Studentship Opportunities

Project supervised by Prof Heather Flowe (Psychology), Dr Jizheng Wan (Computer Science), and Dr Melissa Colloff (Psychology) together with Matt Whitwam from Promat.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

Accurate eyewitness identification is critical for criminal investigations and public safety. Yet, despite major advances in psychological science, police lineup procedures have changed little in over a century. Most forces still rely on static photographs, and methods that struggle to capture the conditions under which crimes actually occur, such as poor lighting, variable viewpoints, and the use of disguises.

This interdisciplinary PhD offers an exciting opportunity to help modernise eyewitness identification by combining cognitive psychology, immersive technology, and artificial intelligence. The project will test participant witnesses using a mock witness paradigm. Witnesses will be able to adjust lighting, toggle disguise features, and control viewing angle during lineups, creating a memory-congruent identification environment. The project will examine whether these reinstatement opportunities improve accuracy relative to standard, non-adaptive lineups, and how witnesses naturally explore faces under these conditions.

A core innovation of the project is the integration of behavioural data with AI. The student will analyse eye movements, exploration patterns, and verbal reports to develop computational models that predict identification reliability. They will learn to design interpretable, legally robust AI systems, including attention-based deep learning models and reinforcement learning approaches that adapt lineup presentation in real time based on witness behaviour.

A defining feature of the project is close collaboration with Promat, the leading provider of police lineup software in the UK. Through this partnership, the student will gain first-hand experience working with real operational systems, understanding industry constraints, and contributing to research with direct pathways to deployment in policing practice. Joint supervision from Psychology and Computer Science will ensure strong interdisciplinary support while bridging academic research and industry innovation.

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Psychology, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Neuroscience, Data Science, or an allied field. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Experience in coding (e.g., Python/R/Matlab) and experience in behavioural experimentation, statistics, or machine learning is desirable but full training will be provided. Applicants with an interest in human perception, AI ethics, or forensic science are also encouraged.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on 20^th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Professor Heather Flowe ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Dr Danae Arroyos-Calvera (Business), Dr Rebecca McDonald (Business), and Professor Holly Birkett (Business) together with Dr Stefano Cavazzi from Ordnance Survey.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming workplace processes, raising critical questions about how humans and AI collaborate. This PhD project explores the behavioural economics of human-AI interaction, focusing on trust, autonomy, and motivation when AI augments specialist work rather than replacing it.

Partnering with Ordnance Survey (OS), Great Britain’s National Mapping Service, the research will examine the early implementation of an AI-driven automation in geospatial mapping. OS is integrating AI tools to accelerate map updates and reduce costs, while maintaining human oversight for quality and accuracy. This real-world case provides a unique opportunity to study how trust in AI systems develops, whether specialists seek to preserve authority in decision-making, and the impact on job satisfaction and productivity.

The project combines qualitative and experimental methods: interviews and focus groups will identify patterns of successful collaboration and areas for improvement; controlled laboratory experiments will test mechanisms to improve human-AI cooperation; and findings will inform OS’s phased rollout of AI systems. Results will contribute to best practices for human-in-the-loop systems and provide evidence for government policy.

This research offers candidates the chance to address pressing societal questions at the intersection of technology, economics, and human behaviour, with direct impact on industry and policy.

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Economics or a closely related discipline. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Previous experience with behavioural and experimental economics, quantitative data analysis, and qualitative research techniques is desirable, although a successful candidate will not necessarily have experience in all these areas and training will be provided. The successful candidate will need to complete the departmental PhD level courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics as part of their enrolment as a PhD candidate in economics. The successful candidate will have excellent written and spoken communication skills, and a keen interest in conducting impactful research.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place online on 11^th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Danae Arroyos-Calvera ([email protected]) or Dr Rebecca McDonald ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Professor Russell Beale (Computer Science) and Dr Renate Reniers (Medical Sciences) together with Dr Tim Harries from the Department for Transport (DfT).

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

This PhD will aim to understand how driver behaviours change under acute situational stress—short-term, context-specific increases in cognitive load, perceived stress, and time-related urgency. It will translate this understanding into practical interventions for policy and operations.

The project will model behaviour as a shifting continuum influenced by perceived time pressure, traffic density, uncertainty, expectations of disruption and the physical/social environment. Such acute situational stressors arise in scenarios ranging from routine congestion to stadium egress, border queues, major power outages (and the resulting loss of communications and systems functionality), and emergency evacuations.

The PhD student will use systems thinking to map the psychosocial processes that drive behavioural tipping points; those moments when drivers begin to engage in maladaptive behaviour (e.g. rule-bending, blocking, queue-jumping). The student will also examine whether and why these behaviours are disproportionately displayed by certain groups (e.g., elderly people, those with disabilities, tourists unfamiliar with local norms or emergency protocols) and they will identify interventions – communications, routing strategies, preparedness cues – that help keep behaviour in safer, more cooperative regimes, thereby making road networks safer, more equitable, and more resilient.

Candidate

The PhD student will take the lead on the full research programme: designing studies, analysing data, developing models, and co-producing interventions with the Department for Transport (DfT) and other partners. The PhD student will be based at the University of Birmingham and supervised by Professor Russell Beale and Dr Renate Reniers, who bring expertise in the areas of human computer interaction and psychology respectively. The PhD student will be co-supervised by DfT’s Behavioural Science team, work alongside DfT teams at key stages, and have access to operational expertise and real-world datasets. We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree, or good master’s degree, in a social science field such as Behavioural Science, Human Computer Interaction, Psychology, Human Geography, Public Health, or Cognitive Science, reflecting the true interdisciplinary nature of the project. Previous experience with qualitative and quantitative research, the design of behavioural interventions, agent-based modelling, and the use of online experiments is desirable.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place 18^th and 19^th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Renate Reniers ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Dr Susanne Boerner (Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences) and Dr Sebastian Watt (Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences) together with Melanie Duncan from the British Geological Survey.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

Geoenvironmental hazards, such as those arising from volcanism, earthquakes or extreme weather events, pose a wide range of societal and economic risks. Although our capacity to  plan for many hazards has greatly improved in recent decades, atypical events can still present severe and unexpected impacts. These events may be marked out by their extreme magnitude or by compounding multi-hazard processes that depart from usual patterns of activity. In a changing climate, the impacts and the frequency of such events may also change, presenting a challenge for hazard preparedness and disaster risk reduction.

Societal resilience is a key part of sustainable community development and successful crisis management. Understanding community response, awareness and perception of hazards is particularly important for low-frequency or complex events that may depart from prior individual or community experience. Improved knowledge of how a community is likely to behave in the context of such events can provide essential information for education, awareness-building and the appropriate representation of relative risk.

This project seeks to understand community perceptions and knowledge of low-frequency hazards, addressing:

• How is risk perception informed by historical perspectives and community-embedded knowledge, what is the role of scientific knowledge within this, and how does knowledge persist within communities (e.g., via inter-generational transfer)?
• How does understanding of relative risk vary between high- and low-frequency hazards, and how does this collectively inform community response during crises?
• How can educational strategies for emotional resilience be built into disaster risk preparedness strategies to increase community agency and long-term resilience?

To address these questions, the project will develop case studies at volcanic-island communities in northern Indonesia, using volcanic tsunamis as an exemplar that is outside typical community experience. It will contrast community knowledge across communities with different levels of historical experience of this hazard, building on recent geological research in the region. The project will adopt various community engagement methods, incorporating interviews, surveys and participatory activities, designed to evaluate risk perception and hazard response behaviours and community knowledge transfer. In addition to surveys and interviews we aim to co-create participatory approaches that integrate everyday emotions as part of risk reduction education and practice, including community-driven methods. Approaches will be replicated across the study sites, through multi-stakeholder workshops, with a specific focus on young people and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

Findings from the first phase of the project will inform work with Indonesian hazard management stakeholders to understand how community knowledge is incorporated within hazard management protocols, and how site-specific procedures can involve community experience. The project will define the factors that govern risk perception for and emotional responses to low-frequency events, determining how community knowledge and emotional resilience can be evaluated and effectively included within hazard management planning. 

