Leverhulme Trust Studentship in Psychology

Applications are invited for a Leverhulme Trust 3 year fixed-term PhD studentship, on the project: Exploring intentionality biases in the analysis of human behaviour. The studentship will be supervised by Dr James Moore in the Department of Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, and will begin in October 2016. 

The studentship will explore the neurocognitive processes involved in intention attribution. The focus will be on the so-called ‘Intentionality Bias’, which refers to our automatic tendency to attribute intent to other people’s behaviour. The project will investigate the cognitive and neural basis of this bias. During the project students will be expected to run both behavioural and non-invasive brain stimulation (e.g. tDCS and TMS) experiments. 

This project will be particularly well suited to students with an interest in social cognition/social neuroscience. Although previous experience with the methods and approaches is desirable, training in relevant behavioural and brain stimulation methods will be provided. The student will be encouraged and supported to present their findings at academic conferences and to write up their findings for publication. The student will also be encouraged to develop his or her own research ideas during the PhD, and will be expected to contribute fully to the research group and wider research community in the Department.

This award provides annual funding to cover UK/EU tuition fees and stipend. For students who pay UK/EU tuition fees the award will cover the tuition fees in full plus stipend (stipend of circa £16,296 and fees of £4,121 in the first year). Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but the applicant must make appropriate arrangements to cover the difference between the overseas and UK tuition fee.

It is essential that the applicant has experience in conducting experimental psychological research, data analysis, and academic writing. It is desirable that the applicant has a Masters degree in Psychology, or is enrolled on a Masters Psychology degree that will end prior to October 2016. It is also desirable that the applicant has previous experience of conducting research in the area of social cognition/social neuroscience and experience with non-invasive brain stimulation methods. The applicant's academic excellence, and other indicators of motivation for a research career, will be strongly considered.

The Department of Psychology is a thriving centre of excellence in research with over 150 postgraduates (including PhD and MSc students across 7 postgraduate programmes), offering a lively research community and excellent facilities including well-equipped specialist laboratories for psychophysiological and experimental research (e.g. EEG laboratory equipped with multiple high-density EEG systems, eye tracking facilities, and stereotactic non-invasive brain stimulation laboratories).

Applications must be received by Friday 17 June 2016 and should be clearly marked ‘Moore Leverhulme Studentship 2016’.  Please submit your application using our online application form. Please ensure you include a CV, personal statement and references; applications without these elements will not be considered.

Interviews will be held during the week commencing Monday 27 June, and the successful applicant will be informed as soon as possible thereafter.

For further enquiries please contact Dr James Moore at j.moore@gold.ac.uk