Psychology Doctoral Research Studentship – Neural mechanisms underlying adaptive and maladaptive adolescent anxiety and behaviour (2024) at University of Sussex

Psychology Doctoral Research Studentship – Neural mechanisms underlying adaptive and maladaptive adolescent anxiety and behaviour (2024)

PhD project

This Project will be supervised by Dr Liat Levita. Starting in September 2024.

Adolescence is associated with high levels of anxiety. Abnormal approach and avoidance behaviours are typical in people suffering high levels of anxiety and anxiety disorders. However, how they manifest themselves during adolescence is less well explored. Moreover, adults and adolescents respond to threat differently, e.g., in the way they learn to predict danger and learn that something is safe.  This PhD project will examine what are normative/adaptive approach & avoidance responses versus pathological ones (i.e., ones that can lead to or are a symptom of a mental health issue, such as anxiety) in adolescents, by using behavioural, psychophysiological (heart rate and SCR), endocrine (e.g., cortisol) and brain imaging (EEG) measures.  This project will suit a candidate with an interest in adolescent development and mental health, with a background in psychology/neuroscience with some programming and brain imaging experience. 

Key references 

Linton & Levita (2021). Potentiated perceptual neural responses to learned threat during Pavlovian fear acquisition and extinction in adolescents. Dev Sci.

Howsley, & Levita, L. (2017) Anticipatory representations of reward and threat in perceptual areas from preadolescence to late adolescence. Dev Cogn Neurosci. 

Heller & Casey (2016). The neurodynamics of emotion: delineating typical and atypical emotional processes during adolescence. Dev Sci, 19(1), 3-18.

Developmental Adolescent Neuroscience Lab: Lab website

Eligibility

• Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a First or a high Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, and/or a Merit (an average of 60% overall) in a Master’s degree in Psychology or other relevant discipline.
• The University of Sussex celebrates and promote diversity, equality and inclusion amongst our staff and students. As such, we welcome applications from all, regardless of personal characteristics or background.

What you get

• A stipend for 3 years (rising in line with UKRI studentship rates, currently  £18,622 p.a.) to cover living costs.
• Home fees or International fees and research/training costs are also covered for 3 years.
• You will also be expected to take up Doctoral Tutoring during your 6 semesters (3 years) of funding. This work is paid at Grade 5.1 (currently £15.15 per hour), and covers contact time, preparation and marking. You will be expected to work approximately 165 hours per year, dependent on modules selected and availability.
• The studentship does not include additional funding towards the costs of visas or travel to the UK for international students.

How to apply

• Please read the full advert, our Psychology PhD FAQS and our Prospectus before you start your application.
• To discuss the details of your research interests further, please contact Dr Liat Levita

Deadline: Thursday 11 December 2023 (11:59 am)