, pro rata for part-time) and home fees for 3 years or part time equivalent. If part-time, thesis must be submitted by June 2029.

Application deadline

11 May 2025

Enquiries

Contact  Hilary Causer and  Anna Conolly

Ref

PGR-2425-033

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