Psychology PhD studentship

Psychology Doctoral Research Studentship - Investigating the Neural Correlates of Ongoing Experience, and Whole-Brain Functional Organisation (2024)

What you get

• A stipend for 3 years to cover living costs. The amount is tied to the UKRI studentship rates; for 2023/24 it is £18,622 per year.
• UK or International fees are covered for 3 years.
• Research/training costs of £750 per year are also covered for 3 years, and enhanced costs are provided for some neuroscience projects.
• School-funded Postgraduate Researchers have the opportunity to take up Doctoral Tutoring during your PhD with a range of modules to choose from. This work is paid at Grade 6 which is currently £17.38 per hour, and covers contact time, preparation and marking.

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

This studentship has guaranteed funding.

We invite a passionate candidate to join our dynamic research team at the University of Sussex's School of Psychology.

About the Research

Our lab is at the forefront of cutting-edge research into the neural mechanisms underlying thoughts and ongoing experience, neural trait-state interactions, and whole-brain functional organisation.

We are seeking a motivated and dedicated Ph.D. candidate to contribute to our research programme. The successful candidate will have the unique opportunity to engage in multifaceted projects that involve:

• Acquiring and analysing multimodal neuroimaging data, including structural, diffusion-weighted, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), as well as electro/magnetoencephalography (E/MEG) data.
• Conducting behavioural and physiological studies across both controlled laboratory and real-world settings.
• Working with programming languages like Python and MATLAB and using state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms.

Your Benefits

 By joining our lab and the University of Sussex, you will enjoy a host of benefits:

• Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): Our lab actively promotes an inclusive environment that embraces and celebrates diversity, in line with EDI principles.
• A collaborative environment: We maintain strong ties with a diverse group of collaborators from reputable institutions worldwide, enabling you to work with experts from various disciplines and enriching your research experience.
• Advanced facilities: Access to cutting-edge neuroimaging equipment and research tools, ensuring you have the resources necessary to conduct high quality research.
• Mentorship and support: Our team is committed to helping you succeed in your academic and research endeavours, with guidance from experienced faculty members.
• A vibrant academic community: The University of Sussex is a hub of innovation and discovery, offering a stimulating environment for your intellectual growth.

Qualifications

We are seeking candidates who:

• Are passionate about understanding the human brain and its role in cognition and behaviour.
• Have a strong background in cognitive neuroscience, particularly in exploring intrinsic cognition (i.e. ongoing thoughts, mental time travel, emotional processing, mind-wandering) in both health and disease.
• Enjoy programming and diverse analyses techniques.

Supervisors: This PhD project will be supervised by Dr Theodoros Karapanagiotidis and at least one other academic from the University of Sussex (to be decided once the research proposal is confirmed).

Doctoral Tutor role: 

If you choose to undertake a  Doctoral Tutor role you will receive training and begin teaching in the first term of your studies. You will be encouraged to study for a formal teaching accreditation (Associate of the Higher Education Academy), enrolling on a ‘Starting to Teach’ module in the first term.  

Eligibility

• Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a First or a high Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, and/or a Master’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience or a related discipline.
• The University of Sussex believes that the diversity of its staff and student community is fundamental to creative thinking, pedagogic innovation, intellectual challenge, and the interdisciplinary approach to research and learning. We celebrate and promote diversity, equality and inclusion amongst our staff and students. As such, we welcome applications from all, regardless of personal characteristics or background.
• This award will pay fees at the Home or International rate. International students must move to Sussex for the duration of the PhD and will not be permitted to register as Distance Learners. The studentship does not include additional funding towards the costs of visas or travel to the UK for International students.

Number of scholarships available

One scholarship

Deadline

How to apply

• Please read Some questions we are often asked before you start your application.
• Please submit your application online for 'PhD in Psychology' for entry in September 2024.

• In the Supervisor suggested by applicant section of your application, put Theodoros Karapanagiotidis
• In the Proposed source of funding section of your application, please put Psychology Doctoral Research Studentship – Theodoros Karapanagiotidis - ringfenced

Candidates should provide: 

• A research proposal that outlines your knowledge of the research area, hypotheses that could be addressed in your PhD, and an outline of potential methods. The scope of the proposed work should be appropriate for a 3-year PhD research programme. The research proposal should be approximately 1,000 to 1,500 words in length and not exceed 3 pages, including references. It should be set at a minimum of 10 font type with margins a minimum of 1cm.
• Current degree transcript(s) with full details of performance on all completed courses. 
• Two academic references.
• An up-to-date CV.
• A document summarising any teaching experience you have and illustrating your suitability for a Doctoral Tutor role. 

Overseas applicants please read our International Requirements to assist with preparing your application.

Contact us

For queries with respect to the application process please contact:  psychologyphd-enquiries@sussex.ac.uk 

To discuss the details of this project further please contact:  
Dr Theodoros Karapanagiotidis t.karapanagiotidis@sussex.ac.uk

Timetable

Deadline for applications:  19 January 2024 23:59.
Interviews likely to take place mid to late February with with notifications expected early March.