2024 BNA Scholars announced
15th March 2024
Doctoral Research Scholarship - 3.25 years stipend + UK/EU fees + research and training costs + Doctoral Tutor contract for teaching up to 165 hours per year for 3 years (paid in addition to the stipend)
In contemporary neuroscience, the brain is increasingly seen as a ‘prediction machine’, exploiting prior knowledge to predict or anticipate upcoming sensory signals. Nowhere is this more evident than during the perception of speech: hearing the sequence of phonemes “snoo...” sets up a strong prediction for “…ker” because “snooker” is the most frequent word that follows. As a result, “snooker” is recognised more quickly than other similar sounding words such as “snooper”.
However, there are multiple ways by which predictive computations could be implemented in the brain and evidence favouring one implementation over another is lacking, particularly in naturalistic conditions (e.g. when listening to continuous speech rather than isolated words).
This project aims to establish how predictive computations are instantiated in human cortex during comprehension of naturalistic speech (from audiobooks). To achieve this, the student will use cutting-edge EEG analysis methods to relate information in the continuous speech signal to recorded brain responses. The student will be trained in the use of such methods but previous experience of programming and signal processing is desirable.
Doctoral Tutor role:
The successful candidate will also be offered a 3 year fixed term contract, as a Doctoral Tutor, to teach up to 165 hours per year (0.1FTE Grade 5.1 (currently £25,482 p.a. pro rata), covering contact time, preparation, and marking). Doctoral Tutors will begin teaching in the second term of their studies. They will be encouraged to study for a formal teaching accreditation (Associate of the Higher Education Academy), including enrolling on a ‘starting to teach’ module in the first term before they begin teaching. Candidates who demonstrate suitability for, and express interest in, the additional Doctoral Tutor role will be preferred.
The successful applicant will be awarded a stipend for 3.25 years (tied to the UKRI studentship rates, currently £15,009 p.a.). UK/EU PhD fees and research/training costs are also covered.
The successful applicant will also be offered a 3 year fixed term contract, as a Doctoral Tutor, to teach up to 165 hours per year (0.1FTE Grade 5.1 (currently £25,941 p.a. pro rata), covering contact time, preparation, and marking).
International students may apply but must fund the difference between the Home/EU fees and International Fees (approximately £16,000 per year).
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20 January 2020 23:45 (GMT)
Candidates should provide:
Timetable
Deadline: Monday 20 January 2020 (23:59)
Interviews (usually via Skype): week of 3 February 2020
Decisions: end of March 2020
For queries with respect to the application process: psychologyphd-enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
For informal discussion and to request further details about the project, please email Dr Ediz Sohoglu