For a more detailed outline of the project plans, please contact the supervisors listed below.

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in the field of the Geosciences, Geography, Environmental Sciences or related disciplines, or with a background in Social Sciences and an interest in interdisciplinary research. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on 17th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Susanne Boerner ([email protected]) and Sebastian Watt ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Dr Melissa Colloff (Psychology), Professor Howard Bowman (Computer Science) and Professor Heather Flowe (Psychology) together with Dr Stuart Gibson from VisionMetric Ltd.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

CCTV footage is a predominant and crucial source of evidence in policing, with an estimated 21 million cameras operating in the UK. Yet more than 80% of real-world footage is too poor in quality to support reliable person identification. This severely limits investigative success and leaves offenders unidentified.

Generative AI–based super-resolution (SR) technologies—such as VisionMetric’s iREVEAL—promise transformative gains by enhancing low-quality facial images. However, there is little scientific evidence on whether these tools improve human accuracy, how they affect machine recognition, and whether they introduce demographic biases.

This interdisciplinary PhD will investigate how generative AI–based super-resolution (SR) technologies influence human and machine-based facial identification. The PhD will combine behavioural experiments, machine learning, and explainable-AI methods to answer questions:

1. Do SR techniques improve human face identification accuracy?
2. How do SR-enhanced images affect machine-based facial recognition, and where do human and machine decisions diverge?
3. Do SR methods perform equitably across demographic groups?
4. Can SR models be improved using human perceptual insights?

This project provides extensive interdisciplinary training from subject experts and industry, including in behavioural experimental design and statistical modelling; computer vision and AI techniques; explainable AI and human–machine comparison methods; and responsible innovation.

The student will work closely with VisionMetric, which is a leading SME supplying facial software to police forces in over 30 countries. Two placements at VisionMetric will provide hands-on experience with AI development pipelines and product development.

This is an exceptional opportunity to build a skillset spanning psychology, AI, fairness, and forensic technology, positioning the candidate for careers in academia, applied behavioural science, AI research, technology, or policy.

The project addresses both the societal risks and potential benefits of AI in high-stakes environments.

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated student with a 1st class or 2:1 undergraduate degree in Psychology, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Neuroscience, Data Science, or a related field. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Experience in coding (e.g., Python/R/Matlab) and experience in behavioural experimentation, statistics, or machine learning is desirable but full training will be provided. Applicants with an interest in human perception, AI ethics, or forensic science are especially encouraged.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on 16^th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Melissa Colloff ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Professor Michalis Drouvelis (Economics) and Dr Arkady Konovalov (Psychology) together with Dr Elena Achtypi from HMRC.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

The UK’s rising fiscal pressures and persistent tax‑compliance challenges have renewed interest in understanding how individuals behave when facing audits, penalties, and opportunities for dishonesty. Experimental economics has shown that compliance varies widely across individuals and contexts, and that enforcement mechanisms must account for differences in honesty, trust, and perceptions of fairness. At the same time, artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming organisational processes, including those related to monitoring, customer interaction, and administrative decision‑making. Yet we still know little about how taxpayers and workers respond when AI becomes part of these systems.

This PhD project investigates human–AI interaction in economic decision‑making using controlled laboratory and online experiments. It brings together behavioural economics, psychology, and digital social science to study how people perceive AI agents and how these perceptions shape honesty, cooperation, and compliance. The project aims to generate evidence that can inform the design of AI‑enabled audit mechanisms, improve organisational productivity, and support fair and effective tax administration. The successful candidate will contribute to a growing interdisciplinary field with direct policy relevance and strong academic potential.

