[Three-year full-time UKRI studentship beginning September 2026. Covers UK tuition fees (approx. £5,200 per year) and provides a stipend of £21,805 per year. International applicants may apply, but only 'Home' fee costs are covered; international fees are expected to be £22,110 per year, and applicants must self-fund the difference, living expenses, and visa costs.]

The University of Birmingham’s School of Social Policy and Society is offering a fully funded PhD studentship focused on integrating neuroimaging and life-course analysis to better understand trauma and social adversity in justice-involved women with ICD11 complex posttraumatic stress disorder (cPTSD). This interdisciplinary project aims to investigate whether life-course patterns of trauma and adversity are associated with neural and behavioural changes in inhibitory control and emotion regulation, compared to matched controls.

The successful candidate will join a vibrant research environment, working closely with the Centre for Human Brain Health and benefiting from joint supervision by Professor Simon Pemberton, Professor Stephane DeBrito, and Dr Denise Ruprai. The supervisory team brings expertise in trauma-informed research, criminal justice, cognitive psychology, and neuroimaging, ensuring comprehensive academic support and interdisciplinary training.

This project sits at the intersection of social policy, psychology, and neuroscience, and is part of a broader initiative to enhance trauma-informed responses for justice-involved women, particularly through collaboration with third-sector Women’s Centres. These organisations support women facing significant cumulative adversity, who are often underserved by statutory systems and underrepresented in neurobiological research.

The studentship will involve developing and applying life-course chronology methods, collecting and analysing data on cPTSD symptom dimensions, inhibitory control, and emotion regulation, and conducting behavioural and neuroimaging (MRI/fMRI) studies. Advanced quantitative approaches will be used to integrate social, clinical, behavioural, and neuroimaging data. The position offers extensive training in mixed methods research, quantitative modelling, and neurocognitive techniques, as well as opportunities for professional development through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Funding: This is a three-year, full-time UKRI studentship starting in September 2026. It covers UK tuition fees (approx. £5,200 per year) and provides a stipend of £21,805 per year. International applicants are welcome but must self-fund the difference between home and international fees (international fees are expected to be £22,110 per year), as well as living expenses and visa costs. Self-funded or partially funded applicants, including those with external scholarships, are also encouraged to apply.

Eligibility: Applicants should have a strong undergraduate degree (1st or upper 2nd class, or equivalent) in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, applied neuroscience, or a closely related social or health science, with demonstrated quantitative research skills. A Master’s degree with substantial research methods training or relevant professional experience is normally expected. Experience with behavioural tasks, psychosocial or clinical measures, neuroimaging techniques, or working with vulnerable populations is desirable. Due to the nature of the research, this post is open to women only, under the Occupational Requirement in Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010.

Application Process: Applications must be submitted via the University of Birmingham Postgraduate Application Portal for the PhD in School of Social Policy and Society. After submitting your application, email Marcela Avila ([email protected]) with your details and application number. Your application should include a personal statement/cover letter (max 2 pages), a short research proposal (max 2 pages), CV, two academic references, and an academic transcript. Clearly state you are applying for the “Reframing Trauma: Integrating Neuroimaging and Life-Course Analysis in Justice-Involved Women” studentship.

For more information and to apply, visit the University of Birmingham Psychology PhD page.