PhD Investigating the childhood neurodevelopmental origins of adult mental illness

Closing Date

23 Nov 2018

Salary

£14,777

Address

Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University

Duration

3.5 years

Project Description

The ‘GW4 BioMed MRC DTP’ is awarding up to 18 studentships with an October 2019 start date, aligned with the themes of Infection, Immunity and Repair; Neuroscience and Mental Health; and Population Health. The DTP also places a strong emphasis on cross-cutting skills priorities (quantitative skills, interdisciplinary skills and in vivo skills), and may advertise projects outside these themes. The DTP welcomes students from non-medical backgrounds and can fund additional training to assist discipline conversion. Most studentships will be 3.5 years full time or up to 7 years part-time, and can be longer where additional training is undertaken. 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

What explains the links between early disorders like ADHD, autism and later mental disorders such as depression and psychosis? 

Neurodevelopmental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) begin in early life and are at greatly elevated risk of future mental illnesses such as depression and psychosis. We do not know why this happens. 
The aim of this PhD is to use different methods in population-based cohort data as well as globally available genetic data to test a series of hypotheses about links between child neurodevelopmental disorders and adult mental illness. The findings will have different implications for subtyping neurodevelopmental disorders, treatment and prevention. 

ELIGIBILITY 

Minimum of BSc (2.1 or 1st) in Psychology or BSc (2.1 or 1st) in Biosciences, genetics or related degree but postgraduate experience in Psychiatry or Psychology or Epidemiology. 
Experience or knowledge of multivariate statistics/epidemiology or psychiatric/behavioral genetics is an advantage and a strong academic background is preferred given this PhD involves numerical methods and the ability to write conceptually (e.g. A/ B grades at A level and GCSE As in Maths and English). 

HOW TO APPLY 

You will need to complete both an application to the GW4 BioMed MRC DTP for an ‘offer of funding’ and to Cardiff University for an ‘offer to study’ 

1) Applying for an ‘offer of funding’ 
Please complete the online application form https://cardiff.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/gw4-biomed-mrc-dtp-student-2019 by 5pm, 23 November 2018. 
The Research Theme Panels will complete the shortlisting and inform applicants by 18 December 2018. 

If you are shortlisted you will need to; 

• contact your chosen supervisor(s) to discuss your application between 3 and 14 January 2019 
• submit two references and a copy of your academic transcript(s) by 18 January 2019 
• attend an interview in Cardiff on 22 or 23 January 2019 

Further details will be included in the shortlisting letter. 
More information on the application process may be found here: http://www.gw4biomed.ac.uk/doctoral-students/ 

2) Applying for an ‘offer to study’ 

Applicants should submit an application for postgraduate study via the Cardiff University Online Application Service. http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/programmes/programme/medicine 

Applicants should select Doctor of Philosophy Medicine, with a start date of October 2019. 
In the research proposal section of your application, please specify the project title and supervisors of this project and copy the project description in the text box provided. In the funding section, please select "I will be applying for a scholarship / grant" and specify that you are applying for advertised funding from GW4 BioMed MRC DTP. 
If are applying for more than one Cardiff University project please note this in the research proposal section. 

Funding Notes

This studentship is funded through GW4 BioMed MRC Doctoral Training Partnership. It consists of full UK/EU tuition fees, as well as Doctoral Stipend matching UK Research Council National Minimum (£14,777 p.a. for 2018/19, updated each year). 
Additional research and training funding is available over the course of the programme. This will covers costs such as courses, conferences and travel, and research consumables. Additional competitive funds are available for high-cost or exceptional training. 
The research projects listed are in competition with the 69 others - only 18 projects will be taken up as they will be awarded to the best students.

References

UK Research Council eligibility conditions apply (Full awards (fees plus maintenance stipend) are open to UK Nationals and EU students who can satisfy UK residency requirements. To be eligible for the full award, EU Nationals must have been in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of the course for which they are seeking funding, including for the purposes of full-time education. EU Nationals who do not meet the above residency requirement are eligible for a fees only award, provided that they have been ordinarily resident in the EU for at least 3 years prior to the start of their proposed programme of study.) 

For DTP enquiries please contact the DTP Administrator, Keighley Perkins at GW4BioMed@Cardiff.ac.uk 
For enquiries about your University application, please contact the Postgraduate Administrator PGRmedic@cardiff.ac.uk

Contact Details

Keighley Perkins: GW4BioMed@Cardiff.ac.uk
Postgraduate Administrator: PGRmedic@cardiff.ac.uk