Psychology PhD studentship

Psychology Doctoral Research Studentship - Switching off when you’re still plugged in? Understanding sleep and sensory sensitivity (2024)

The School of Psychology at the University of Sussex is one of the largest and most diverse research-intensive psychology schools in the UK with 70+ academic faculty and 90+ PhD students. We were ranked in the top 10 Psychology Schools in the UK in the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) and 91% of our research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent.

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

To sleep, we must ‘switch off’ or at least substantially dial down our processing of sensory information from the external world. This ability to appropriately gate sensory information is vital for initiating, maintaining, and obtaining restful sleep. Poor sleepers appear to be more ‘plugged in’ to the external world: they are more permeable to external sensory stimuli both before and during sleep. But are poor sleepers also more sensitive to sensory information in general (not just at bedtime)? Does poor sleep exacerbate sensory sensitivities and vice versa? What are the neurophysiological mechanisms linking sensory sensitivity to sleep disturbances? These are some of the important unanswered questions you’ll be tackling in this PhD – questions which will help us not only understand how sleep disturbances are caused and maintained but may also ultimately lead to novel sensory-based approaches to treat sleep problems.

In this PhD you will develop and test a new mechanistic model of sensory sensitivity and sleep disturbance using objective measures of sensory sensitivity and sleep, experimental and psychophysiological paradigms, and experience-sampling methodology with wearable devices to track sleep and sensory sensitivity over time as people go about their lives. There will be a focus on developing new laboratory measures of auditory, visual, and tactile sensory sensitivity and how they are linked to physiological and emotional arousal, as well as understanding between and within person variability in sleep and sensory sensitivity. This project will suit a candidate with an interest in sleep and mental health, with a background in psychology or cognitive neuroscience. Potential candidates should have skills in quantitative statistics and ideally some experience with designing and programming experiments.

As a PhD researcher in my lab, you’ll be joining at an exciting time – when we are starting a large £1million interdisciplinary project on Sleep and Mental Health. There will be opportunities during the PhD to engage with this wider research programme and team as well as a broader network of my research collaborators. 

This project will be supervised by Dr Giulia Poerio. Please contact Dr Poerio to discuss your application.

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

26 January 2024 23:59

How to apply

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

Timetable

Deadline for applications: 26 January 2024 23:59.
Interviews likely to take place mid to late February with with notifications expected early March.

Availability

At level(s):
PG (research)

Application deadline:
26 January 2024 23:59 (GMT)

Countries

The award is available to people from these specific countries: