3-year PhD studentship to commence February 2025
Application deadline: Monday 12 August 2024 (23:59 BST)
The NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is offering one fully funded 3-year PhD studentship within the Experimental Medicine and Novel Therapeutics research theme.
Are you interested in applying brain imaging to better understand the neurobiology of schizophrenia? We are seeking one talented and highly motivated individual for an innovative 3-year PhD studentship. The successful candidate will have a strong academic background in psychology or neuroscience, and a desire to work with neuroimaging (MRI) data applied to clinical research.
This award is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), through the Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
Our aim is to pioneer multidisciplinary translational research and experimental medicine in the areas of mental health and neuroscience.
To achieve this we select the best students and provide them with excellent training, tailored flexibly to their individual needs and interests. We will equip them with the intellectual and technical skills that are needed for the future of translational research, and complement this with key transferable skills (including public engagement, business development and entrepreneurship) to ensure that they emerge as well-rounded scientists, prepared for their next career stage. Our excellent clinical setting will ensure all students benefit from an understanding of the context of their research and produce scientists with a strong translational ethos.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is the UK’s largest NHS mental health service provider with a long history of involvement in translational research and training in partnership with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London.
The IoPPN is the largest academic community in Europe dedicated to the study, treatment and prevention of mental health problems and neurodegenerative disease. It is the world’s leading centre for mental health research in terms of citations of our publications. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework the IoPPN was judged to have a 100% 'outstanding' (4*) world leading research environment. The impact of its research outside academia scored 92% 'outstanding' (4*) and 8% 'very considerable' (3*).
The IoPPN offers excellent opportunities for research training in basic and clinical science across the mental health spectrum including its interface with physical health, precision psychiatry, novel therapeutics and translational informatics. Studying at the IoPPN you will benefit from world class research and clinical facilities plus internationally recognised supervisors.
We continuously strive to be an inclusive, culturally aware and culturally competent organisation that respects the differences of our community by providing an environment that both acknowledges and celebrates diversity and embraces inclusion.
Important: Before applying for one of these studentships, please read the information provided under the headings below.
Applications deadline: Monday 12 August 2024 (23:59 BST)
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Interviews are planned for the week commencing 09 September 2024 (day to be confirmed).
Supervisors
Professor Alice Egerton
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience
Email: Alice.Egerton@kcl.ac.uk
Website: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/alice.egerton
Dr Nicolaas Puts
Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience
Email: Nicolaas.puts@kcl.ac.ukNicolaas.puts@kcl.ac.uk
Website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/nick-puts
Dr Cathy Davies
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience
Email: cathy.davies@kcl.ac.uk
Website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/dr-cathy-davies
Project Details
Background: This project uses advanced brain imaging techniques to characterise glutamatergic (excitatory, E) and GABAergic (inhibitory, I) synaptic function in schizophrenia. E/I synaptic function is fundamental to schizophrenia and thus a major target for novel drug development. Progress in this area is impeded by a lack of suitable measures of E/I function in the living human brain, against which novel compounds could be tested during early clinical development.
This project will use ultra-high field (7T) MRI and functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS) to measure brain glutamatergic and GABAergic dynamics in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and healthy volunteers. It will go beyond collecting single static measures of glutamate or GABA concentration, as has been done previously, and examine the dynamic changes in glutamate / GABA which occur during visual stimulation, and the orderliness / complexity of glutamate and GABA signals, which may respectively better reflect E/I synaptic activity and synaptic dynamics. The project focuses on people with treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS), and cognitive symptoms – which are the areas in greatest need for new therapeutics.
Together with the research team, the student will recruit and assess study participants and acquire MRS data. They will use and adapt an existing analytical platform and large healthy volunteer dataset for glutamate / GABA dynamics at 3T to the study data at 7T for their analyses.
Novelty and Importance: Application of fMRS to study E/I synaptic function in schizophrenia is novel, and only recently possible since installation of the KCL 7T scanner. The PhD should deliver a neuroimaging platform against which potential interventions can be tested in future experimental medicine studies.
Primary aim: To characterise E/I synaptic function and dynamics in relation to TRS and cognition.
Study design and sample size: Case control neuroimaging study; 3 groups (healthy volunteers, TRS, remitted schizophrenia), n = 25/group.
Planned research methods and training provided:
- Application of case-control, neuroimaging, and translational approaches to mental health.
- Recruitment and assessment of study participants
- 7T fMRS data acquisition and analyses
- Academic writing, presentation and publication, transferable skills
Objectives / project plan:
Year 1: Completion of compulsory and bespoke training; participant recruitment, data acquisition; adaptation of fMRS dynamics platform at 3T to 7T and publication of this work; introduction to PhD thesis.
