We have a call currently open for two PhD studentships for an October 2026 start. Both studentships are only open to UK home students.
All our studentships are co-designed and co-supervised by researchers at the University of Birmingham together with partner organisations from a range of sectors. This close link with partner organisations provides a unique learning opportunity for the PhD students to apply their learning across different contexts, sectors and environments beyond that of traditional academia.
Please see below for more detailed information about the available projects. The application process is outlined here.
Application deadline: Please check each individual studentship opportunity below for the deadline.
We are currently inviting applications for the following two projects:
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 upload your application here.
Background
The Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (Centre-UB) is inviting applications for a Doctoral Studentship in association with our collaborative partner, Department for Transport, to start in October 2026.
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.
The PhD student will undertake a full research programme: interviewing participants, leading focus groups, designing studies, analysing data, developing models, designing technological, educational and policy concepts, and co-producing interventions with 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.
Candidate
This application is open to UK home students only. We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1st class or 2:1 degree, or good master’s degree, in a related field such as human-computer interaction, behavioural science, psychology, or cognitive science, reflecting the true interdisciplinary nature of the project. Previous experience with qualitative and quantitative research, the design of behavioural interventions, computer-based modelling and simulation, and online experiments is desirable. Prospective applicants are not expected to be expert in all these areas as training and support will be given where appropriate, but they must demonstrate a range of inter-disciplinary skills and be focussed on human-centred solutions supported by technology.
Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on 26th May, online.
Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Renate Reniers ([email protected]).
Project supervised by Dr Marie-Louise Sharp (Psychology), Prof Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten (Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences), and Dr Rachael Gribble (King’s College London) together with The Invictus Games Foundation, Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 and the Royal British Legion.
To apply for this studentship, please upload your application here.
Background
The Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (Centre-UB) in partnership with the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR), King’s College London (KCL) is inviting applications for a four-year Doctoral Studentship in association with our collaborative partners – The Invictus Games Foundation, Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, and The Royal British Legion to start in October 2026. This PhD is funded by the Invictus Games Foundation, Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, The Royal British Legion and the University of Birmingham.
This mixed methods PhD will investigate factors that affect Invictus Games (IG) competitors’ ability to thrive and maintain their mental health and wellbeing post-Games. The research aims to identify current best practice support offered to IG competitors and to understand what support UK competitors want in the future. This project provides an exciting opportunity to influence future practice of organisations supporting IG competitors and their families.
The Invictus Games is an international sporting event for those in the Armed Forces (Service personnel) and those who have left military service (ex-Service personnel/veterans) who might be wounded, injured and sick. The Games aim to support competitors’ mental and physical recovery. The next Games are in Birmingham (UK) in July 2027.
Whilst the Games offer significant recovery benefits, research suggests challenges such as pre-Games stress and potential post-event ‘blues’. There is however limited evidence to understand competitors longer-term experiences/support needs, and no evidence that assesses best practice in supporting IG competitors.
The PhD will include: a systematic review assessing evidence from previous major sporting events, collate IG nations best practice, use narrative interviews and longitudinal surveys to investigate UK IG competitors’ experiences during/after the 2027 Invictus Games, and understand competitors support needs. The research will inform future practice/policies of organisations supporting IG competitors and their families. The PhD will be shaped by the student and work closely with partners, including a placement.
The student will be supervised by Dr Marie-Louise Sharp (UoB/KCL), Professor Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten (UoB), and Dr Rachael Gribble (KCL). The studentship will be based within the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, UoB.
Candidate
This application is open to UK home students only. We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1st class or 2:1 degree in the field of health/sport/exercise psychology, epidemiology and/or social sciences. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. In their application, candidates are encouraged to highlight the experience they may have with mixed methods research, working with participants and stakeholders, as well as their communication, organisation and overall interest in this area.
Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place between 9th-12th June 2026
Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Marie-Louise Sharp on [email protected].