PhD Studentship: Pro-cognitive processes involved in the treatment of alcohol use disorder

About the award

The University of Exeter’s College of Life and Environmental Sciences, in partnership with SCRAM systems, are inviting applications for a fully-funded PhD studentship to commence in September 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter.  For eligible students the studentship will cover UK/EU tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of £14,296 for 3 years. The student would be based in Psychology in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences.

Academic Supervisors:

Professor Celia Morgan, University of Exeter

Professor Lee Hogarth, University of Exeter

Project Description:

The studentship will involve looking at the neurobiological mechanisms associated with new treatments designed reduce alcohol use. The successful applicant will be able to use cutting edge continuous alcohol monitoring technologies (SCRAM systems) to track the impact of different interventions on alcohol use in healthy volunteers and patients. Other techniques employed will be neuroimaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation and cognitive psychological approaches.

This award provides annual funding to cover UK/EU tuition fees and a tax-free stipend.  For students who pay UK/EU tuition fees the award will cover the tuition fees in full, plus at least £14,296 per year tax-free stipend.  Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but should note that the award will only provide payment for part of the international tuition fee and no stipend.  

Studentships will be awarded on the basis of merit and are awarded for 3 years of full-time study to commence in September 2016.

Entry requirements:

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in Psychology or Neuroscience.  Applicants should have an interest in and knowledge of addiction, psychopharmacology and neurobiology. They should have strong computer skills, and knowledge of or a desire to learn Matlab or a related programming language.

If English is not your first language you will need to have achieved at least 6.5 in IELTS and no less than 6.0 in any section by the start of the project.  Alternative tests may be acceptable, see http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/`apply/english/.

How to apply

Click here to apply

In the application process you will be asked to upload several documents.  Please note our preferred format is PDF, each file named with your surname and the name of the document, eg. “Smith – CV.pdf”, “Smith – Cover Letter.pdf”, “Smith – Transcript.pdf”. 

• CV


• Letter of application (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).


• Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)


• If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English

The closing date for applications is midnight on 26^th May 2016.  Interviews will be held on the University of Exeter Streatham Campus the week commencing 2^nd June.  

If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email cles-studentships@exeter.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)1392 725150/723706.  Project-specific queries should be directed to the main supervisor.

Please see http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=2170 for full application details.