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Economics, Behavioural Science, or a closely related discipline. An MSc degree in a relevant area is necessary. Previous experience with designing and conducting experiments, programming experimental tasks in platforms such as oTree, analysing experimental data using statistical and econometric software (e.g., Python, R, Stata), and reporting experimental results is desirable.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on 18th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Prof. Michalis Drouvelis ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Professor Fern Elsdon-Baker (Engineering/Social Policy and Society) and Dr Rebecca McDonald (Economics) together with Dr Bev Bishop and Sofia Stayte from the Department for Transport (DfT).

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

Future Flight technologies, including advanced civilian-use drones and electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), are approaching large-scale deployment in the UK. Potential applications for drones range from emergency services through to household package deliveries, and eVTOLs could provide short-hop passenger transport and regional connectivity. Drones and eVTOLs could offer more sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to conventional aviation or on-ground transport. However, these technologies raise significant implications for governance. Unlocking their potential depends on effective regulatory and policy frameworks that account for the complex interplay of stakeholders across public, private, and community contexts.

Our world-leading research has identified three intersecting challenges. First, there is limited awareness and engagement among key decision-makers regarding Future Flight technologies. Second, deeper engagement is needed with the organisational cultures of public, private, and third-sector bodies with divergent norms, values, and understandings of risk, safety, privacy, and operational priorities. Third, there is a critical need for meaningful public and community engagement early in decision-making.

Addressing these challenges requires research and governance approaches that are sensitive to organisational behaviour, responsive to local and national contexts, and capable of informing multi-level policy development.

Partnering with the Department for Transport, this PhD will explore behavioural barriers and opportunities shaping the uptake of Future Flight technologies within public sector organisations; investigate these organisations’ perceptions and norms around risk, safety, privacy, and operations; and examine how insights into organisational and public behaviour can inform effective regulation and citizen or community engagement. You will adopt a multi-phase mixed-methods design, including semi-structured interviews, surveys, behavioural experiments, and deliberative public engagement panels. You will join an established team with a strong track record in supportive mentoring, academic excellence, and the delivery real policy impact.

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in a relevant social sciences discipline (e.g.  Sociology, Geography or Economics). An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary, and equivalent professional experience will be considered. Previous experience with quantitative and qualitative research techniques is desirable, although a successful candidate will not necessarily have experience in both areas and training will be provided. The successful candidate will have a keen interest in conducting impactful multi-disciplinary research.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place in mid-March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Fern Elsdon-Baker ([email protected]) or Rebecca McDonald ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Dr Julia Gauly (Social Policy and Society), Dr Marco Bardus (Health Sciences) and Professor Victoria Goodyear (Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences) together with Dr Lisa McNally from Worcestershire County Council.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

This PhD project, BETW33N: Towards Equitable Digital Wellbeing, aims to co-develop and evaluate a digital tool to improve mental wellbeing among adolescents aged 12–15 living in Worcestershire County. The project responds to local priorities around mental wellbeing, loneliness, and social isolation, with a strong focus on equity and inclusion.

Working closely with Worcestershire County Council (WCC), community partners, and young people, the PhD student will co-design an inclusive digital tool providing psychoeducation and signposting, integrated with social prescribing and community connector models. The project seeks to explore how such tools can be implemented safely and equitably, without exacerbating existing health inequalities.

WCC’s Living Well and Loneliness and Social Isolation initiatives will provide an established platform to support co-design, recruitment, and data collection, enabling the development and evaluation of solutions with potential for scalability and real-world impact.

The PhD will involve mixed methods research, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, and offers strong opportunities for applied, participatory, and policy-relevant research.

Candidate

The student will be supported by an experienced and interdisciplinary supervisory team:
Dr Julia Gauly, Dr Marco Bardus, Professor Victoria Goodyear, and Dr Lisa McNally. We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, or Applied Health Sciences (e.g. Psychology, Education, Social Care). An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Previous experience with qualitative, quantitative and/or mixed methods research and/or work or research experience in mental health is desirable.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on the 16^th March 2026 (12pm-3pm) and the 17^th March 2026 (9am -3pm).

