Investigation of Neurobehavioural Data to Better Understand and Predict Outcome in Childhood Brain Injury: Characterisation of clinical factors that influence child outcomes

Applications are invited from highly motivated candidates for a project that will investigate Neurobehavioural data from children with traumatic brain injury. This opportunity is open to UK and EU students who have a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (2.1) or equivalent in Psychology. The project is part of a European Research Council Fellowship grant awarded to Professor Wood.

The study will involve assessment of more than 800 children recruited in Birmingham and the overall study will examine Neuroimaging and Neurobehavioural data in nearly 1000 children. Analysis of the multimodal dataset will allow the construction of a model, which will predict patient outcome after a traumatic brain injury allowing stratification of treatment.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team who combine Neurocognitive assessment with advanced image acquisition and analysis. It is expected that the candidate will have experience of Neurocognitive testing, preferentially in children. It is also expected that the candidate is competent in both the theory and application of advanced statistical methods using software packages such as SPSS and/or R.

Aston University was ranked 5th out of 94 UK Higher Education Institutions for research in Allied Health Professions (REF 2014) and was ranked 1st for research environment. Additional information about research in the School can be found at http://www.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/. Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Amanda Wood ([Email Address Removed]).

Financial Support
The studentship is open to Home/EU students only and comprises of a tax-free stipend at the 2017/18 RCUK rate of £14,553 p.a. and payment of Home/EU tuition fees only. The studentship is available for three years, subject to satisfactory progress review at the end of the first year with an anticipated registration date of 1st October 2017.

Application Requirements
● Eligible Applicants should hold at least a Bachelor (Hons.) Degree of either 1st Class/ 2.1 or MSc/MRes in Psychology.
● 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 Professor Amanda Wood (E-mail: [Email Address Removed]; Telephone: +44 (0) 121 204 3593).

● To apply please complete the on-line application form at
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/postgraduate-research/apply/, choosing ‘Research Full-Time Health Sciences September 2017’, quoting the Reference: ‘PhD_Wood PROBIt-2’ on all applications.

● The Closing Date for all Applications is: Thursday 24th August 2017.