Year 2: Participant recruitment, data acquisition; data analyses.
Year 3: Complete data analyses, prepare publications, finalise thesis including overall discussion.
Two representative publications from supervisors
Publication 1: Variability and magnitude of brain glutamate levels in schizophrenia: a meta and mega-analysis. Merritt, K., et al., Egerton A., 2023. Molecular Psychiatry doi: 10.1038/s41380-023-01991-7.
Publication 2: Pasanta, D., He, J. L., Ford, T., Oeltzschner, G., Lythgoe, D. J., & Puts, N. A. (2022). Functional MRS studies of GABA and glutamate/Glx - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 144, 104940. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NEUBIOREV.2022.104940
Maudsley BRC research themes
- Psychosis and Mood Disorders
- Neuroimaging
- Experimental Medicine and Novel Therapeutics
Keywords: Schizophrenia; Experimental Medicine; Neuroimaging; Glutamate; GABA.
Award
Funding is available for:
- One 3-year PhD studentship to commence February 2025.
The award covers:
- Full Home rate tuition fees;
- A stipend (£21,237 per year);
- A contribution towards training, conference attendance and research costs.
Overseas applicants may apply but will need to cover the difference in tuition fees.
Fee status guidance - Home or Overseas?
Determining whether you are classified as home or overseas depends on whether you meet certain criteria. These criteria are set by the Government’s Department for Education. To be classed as a home student, applicants usually fit into one of the following categories, subject to residency requirements being met:
- be a UK national (meeting residency requirements)
- have settled status
- have pre-settled status
- have indefinite leave to remain or enter.
For full details of all the different categories of student who can be classified as home, please read UKCISA guidance, including the explanatory information provided in this PDF guide.
If you do not fit into one of these categories, you are most likely classified as overseas.
For Stage One of the application process please self-identify your fee status as best you can using the guidance and links provided above. If you progress to Stage Two, your fee status will be fully assessed and confirmed by KCL Admissions.
Entry Requirements
The programme is very competitive and applicants must have, or be predicted to obtain at least a 2.1 or equivalent overseas qualification in a relevant science subject.
Students who do not meet the above primary criteria may apply if they satisfy the following conditions:
- A 2.2 BSc degree and a MSc in a relevant subject with Merit or Distinction.
- A 2.1 or higher non-science first degree (BA) and a MSc in a relevant subject with Merit or Distinction.
English Language
Applicants for these studentships must meet the King's College London Band D English language requirements. Any offer you are made will be conditional upon you meeting these requirements prior to enrolment.
Further information is available on the King's College London English language entry requirements page.
Strengthening our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
In line with the NIHR's national strategy we aim to:
- foster an inclusive environment
- engage the talents and energy of diverse people in all areas of our work
- improve the relevance and quality of our research
We are committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all of our activities so that the university is an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place to work and study, regardless of age, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, caring responsibilities and other characteristics.
We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented at PhD-level study.
People who have used mental health services are actively encouraged to apply.
You will benefit from the wide range of training and support offered by King's College London to its postgraduate research students.
Maudsley BRC students are members of the NIHR Academy and have access to resources and training opportunities provided nationally through the Academy and wider NIHR infrastructure.
Applying to this programme is a three-stage process.
Stage One
To apply for this studentship at Stage One please send the following to Professor Alice Egerton (alice.egerton@kcl.ac.uk) by 23:59 BST on Monday 12 August 2024:
- CV – including both educational and professional history;
- Personal statement, including why you are interested in this project and your motivation to apply for a NIHR Maudsley BRC studentship;
- At least one academic reference - see below.
Academic references – all applications require at least one supporting reference written on the referee's formal institutional headed notepaper. If the applicant is relying on their referees to submit a reference directly to the College, the applicant must ensure that (1) their chosen referee is made aware of the application deadline and (2) that the reference must be sent from an institutional email address.
Applicants are very welcome to email the project supervisors for more information regarding the project.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to Stage Two.
Stage Two
Successful candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview during the week commencing 09 September 2024 (day to be confirmed).
Interviews will be held online via MS Teams.
Following the interviews, candidates will be contacted via email and informed of the outcome of their interview. The successful candidate will be required to complete Stage Three.
Stage Three
The successful candidate will be asked to submit an application and Project Approval Form (PAF) via King’s Apply where final checks on academic qualifications, English language requirements and fee status will be made.
Providing all checks at Stage Three are successful, the candidate will be sent a formal offer letter confiirming their programme of study and funding.
Further Information
If you have questions please email: cathy.davies@kcl.ac.uk
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Read our latest research news: https://www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/blog/
