PhD Depression in renal dialysis patients: the role of inflammation

Closing Date
3 Jan 2019
Salary
£22,278 tax-free stipend
Address
Centre for Psychiatry/Wolfson Institute/Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
Duration
3 years

PhD Supervisor: Professor Kamaldeep Bhui

Application Deadline: 3rd January 2019 (5pm).

Funding Availability: Queen Mary University of London Funded PhD Project (European/UK students only) 

Applications are invited from graduates in biomedical or related sciences for a three year studentship which will commence in 2018 and will be based at the Centre for Psychiatry, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, at Queen Mary University of London. This PhD will have a particular focus on the biological processes through which social and emotional factors influence disease risk.

Project description

This project seeks to improve the recognition of depression caused by inflammation in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The PhD student will help define the prevalence and causes of depression among patients receiving dialysis and conduct data analysis to define clinical phenotypes. The core work also involves a clinical study examining inflammatory signatures in depressed dialysis patients. This work is being conducted in collaboration with experts from allied disciplines including Professor Magdi Yaqoob (Renal Medicine), Dr Livia Carvalho (translational psychiatry), Dr Simon Kirwin, Dr Andrea Cove-Smith and Dr Raj Thuraisingham (Renal Physicians). The student will contribute to undertaking a literature review, data collection and analysis, being particularly involved in supporting the clinical study and leading the literature review and the gathering samples and then assessing inflammatory markers.

Funding Notes

This 3 year PhD studentship is funded by Queen Mary, University of London, and comes with a tax-free stipend of £22,278 in the first year. It is open to UK Nationals, EEA/Swiss migrant workers and non-UK nationals with indefinite leave to remain in the UK who will have three years ordinary residence in the EU prior to the start of the studentship. University tuition fees (at UK/EU levels) will be met by the funding body.

How to apply

Your application should consist of a CV, contact details of two academic referees, and you must also include a personal statement (1,000 words maximum) describing your interest in and suitability for this project. Please refer to guidance here: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/subjects/. You should hold:

  • Applicants should have a BSc in biomedical or related sciences
  • Appropriate research experience in one or more of the following areas: mental health, neurosciences, quantitative health psychology, behavioural medicine, psychobiology, psychoneuroimmunology.
  • The core attributes will be research ability and an interest in psychobiological aspects of renal dialysis patients.
  • Experience with laboratory assays (e.g. transcriptomics, ELISA) would be an asset.

Previous applicants need not apply.

Queries should be directed to Professor Bhui: k.s.bhui@qmul.ac.uk

Please submit your CV and a personal statement/cover letter only to: cfpsychiatry@qmul.ac.uk

No need to submit any other documentation (references/transcripts etc.) at this stage.

For more information and to apply, click here

Contact Details

Professor Bhui: k.s.bhui@qmul.ac.uk
cfpsychiatry@qmul.ac.uk