8 May
2013
8 May
'13
7:59 a.m.
Project title: *Unifying social and biological approaches to early
detection of dementia*
Proposed start date: October 1st 2013
Project description:
*The Wales Integrative PhD Scheme in Neurodegeneration (WIN)* aims to
train students in multi-disciplinary approaches to the early detection
of neurodegenerative diseases. The proposed cross-disciplinary training
in social, psychological, genetic and biological approaches is designed
to equip students with the skills to lead future inter-disciplinary
research teams in this key research area, and related public health domains.
Funding is provided for four years to ensure time to acquire the
relevant inter-disciplinary research skills, and to undertake projects
crossing traditional research boundaries. The students will be appointed
as a single cohort, allowing them to learn and develop their skills
together, as well as benefit from interaction with students on related
PhD training schemes in Cardiff and Bangor (e.g. Wellcome Trust
Integrative Neuroscience PhD Scheme, Cognitive Function and Ageing
Studies PhD scheme, ESRC Wales DTC studentships).
The focus of the five projects will be on the early detection of common
neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal
dementia and/or Parkinson’s disease. A key aspect of the projects will
be interlinked research on 2 of the following topics:
*novel multi-modal psychological and/or imaging biomarkers*
*patient/carer-focused behavioural interventions*
*policy informed by psychological models of attitudes/health behaviour*
*awareness of the socio-ethics and experiential dimension of early
detection*
Students should be willing, therefore, to acquire multi-disciplinary
training, and to develop novel methods for bridging these research areas
during their PhD. For example, combining imaging biomarker studies in
Alzheimer’s disease with complementary consideration of the socio-ethics
of early detection, or investigating quality of life in families at high
risk of developing frontotemporal dementia alongside studies aimed to
understand the breakdown of social cognition in the disease. Students
may also have the opportunity to develop collaborative links with the
Memory and Aging Centre (UC San Francisco) depending upon their PhD project.
For full details including eligibility please see:
http://courses.cardiff.ac.uk/funding/R1064.html
*How to apply:*
*
*
Please use our online application service at
www.cf.ac.uk/regis/general/applyonline/index.html
<http://www.cf.ac.uk/regis/general/applyonline/index.html> to apply for
a PhD in Psychology, with an Oct 2013 start date (programme code RFPDPSYA).
You should specify in the funding section on the application form that
you wish to be
considered for ESRC/WIN funding.
*Application deadline:*
31st May 2013
with decisions being made soon after interview (first or second week in
June).
Andrew Lawrence
Professor
School of Psychology
Cardiff University
Tower Building, Park Place
Cardiff CF10 3AT