About the Project
Supervisors: Dr Charlotte Hartwright, Prof Klaus Kessler, Dr Carol Holland
Applications are invited from ambitious, dynamic candidates to examine age-related decline in social cognitive function using neuroimaging. The successful candidate will work with Dr Charlotte Hartwright, Prof Klaus Kessler and Dr Carol Holland across the Behavioural & Applied Neurosciences Group (BANG) and the Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing (ARCHA). This opportunity is open to UK and EU students only, who have at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree or equivalent in Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science or a related subject.
The ability to recognize the mental causes of action - the thoughts, beliefs and desires of others - is fundamental for navigating the social world. Having this ‘Theory of Mind’ (ToM) facilitates meaningful relationships, and impairment or reduced capacity for doing so may be associated with reduced psychological wellbeing. This project aims to identify the neurocognitive markers in healthy older adults that could explain reduced ToM in healthy ageing. Using a cross-sectional repeated-measures approach, the work will pinpoint the bio-psycho-social markers that best predict short-term, age-related alterations in ToM function. This would be informative to intervention work which, for cognitive decline in healthy ageing, is typically most effective when enacted early.
The PhD student will use experimental ToM tasks in relation to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and Neuropsychological/Cognitive testing - all of which is housed on site at Aston University’s purpose built Aston Brain Centre. There is also the potential to conduct an intervention study using non-invasive brain stimulation. The successful candidate will demonstrate proficiency or aptitude with quantitative experimental methods and advanced data analysis, as well as the ability to interact competently with older participants. They will also be willing to engage in the principles of Open-Science as the project will follow a fully pre-registered, open data approach.
Financial Support:
The studentship comprises of the current RCUK tax-free stipend of £14,296 p.a. and payment of Home/EU tuition fees only. Note that the studentship will not be affected by changes in EU membership of the UK. The studentship is available for three years, subject to satisfactory progress review at the end of the first year with an anticipated registration in April 2017.
Application Requirements:
● Eligible Applicants should hold at least a Bachelor (Hons.) Degree of either 1st Class/ 2.1 or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
● EU Applicants will need to demonstrate adequate proficiency in English Language skills, with a minimum overall score of 93 (Internet Based) (with a minimum score in each section of: R: 18, W: 23, L: 19 and S: 19) in TOEFL or IELTS with minimum marks of 6.0 in each section and an overall band of 6.5.
● Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr Charlotte Hartwright E-mail: [Email Address Removed]
● To apply please complete the on-line application form at
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/postgraduate-research/apply/ (Select: ‘Full Time Research Neurosciences’ Programme) quoting the Reference: ‘’PhD_Hartwright’ on all applications.
● The Closing Date for All Applications is: Sunday, 12th March 2017, with interviews in the subsequent week.
Please Note that only candidates who have been selected for interview will be contacted. If you have not received an invitation to attend an Interview within approx. two weeks of the closing date, you may assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
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