Find a PhD Supervisor
Dr Claire Kerr
School of Nursing and MidwiferyMy research aims to improve the health, well-being and provision of clinical services for children and young people with physical disabilities, in particular, those with cerebral palsy. My work explores the efficacy of therapeutic interventions, the use of measurement tools and service provision for this population, as well as knowledge translation with allied health professionals that work with children with cerebral palsy and their families.
Research opportunities
Open to PhD applications in the field of
- Paediatric neurodisability
- Rehabilitation.
All methodological approaches welcome.
Public outreach & key achievements
- British Academy of Childhood Disability-Castang Foundation Fellow in Childhood Neurodisability (2017-2018)
- Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (UK) Neurodisability Specialist Committee Member (2019-)
- Developed resources for children with cerebral palsy undergoing lower limb orthopaedic surgery and their families
- Northern Ireland Cerebral Palsy Register selected as one of ten ‘test-bed’ projects for new NIHR Draft Standards for Public Involvement in Research (2018-2019)
Research students
| PhD Title | Sleep disturbances in children with cerebral palsy |
| Name | Mary-Elaine McCavert |
| Country | UK |
| Year of Study | 2017-2020 |
| PhD Title | Middle-eastern immigrant parents’ experiences of child health services in Northern Ireland |
| Name | Nadira Karim |
| Country | Iraq |
| Year of Study | 2016-2019 |
| PhD Title | Health visitor interventions for premature babies post discharge from neonatal intensive care |
| Name | Emma McCall |
| Country | UK |
| Year of Study | 2016- (PT) |
| PhD Title | Evidence-based assessment of practices by allied health practitioners working with children with cerebral palsy |
| Name | Bridget O’Connor |
| Country | Australia |
| Year of Study |
2014-2019 (PT) |
Alumni: Where are they now
| PhD Title | Management of the upper limb in children with cerebral palsy |
| Name | Dr Karen McConnell |
| Year of Study | 2009-2012 |
| Country | UK |
| Current Position | Research Fellow, QUB |