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Julia Gauly ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Dr Alexandra Hendry (Psychology) and Dr Sanne van der Kleij (Psychology) together with Evie Keough from Boromi.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

Playful parent-child interactions and child-led exploration in the early years is fundamental to learning, and predictive of diverse positive child outcomes. Barriers such as limited access to resources and low parental confidence in supporting play disproportionately impact children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. A range of initiatives have been implemented to address this – from family-centred interventions, to resource provision. However, impacts are often distal and diffuse, making it difficult to make evidence-based judgements on which initiatives are most impactful, for whom, and why.

This project integrates an in-depth evaluation of the mechanisms-of-change and short-term outcomes of an evidence-based intervention – Boromi Play Libraries – with tests of the role of these mechanisms-of-change in children’s longer-term outcomes. The Boromi Play Library model partners with community and educational settings to provide families with free play bags for children aged 0–5 years. Bags can be taken home or accessed in-situ, and are exchanged every four months to sustain engagement.

Research questions

• How, and for whom, does providing Play Libraries promote children’s development?
• Through which mechanisms-of-change are different child outcomes supported in the short- and long-term?
• What insights into child development can we draw from these findings?

Possible methods

• Systematic review and/or qualitative meta-synthesis of existing research to identify relevant mechanisms-of-change.
• Delphi study to identify priority mechanisms-of-change.
• Mixed-methods evaluation of Boromi play libraries, considering
  • barriers/facilitators of family engagement.the extent to which different mechanisms-of-change are impacted by family engagement, and moderators of these effects.
  • short-term child outcomes such cognitive and language skills, and academic progress.
• Analysis of secondary longitudinal data to evaluate long-term impacts of different mechanisms-of-change on child outcomes.

Candidate

We are looking for a talented PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in Psychology, Education or an allied discipline. A Master’s degree in a relevant area is desirable.

The successful candidate will demonstrate some of the following:

• Excellent written and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and respond to feedback
• Effective project management and problem-solving skills
• Experience with young children and their families
• Experience with quantitative data collection and analysis
• Experience with qualitative data collection and analysis
• Experience in conducting systematic reviews or Delphi studies – An interest in early child development

Interviews are expected to take place on 23^rd March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Alexandra Hendry ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Dr Maria Michail (Psychology) and Dr Sarah-Jane Fenton (Health Services Management) together with Dr Lina Martino from Sandwell Council.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

Male suicide is a major global public health challenge, accounting for around 75% of suicide deaths worldwide. In the UK, it remains the leading cause of death among men under 50, with persistently high rates despite sustained prevention efforts. Traditional research has focused on individual risk factors (e.g., depression, substance misuse, relationship breakdowns), but these approaches often overlook the complex, systemic nature of suicide.

This PhD will apply systems thinking to male suicide in the UK, recognising the dynamic interactions between individual, social, cultural, and structural factors. The PhD aims to develop and test a novel systems-based framework to inform both policy and practice, identifying leverage points for more effective intervention. The successful candidate will use a combination of methodological approaches and techniques including realist review, co-production of complex systems map and case study analysis. They will work closely with stakeholders and experts by experience to ensure the research is meaningful, accessible and co-produced with the communities it aims to benefit.

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Psychology, Health Sciences or a related field. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Applicants should demonstrate experience in both quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Prior experience working with vulnerable or marginalised populations is highly valued, as is familiarity with stakeholder‑engaged research, co‑production approaches, and systems thinking frameworks.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on 20^th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Maria Michail ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Dr Anthony Murphy (Psychology), Professor Heather Flowe (Psychology) and Professor Chris Baber (Computer Science) together with Hannah Sereni and Bethany Smith from The Home Office.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

Stalking and technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) are national concerns, with one in seven adults and one in five women reporting lifetime stalking experiences. Reviews by the Gender & IoT project, DSIT, and Ofcom show that everyday consumer technologies, including IoT devices (e.g., smart cameras, speakers, etc), wearables, GPS trackers, and AI-based tools including deepfake generators are increasingly weaponised for coercive control, surveillance, impersonation and harassment. Despite this, the National Audit Office (2025) concludes that government efforts have not produced demonstrable improvements in outcomes for women and girls, and that significant evidence gaps remain. There is currently no UK-wide taxonomy of emerging-tech stalking, no reliable population-level measurement of prevalence, and no empirical models identifying which technologies, behaviours or combinations are associated with risk of serious harm or escalation. Practice responses, including police cyberstalking guidance, Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs), platform safety measures and specialist tech-abuse services, are fragmented and rarely evaluated.

