Can alterations in learning and decision-making predict outcomes in people with mental illness?
To start: 1st October 2019
Award(s): One 3-year studentship. This studentship is fully funded by the Department of Psychosis Studies and includes a student stipend.
Project:
Effective learning and decision-making are crucial for adaptive behaviour. Alterations in these processes are central to major psychiatric illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and depression. Emerging evidence suggests that alterations in learning and decision-making may be an accurate predictor of clinical outcomes in people with severe mental illnesses.
The successful candidate will join our efforts to employ large-scale online testing to longitudinally assess learning and decision-making in people at risk for, and with early mental illness. Brain imaging will be used in a subset of the participants to identify the neurobiological substrates of the observed changes in learning and decision-making. Prior experience working with clinical populations, excellent statistical skills and the aptitude to learn and work with html, bash, R, Python and Matlab are highly desirable.
We will provide training on (i) specific skills required to successfully carry out and complete the research project, (ii) general academic training (e.g., conference presentations, literature review and writing scientific manuscripts) and (iii) personal development goals and transferable skills.
The Department of Psychosis Studies is based at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) which is Europe’s largest centre for research and postgraduate education in psychiatric research, including a thriving network of PhD students. The IoPPN is directly integrated with several NHS Trusts which provides a unique opportunity to carry out large-scale patient studies. In the latest Research Excellence Framework, the impact of the research undertaken at the IoPPN was judged 100 per cent world-leading or internationally excellent.
Candidates can contact Dr Kelly Diederen for further inquiries on kelly.diederen@kcl.ac.uk.
Supervisors:
Dr Kelly Diederen
https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/kelly.diederen.html
Dr Tom Spencer
https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/tom.spencer.html
Entry requirements: Standard PhD - applicants should have a Bachelors degree with 2:1 honours (or EU equivalent). A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a Masters with Merit.
Award types & eligibility: Fully funded for three years, Home/EU tuitions fees (studentship not available to Overseas applicants) and an annual stipend.
How to apply:
Applicants must complete and submit an online admissions application, via the admissions portal by midnight (23:59 GMT), Friday 12th July 2019.
On the ‘Choosing a programme’ page, please select ‘Research degrees’ and enter the keywords "Psychosis Studies MPhil/PhD (Full-time)".
In your application, you will be asked to include:
- Academic Transcripts – where applicable, academic transcripts must be submitted with the online admissions application
- Details of your qualifications (you will need to attach copies)
- Details of previous employment
- A personal statement describing your interests and why you wish to apply for this project. Please include this as an attachment rather than using the text box.
- Academic References – all admissions applications require two supporting references. If the applicant is relying on his/her referees to submit references directly to the College after he/she has submitted his/her admissions application, then the applicant must ensure that their chosen referees are made aware of the funding deadline.
In the Funding section, please tick box 5 and include the following reference: PSYCH-KD-2019
Please note there is no need to complete the Research Proposal section in your application as the project has already been set.
You are welcome to email Kelly.diederen@kcl.ac.uk (supervisor) for more information regarding the project and studentship.
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Olivia.1.rees@kcl.ac.uk, Postgraduate Research Administrative Assistant.
References must be received by the deadline for the applicant to be eligible.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Closing date: Friday 12th July 2019 (23:59 GMT)
Interviews: Friday 19th July 2019 & Tuesday 23rd July 2019
Further information:
About the IoPPN (https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/index)
Studying at the IoPPN (link to http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/study/index.aspx)
Information about the Department of Psychosis Studies : (link to https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/depts/ps/index)
Research degrees at the IoPPN (link to http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/study/prospective-students/programmes-of-study/pgr/welcome.aspx)
KCL Researcher Development Programme (link to https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate