Greening Community Pharmacy: Spatial and Behavioural Determinants of Sustainable Practices in Community Pharmacies

Summary

Climate change is one of the biggest global health challenges of our time, and the healthcare sector, including pharmacies, has a critical role to play in reducing its environmental impact.

Community pharmacies are uniquely placed to lead sustainable practices in local areas, but not all pharmacies are equally equipped or motivated to implement greener ways of working.

This project will explore how and why some community pharmacies adopt environmentally friendly practices, like reducing medicine waste or promoting inhaler recycling, while others do not.

It will look at the behaviours, attitudes, and challenges of pharmacists and their teams, as well as how location (e.g. rural vs urban areas or distance from recycling facilities) may influence what is possible in practice.

To do this, the successful applicant will use interviews and surveys to build a picture of what supports or prevents greener practices across Northern Ireland.

The project will use established behaviour change models to better understand what motivates or hinders action and will identify potential strategies that could help more pharmacies become environmentally sustainable.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone interested in public health, pharmacy, environmental sustainability, or behavioural science.

The project will be supervised by a multidisciplinary team and offer training in qualitative and quantitative research, GIS mapping, and behaviour change theory.

The findings will contribute directly to improving pharmacy practice, supporting NHS net-zero targets, and informing future policies in Northern Ireland and beyond.

Important Information: Applications for more than one PhD studentship are welcome, however if you apply for more than one PhD project within Biomedical Sciences, your first application on the system will be deemed your first-choice preference and further applications will be ordered based on the sequential time of submission.

If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be interviewed only on your first-choice application and ranked accordingly. Those ranked highest will be offered a PhD studentship.

In the situation where you are ranked highly and your first-choice project is already allocated to someone who was ranked higher than you, you may be offered your 2nd or 3rd choice project depending on the availability of this project.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Publications record appropriate to career stage
• Experience of presentation of research findings

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)

Our fully funded PhD scholarships will cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance allowance of £21,000 (approximately) per annum for three years* (subject to satisfactory academic performance).  A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £900 per annum is also available.

These scholarships, funded via the Department for the Economy (DfE), are open to applicants worldwide, regardless of residency or domicile.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

*Part time PhD scholarships may be available to home candidates, based on 0.5 of the full time rate, and will require a six year registration period.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.