This PhD aims to map emerging technological harms and the behaviours that sustain them, estimate prevalence, model risk trajectories, and identify system-level interventions relevant to the Online Safety Act, the VAWG Strategy and the Domestic Abuse Plan.

Research questions

1. How are emerging technologies, such as IoT devices, GPS trackers, AI-generated media, and platform-based tools, used to conduct digital surveillance, harassment, and coercive control?
2. What patterns, combinations, and trajectories of emerging-tech stalking behaviour can be identified, how do practitioners make sense of these patterns in real operational contexts?
3. What is the prevalence and impact of emerging-tech-enabled stalking in the UK
4. Which technology-enabled behaviours are associated with elevated risk of escalation, harm, or transitions to physical abuse?
5. What system-level responses offer the greatest potential for harm reduction?

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Forensic Psychology, Criminology, Social Policy, Computer Science/Mathematics. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Previous experience with quantitative and qualitative data, particularly within a criminal justice context will be desirable, as well as a research focus which aligns with understanding behaviour and policy development.

Due to Home Office security clearance requirements, applicants will need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on 13^th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Anthony Murphy ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Dr Sarah Williams (Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences) and Dr Maria Dauvermann (Psychology) together with Georgina Gnan from Youmi Support Ltd.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

Informal caregivers of people living with mental health challenges (e.g., family members, friends, and peer supporters) often experience chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and reduced wellbeing. Despite their crucial role, caregivers rarely have access to tailored psychological support. This PhD project will address this gap by co‑creating an innovative digital toolkit grounded in mental imagery and emotion‑regulation techniques, developed in partnership with Youmi, a digital mental health organisation supporting caregivers.

The PhD student will work closely with caregivers, lived‑experience partners, and Youmi’s multidisciplinary product, design, and engineering teams to design, prototype, and evaluate a digital intervention. The project will use mixed‑methods and participatory design approaches, including qualitative co‑design workshops, prototype development and usability testing, feasibility and acceptability evaluation, and a final randomised controlled trial. The studentship offers unique training at the intersection of behavioural science, mental health, and digital innovation. The successful application will have opportunities to develop skills in co‑production, intervention design, digital health development, and applied mixed‑methods research.

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Psychology, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Mental Health, Behavioural Science, Digital Health, or a related discipline. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. We are also encouraging all applicants to emphasise how their acquired skills and experiences to date would be ideally suited for the PhD project along with highlighting any research experience they have (this could be part of the applicant’s degrees or in their profession). Experience conducting research in psychology, mental health, behavioural science, or a related research area will be an advantage. Experience with qualitative methods, co‑design or participatory approaches, working with caregivers or mental health populations, digital health, or research on stress, emotion regulation, or mental imagery would be desirable. Applicants should demonstrate strong communication skills, the ability to work independently and collaboratively, and an enthusiasm for applied, impact‑oriented research involving lived‑experience partners.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on 17^th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Sarah Williams ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Professor Jessica Woodhams (Psychology) and Dr Marie-Louise Sharp (Psychology) together with Paul Joyce from West Midlands Police and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

The aim of this mixed methods PhD is to investigate the rates and experiences of loneliness in UK Police Investigators and assess the associations/relationships with mental health, wellbeing and workplace performance outcomes.

Loneliness is a significant public health concern as it is associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes. A 2023 systematic review identified that no studies had investigated loneliness in high-risk occupations such as those working in the Police.

