PhD studentship: Mapping the shared brain

Applications are invited for a full-time PhD University studentship to support and work in the Department of Psychology, within the Neuroeconomics Research Group (NRG) and alongside the Bath Institute for Mathematical Innovation (BIMI).

Background
Successful human interaction is built upon the formation of shared identities between individuals. The ability to detect the formation of a shared identity between interacting individuals would be hugely significant because it would reveal the psychological framework that underpins social behaviour.

Recent advances in EEG technology and in the emerging ‘social neuroscience’ field indicate that it is now feasible to use EEG to detect neural patterns that indicate the presence of a shared ‘social space’, what we term the shared brain (Gutsell and Inzlicht, 2012; Hatfield, 1993; Nummenmaa et al., 2012). Exploring how the shared brain is formed will elucidate the sub-conscious and conscious processes underlying the formation of a shared identity.

The student will conduct their research under the supervision of Dr Neal Hinvest and Dr Jonathan Dawes.

The project
The student will be a key part of a multi-disciplinary team that will develop and implement innovative procedures for identifying, via EEG, neural markers of the emergence of the shared brain and how the shared brain is associated with the formation of a social identity between interacting individuals.

This project is truly multidisciplinary, drawing on research and methodologies within cognitive neuroscience and social psychology, and modelling techniques from the discipline of mathematics. The successful candidate will work as part of a multidisciplinary team with expertise in these areas.

The successful candidate should:

1. Fulfil the entrance requirements for a Department for Psychology PhD.


2. Have at least a strong understanding of EEG and/or social identity formation.

Given the multidisciplinary nature of the project, a genuine willingness and ability to learn new, relevant, techniques within psychology and mathematics and fill gaps in your knowledge is essential.

The award
The successful candidate will be supported for three years, which will include:

• a £14,296 (2016/17 rate) per-annum stipend


• Home/EU tuition fees


• annual Training Support Grant

View terms and conditions for this award.

How to apply

1. Apply online to study for a full time PhD in Psychology:

• you must quote the project title (Mapping the shared brain) in your application


• you do not need to upload a formal research proposal as this studentship is for a specific project

The application will also ask you to complete a funding request form. Use this to explain your experience and reasons for applying for this studentship and a brief outline of your initial thoughts on the area of research (maximum 500 words).

Deadlines: The closing date for the receipt of complete applications is 12.00 noon (BST) on Wednesday 30 June 2016.

Potential interviews are preliminarily scheduled for Monday 4 July 2016.

Informal enquiries: Enquiries regarding the project should be addressed to Dr Neal Hinvest.

Enquiries regarding the application process should be addressed to psychology-pgr-admissions@bath.ac.uk