Undergraduate summer studentships

Women’s Experiences of Multiple Sclerosis: Movement, Body Perception, and Wellbeing

Lead Supervisor: Dr Hannah Campbell, Lecturer in Applied Human Physiology, Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist, School of Biomedical Science.

Contact h.campbell1@leeds.ac.uk for enquiries.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects women at much higher rates than men, yet approaches to care overlook womens lived experiences.  Physical activity is a crucial part of MS management, helping improve mobility, fatigue, mood, and quality of life, but women often face unique challenges that shape how they engage in movement. This project aims to better understand these experiences to inform more female-centered and supportive approaches to movement.

This mixed-methods project explores how women with MS perceive their bodies, their confidence in movement, and their motivation to be physically active. Participants will complete validated questionnaires—including the MS Quality of Life Measure (MSQOL-54), the Experience of Embodiment Scale, and the Physical Literacy for Adults Questionnaire—followed by semi-structured interviews.

The study aims to recruit approximately 50 participants for the questionnaire phase and 8–12 participants for interviews. The student will be actively involved in data collection, questionnaire analysis, and conducting and thematically analysing interviews.

This research will deepen understanding of how MS shapes women’s relationships with their bodies and physical activity, helping inform more inclusive, female-centred approaches that promote dignity, agency, and wellbeing.

The successful applicant will:
•     Gain experience in mixed-methods health research.
•     Learn to administer and score validated psychometric tools.
•     Develop interviewing and reflexive thematic analysis skills
•     Engage with feminist disability studies, embodiment theory, and physical literacy theory.

For further information please see the project description.

Eligible students: Science Students and Medical Students between the end of their second year and the end of their penultimate year (but not intercalating students). Please note that students currently in their first or final year are NOT eligible to apply.  This project is only open to University of Leeds students.  

How to apply

Please send your application by email to fbsbusiness@leeds.ac.uk.

Students are chosen for placements by competition, so your application should consist of a curriculum vitae and letter including;

• Your school and university courses and grades to date

• A statement of your career aims and how you might benefit from a studentship

• The name, address, phone number and email addresses of two referees, preferably your tutors

Closing date: Thursday 5th February 2026 at 5pm.