Cognition Function in Schizophrenia: Do Environmental Risk Factors Play a Role?

Funded PhD Studentship in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience

Research Area: Cognition Function in Schizophrenia: Do Environmental Risk Factors Play a Role?

The Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience at Brunel University London is offering a fully funded PhD studentship to investigate social cognition profiles and behavioural and psychophysiological response to social rewards in mentally disordered offenders. The PhD project will include the methods of experimental psychology, clinical psychology and cognitive neuroscience.

Based in the College of Health and Life Sciences and funded by Brunel University London, the studentship offers an annual London rate stipend of £16,777 plus Home/EU tuition fees, for a maximum of 36 months. Preferred start date is 1st October 2018.

Overview
Most people with schizophrenia exhibit multifaceted cognitive impairment, including deficits in executive function, memory and sensory gating. Such impairments are present prior to the manifestation of clinical symptoms, persist in most patients despite symptom improvement, and are reported to be associated with psychosocial outcomes. Cognitive impairments are also reported in unaffected relatives of schizophrenia patients and considered to represent a risk marker. The risk for schizophrenia is now believed to include the effects of certain genes as well as environmental risk factors. The aim of this PhD project will be to systematically investigate the effects of environment risk factors for schizophrenia (e.g. early life stress) on behavioural and psychophysiological measures of cognitive and affective processing that are known to be aberrant in people with schizophrenia as well as in their biological unaffected relatives.
The successful candidate will be supervised by Professor Veena Kumari. For informal discussions about this studentship, please contact Professor Veena Kumari ([Email Address Removed]).

Eligibility
Candidates should have an undergraduate degree (first or upper second class) or equivalent qualification in Psychology, Neuroscience or a related Life or Social Science discipline. A Masters qualification in a relevant area would be desirable. Experience in conducting quantitative psychological/behavioural research and multivariate data analysis is essential. Applicants who have not been awarded a degree by a University in the UK will be expected to demonstrate English language skills to IELTS 7.0 (minimum 6.0 in any section).

How to Apply
If you wish to apply, please e-mail the following to [Email Address Removed] by 9th March 2018:

• An up-to-date CV.
• A single-page A4 single-spaced personal statement stating the name of one of the three positions above and setting out why you are a suitable candidate (i.e. outlining your qualifications and skills).
• One example of your academic writing (e.g. an essay, a section from an undergraduate or Masters dissertation).
• A summary of your teaching experience or the teaching activities you feel you could support.
• Names and contact details for two academic referees.
• A copy of your highest degree certificate and transcript.
• A copy of your English language qualification, where applicable.

Short-listed applicants will be required to attend an interview. Applicants chosen for interview will be instructed to submit a formal online application via Admissions.

For further information about how to apply, please contact the College of Health and Life Sciences Postgraduate Research Student Office on [Email Address Removed].