The UCL Institute of Mental Health (IoMH) is pleased to announce a call for applications for the Michael King PhD Studentship in mental health research. The studentship is available for 2023 entry and the scientific focus of the PhD should broadly align with Professor King’s key research interests.
Professor Michael King (10/2/1950 – 10/9/2021) was the first Director of the UCL Division of Psychiatry, a role he held from 1998 until 2014. He made a huge number of important contributions to psychiatric research, particularly in the field of Social Psychiatry, including risk prediction for mental disorders, and the evaluation of complex interventions. His research interests were far ranging and included the mental health of marginalised groups, the stigma experienced by people from sexual minorities, mental health and end of life care for cancer patients, the role of religious and spiritual beliefs in mental wellbeing, mental health research methodology, population mental health and data science, and applied clinical research. He had an insatiable interest in people and brought this to his work, combining his natural curiosity and humour with methodological rigour to tremendous effect. He was also a courageous advocate for the rights of LGBT people.
Mental health is one of the biggest challenges that the world faces. In the UK, between 1 in 5 and 1 in 6 adults suffer from a mental disorder severe enough to warrant treatment, in any given year. Mental illness is the largest single source of world economic burden, and it has a disproportionately adverse effect on the most vulnerable in society.
The IoMH’s mission is to unite researchers from a range of disciplines across UCL, including psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience and population health, to improve the understanding of mental illness and mental health. This will lead to the delivery of new approaches to prevention, treatment and improved care for people with mental health problems, in collaboration with academics and clinicians worldwide, NHS providers, local authorities, industry and third sector organisations.
UCL is the top-ranked university in the UK for research power in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience according to the UK’s Research Excellence Framework 2021 and we deliver innovative teaching, relevant to clinical practice, that is informed by our research. We are part of UCL’s Faculty of Brain Sciences. Mental Health at UCL regularly attracts external grant funding of around £20m per annum. We have active research programme funding from NIHR, MRC, ESRC and medical charities including Wellcome and Alzheimer’s UK.
The studentship will be housed within the UCL Division of Psychiatry, a world-leading interdisciplinary centre for research and teaching into mental health and illness and one of the largest departments specialising in this area in the UK, with over 160 staff. We address clinical problems in order to achieve benefits for patients and public health. We also deliver innovative teaching, relevant to clinical practice, which is informed by our research. Our research programme is wide ranging and includes epidemiology, randomised controlled trials, health services research and molecular genetics across a wide range of mental health problems including psychosis, depression, dementia and intellectual disability.
We have an inclusive, fair and respectful environment in which we support all staff and students to achieve their career goals.
Application process
Applications are invited from UK residents only and should comprise:
- A 1 page outline of the research project or theme you wish to pursue. This should include an explanation of how it aligns with the late Professor King’s areas of interest.
- A 2 page CV
- A 1 page personal statement explaining why you wish to complete a PhD.
Applicants can mention potential supervisors in their application but this would only be indicative and the successful applicant can change the supervisory team when they start the PhD.
Potential supervisors include Principal Investigators in Michael’s former Department of Epidemiology and the Applied Clinical Research Dept in UCL’s Division of Psychiatry.
Please send all three documents to [Email Address Removed] in a single email with the title “Michael King PhD – (name, surname)”.
Applications must be received no later than 5pm on 31.1.2023. Interviews will take place at the end of March 2023.
Key Requirements
Applicants are required to hold a first or upper-second class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university in an appropriate subject, or a recognised taught Master’s degree (or predicted to complete in Summer 2023). Overseas qualifications of an equivalent standard from a recognised higher education institution are also accepted. All applicants are required to have excellent written and verbal communication skills. They should also be willing to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams. Evidence of a commitment to mental health research is essential.
Further Details
If you have any queries about this studentship, please contact Profs Helen Killaspy [Email Address Removed], David Osborn [Email Address Removed] or Glyn Lewis [Email Address Removed]
Continue with Facebook
