studentships
Any research studentships that are being offered by Brighton and Sussex Medical School are presented here.
Current PhD Studentships
Computational modelling of restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behavioural patterns in Asperger Syndrome
Applications are invited for a prestigious 3 year MRC and Sussex Partnership NHS Trust funded PhD studentship at the University of Sussex. This PhD, under the supervision of Prof Hugo Critchley & Dr Neil Harrison, is ideal for a highly motivated student who is looking to apply their computational and analytical skills to questions within clinical neuroscience.
In addition to difficulties with reciprocal social interaction and communication, individuals with Asperger Syndrome (AS) express markedly restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities. Despite being linked to considerable impairment the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these behavioural patterns currently remain poorly understood. This studentship proposes to apply analytical and computational models to study the cognitive processes underlying these behaviours with particular reference to the cognitive and decision making deficits seen in a related disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Specifically, the PhD student will focus on:
1) profiling repetitive behaviours, compulsions and obsessions in AS and relate these to the broader pattern of clinical features.
2) use of behavioural economics approaches, psychophysiology and neuroimaging to examine underlying aspects of response regulation and decision-making ranging from low-level stop-signal, reversal-learning and delayed-discounting tasks to high-level tasks examining the integration of contextual information in decision-making processes.
The successful applicant will be fully involved in the conceptual development of the project including the implementation of adapted and novel behavioural and neuroimaging tasks to examine effects of novelty and uncertainty in behavioural (in)flexibility.
The work will take place in the vibrant environment of the Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre (CISC) at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the Department of Psychology at the University of Sussex. Students with a strong background in computer science, mathematics, physics or engineering are particularly welcome to apply. Motivated students with psychology, neuroscience or other backgrounds will also be considered.
Applicants for this 3 year PhD studentship, starting January 2011 should possess a minimum of an upper Second Class Honours degree in either a numerate subject such as computer science/physics/mathematics or psychology/neuroscience. Ideally the candidate should have excellent mathematical and computing skills. Studentships are normally only available to British, Irish and European citizens. Informal enquiries should be directed to Prof Hugo Critchley (h.critchley@bsms.ac.uk ).
Closing date – Tuesday 31 August 2010
The courage to participate? Patients’ views on experimental neuroscience
This PhD will investigate the experience of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and Motor Neurone Disease through the employment of qualitative research methods. Research will focus upon participants’ beliefs and attitudes towards formal participation in cutting edge clinical trials, and informal pursuit of effective and possibly unregulated therapies. The project will seek to match the empirical evidence obtained against the current and classic literature on the ethics of involving patients in early stage research. As a project in empirical ethics, the data will be subject to social scientific analysis in order to inform and develop normative conclusions.
The project is part of the work of The London & Brighton Translational Ethics Centre (LABTEC) which has been created with the support of a major Strategic Award from the Wellcome Trust Biomedical Ethics Programme, and offers unparalleled opportunities to develop the interdisciplinary interface between social science, bioethics, medicine and neuroscience. LABTEC, a collaboration between Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and the Centre for Biomedicine and Society, King’s College London, expands an established, interdisciplinary team who have an outstanding track record of working and publishing together on social, clinical and ethical issues relating to new medical technologies. LABTEC Brighton is led by Professor Bobbie Farsides, Professor of Clinical and Biomedical Ethics at BSMS who works closely with LABTEC’s Principal Investigator and Director Professor Clare Williams (CBAS KCL).
More information about LABTEC can be found here: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/sspp/interdisciplinary/cbas/research/projects/labtec.html
Applicants for this 3.0 year Wellcome Trust-funded PhD starting in January 2011 should possess a minimum of an Upper Second Class Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant social science or humanities subject. A relevant Masters Degree and training in social science research methods would be a significant advantage. The Wellcome Trust provides an annual tax and NI free stipend of approximately £18,500pa. International students are free to apply but would be required to pay their own fees, currently £14,050 pa. Informal enquiries should be directed to Prof Bobbie Farsides (b.farsides@bsms.ac.uk) .
Closing Date –6 September 2010
Applying for studentships
Download an application form and referee forms for studentships directly or contact us for a hard copy of the application forms.
Nichola Mayer
Research Degrees Administrator
Medical Research Building
Brighton & Sussex Medical School
University of Sussex
Brighton BN1 9PS
T: +44 (0) 1273 877533
F: +44 (0) 1273 877884
Email: n.mayer@bsms.ac.uk
To apply, please fill in one form, sign it and send it by post, fax or email to the Research Degrees Administrator. Please ask two referees to send their reports independently to the Research Degrees Administrator by the application closing date. The application reference is BSMS-07. In section nine of the application (Project Proposal) simply give the details provided in the advertisement.
If you require entry clearance to study in the UK, please see the ATAS information.