PhD studentship available for September 2016 in visual perception

Project title: Visual perception: colour and individual differences
Supervisor:  Dr Jenny Bosten (School of Psychology, University of Sussex)

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship in visual perception at the School of Psychology, University of Sussex. The specific project is flexible within broad themes of colour perception and/or individual differences in visual perception.

Possible research projects include:

1. the perceptual effects of individual variation in the genes for the cone photopigments, including those responsible for colour vision deficiency and polymorphisms within the normal range;


2. the association between colour perception and natural scene statistics using a combination of psychophysics and the analysis of hyperspectral images;


3. the effect of individual differences in visual sensitivity on selective attention. 

The PhD student will use a combination of psychophysical methods and modeling, with the possibility of including genetics, brain imaging methods (ERP or fMRI) and/or virtual reality. 

Supervision will be by Dr. Jenny Bosten and a co-supervisor (e.g. Professor Jamie Ward, Professor Anna Franklin, Dr. Sophie Forster, depending on the student’s specific research interests) within the School of Psychology, University of Sussex. Students will be part of Jenny Bosten’s vision lab, the Cognitive Psychology research group, and the Sussex Color Group. 

Applications should be made by Friday 22^nd April 2016. If awarded, it would be a full-time studentship (funded for a duration of three years) covering tuition fee, and a maintenance allowance. The maintenance allowance is currently £14,057 per annum. 

Eligibility requirements for potential candidates:

• Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a 1st or a high 2:1 Honours undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, and/or a Master’s degree in Psychology or a related discipline. 

Guidance for applicants:

• Application procedures can be found at: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/applying/2016entry


• Please submit application online for the ‘PhD in Psychology’ programme, September 2016 entry.


• Please state in the ‘Funding information’ section that you are applying for this studentship, giving the title of the project as above and mention the supervisor, Dr Jenny Bosten, in the ‘Supervisor suggested by applicant’ section.


• The proposed source of funding should be specified as ‘School of Psychology’. 

Candidates should provide:

• A research statement that briefly outlines for your proposed research the current state of knowledge, hypotheses that could be addressed, and an outline of potential methods. Your statement should not exceed 2 pages including references, be set at minimum font 10 with margins a minimum of 1cm.


• An up-to-date CV.


• Current degree transcript(s) with full details of performance on all completed courses.


• Two academic references. 

If you have any queries with respect to the application process please e-mail the Postgraduate Coordinator: psychology@sussex.ac.uk

If you wish to discuss the details of this PhD project further, please contact Dr. Jenny Bosten: J.Bosten@sussex.ac.uk