In the UK, Investigators in policing are responsible for investigating crimes and building cases for prosecution. The nature of Investigator roles may exacerbate experiences of loneliness such as long work hours/isolated work settings, and increased exposure to distressing materials. There is a substantial evidence gap to understand if and how loneliness might manifest for Police Investigators.

The PhD will conduct a systematic review and, using in-depth interviews and quantitative surveys with Police Investigators, aim to examine loneliness and any impact on health and wellbeing. The study will shape recommendations/interventions to inform future provision of support. The student will work closely with the NPCC/West Midlands Police, including a placement with the partner organisations.

The student will be supervised by Dr Marie-Louise Sharp and Professor Jessica Woodhams. Marie-Louise’s research interests focus on the health and wellbeing of those who work in high-risk occupations such as the Armed Forces and Emergency Responders. Jess has collaborated on multiple studies about the mental health of police professionals and has proposed a model on how PTSD develops from exposure to distressing material, recently co-producing a training course on the topic.

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in a relevant field including Psychology, Epidemiology, Psychiatry and Social Sciences. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Any previous experience is desirable including:

• Stakeholder relationship development/research impact
• Working knowledge of quantitative and/or qualitative research methods – for example, epidemiology, statistics, qualitative interviews
• Experience of recruiting participants/data collection
• Knowledge of research ethics processes/concepts
• Excellent communication/interpersonal skills
• Good writing and organisation skills
• Experience using Stata, NVivo or other research software
• Experience of working with individuals who have experienced trauma
• Interest in health/wellbeing of the Police community

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place 19^th and 23^rd March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Marie-Louise Sharp ([email protected]).  

Project supervised by Dr Anna Lavis (Applied Health Sciences) and Dr Stephanie Burnett Heyes (Psychology) together with Aisha Mahmood from Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

It is known that the climate crisis increasingly shapes young people’s emotional lives, with previous research documenting experiences of eco-anxiety, grief and anger. While such emotions may motivate action, persistent distress can also erode young people’s wellbeing and agency.

Existing evidence is dominated by surveys, with a lack of experimental tools able to investigate how eco-emotions arise in response to climate change information and how they impact action. Furthermore, as social and cultural contexts shape how eco-emotions are experienced and articulated, also needed are qualitative explorations of what young people feel about the climate crisis and how they navigate and make meaning of these emotions.

To date, research has under-represented minority, diasporic and working-class young people, whose experiences of climate threat and access to nature may differ from current understandings. Listening to diverse youth is therefore essential to guide how to communicate and act with, rather than for, young people, supporting wellbeing-sensitive engagement aligned with conservation goals.

Based at the University of Birmingham, and in collaboration between the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust (BBCWT), this PhD project will employ a mixed-methods approach to ask, ‘How do young people experience, interpret and respond to eco-emotions, and how can this knowledge promote wellbeing and action?’

To address this question, the PhD will integrate experimental and ethnographic approaches in order to:

• Apply a mental imagery-based experimental psychopathology model of acute eco-emotions to test causal mechanisms and impacts
• Investigate lived experiences across diverse youth communities
• Translate findings into inclusive engagement strategies that will be undertaken with the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated applicant with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Psychology. An MSc degree in Psychology is desirable though not essential. Previous experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods is essential, as is a robust understanding of both individual and social approaches to understanding mental health. Experience of community/youth engagement (including on potentially sensitive topics such as mental health, and with marginalised groups) is also highly desirable.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on the 3^rd or 10^th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Anna Lavis ([email protected]) and Dr Stephanie Burnette Heyes ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Dr Dorothy Butchard (English, Drama and Creative Studies), Dr Marco Bardus (Applied Health Sciences) and Dr Laura Kudrna (Applied Health Sciences) together with Alex Robinson from Birmingham City Council.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

This PhD project will evaluate how health organisations can work collaboratively with arts organisations to support impactful social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) and use creative methods to promote healthy behaviours. The researcher will combine qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to (1) evaluate current practices and priorities for health messaging in the city of Birmingham; (2) articulate key challenges and opportunities in using creative approaches to emphasise preventative activities to avoid health conditions; (3) identify how future campaigns could utilise creative methods to increase the reach and accessibility of public health information. The researcher will analyse outputs from existing campaigns, collate perspectives across user groups, and create materials that address core challenges.

The researcher will be based in the College of Arts and Law at the University of Birmingham and embedded within Birmingham City Council’s creative public health activities, particularly during key phases such as data collection, participatory workshops, and co-design activities. Training and support will be provided by academic supervisors and partner organisation staff. This includes supportive conversations with professionals in public health and cultural programming, guidance on ethical and participatory research methods, and opportunities to develop skills in stakeholder engagement, policy translation, and creative communication. The researcher will also benefit from informal learning through observing in the day-to-day activities of the Creative Health team and cultural partners. The structured and flexible model of engagement reflects the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the research.

Candidate

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1^st class or 2:1 degree in the fields of English Literature, Creative Writing, Digital Media, Communications or related arts-based disciplines; we will also consider Psychology, Geography, Social Sciences, Liberal Arts. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary.

Desirable experience:

• Research skills: literature review, data collection and analysis (especially participatory research methods).
• Experience collaborating with a variety of stakeholders, such as organisations across the arts and culture sector, community organisations, public sector.
• Experience of community engagement, outreach and co-design.
• Understanding of public health e.g. health messaging, promoting health behaviours; arts, culture and heritage; using ‘arts and health’ approaches.
• Experience communicating complex information to a range of different audiences in written and verbal formats, such as report writing, presentations, blogs, social media.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on 6^th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dorothy Butchard ([email protected]).

Project supervised by Dr Bruño Fraga (Civil Engineering) and Dr Isabel Morales-Muñoz (Psychology) together with Matthew Clark from Hertfordshire County Council.

To apply for this studentship, please submit your application using this link.

Background

This PhD project provides a clear career pathway in the rapidly growing field of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Despite increasing demand, very few postgraduate programmes offer structured access to this multidisciplinary area. The successful candidate will benefit from secondments in public institutions and participation in emerging research networks and (www.linkedin.com/company/breathe-in-plus/; https://chili.ac.uk/), with strong engagement from industrial partners. The research will contribute to improving quality of life and health in the UK and internationally.

The overall aim of the project is to understand how IAQ affects the physical and mental health of children and adolescents, with the ultimate goal of creating healthier indoor spaces and habits. The project will:

1. Use existing datasets to characterise IAQ in spaces where young people live, study and spend time
2. Employ computational models to design and test interventions to improve IAQ in these environments
3. Incorporate behavioural aspects into these models.

The student will use physics-based computational models to simulate air quality in indoor environments, tracking pollutants, damp, mould and allergens, and testing mitigation strategies. These may include recommendations for the design or retrofit of buildings, improvements to ventilation, the use of filtration or disinfection technologies, and the promotion of healthier behaviours. A subsequent phase will apply data-driven methods to assess how such interventions influence mental health outcomes, and how best to communicate IAQ risks and mitigation strategies to occupants. Existing datasets will be used to explore associations between air quality, cognition, sleep and mental health in childhood and adolescence.

The student will be based in the School of Engineering at the University of Birmingham, with a second supervisor from the School of Psychology. They will have access to world-leading computational facilities, a vibrant interdisciplinary research environment, and extensive professional development opportunities. The studentship also includes collaboration with Hertfordshire County Council, providing experience with real-world scenarios. The candidate will develop strong analytical and computational skills while delivering research with clear societal impact.

Candidate

• An Undergraduate degree with at least a 2.1 in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Architecture, Geography or Computer Science.
• A Masters’ degree is desirable but not essential. The student will have the opportunity of taking a relevant M-level module during their PhD.

This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate to advance skills in physics-based and data-driven modelling while contributing to a new health-centred paradigm in building design. Prior experience in air quality, bioinformatics or mental health is advantageous but not essential.

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on 9^th March 2026.

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Bruño Fraga ([email protected]) and Isabel Morales-Muñoz ([email protected]).