Dual-Frequency Deep Brain Stimulation for Cognitive and Affective Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease

This PhD project at City St George’s, University of London, explores the potential of dual-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) to address cognitive and affective symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, beyond its established motor benefits. The research aims to determine whether using two different frequencies of electrical pulses can enhance mood and thinking in people with Parkinson’s who already have DBS implants. Students will engage directly with patients, recording brain and body activity to investigate how stimulation modulates neural circuits and the mind-brain-body interaction. The project is embedded in a world-leading movement-disorders research environment, offering advanced training in clinical neurophysiology, including EEG and ECG signal acquisition and analysis. Students will gain experience in DBS programming, clinical research design, psychophysiological and neuropsychological testing, patient engagement, and research ethics. Statistical modeling and data visualization skills in MATLAB and R are emphasized, and students will have opportunities to present findings at national and international neuroscience meetings and contribute to peer-reviewed publications. Applicants should hold or expect to obtain at least an upper-second-class BSc (Hons) or MSc in Neuroscience, Psychology, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline. Strong written communication and research abilities are required, along with experience in programming (R, Python, or Matlab). Prior experience in neurophysiology, computational analysis, or human experimental research is desirable. The studentship is funded for three years full-time, covering home tuition fees and providing a tax-free stipend in line with UKRI rates. International students are welcome to apply but must cover the difference between Home and International tuition fee rates. Applications should be submitted by 17:00 on Saturday 10 January 2026, with shortlisted candidates invited to interview the following week. For further details and to apply, visit the project link or contact the provided email address.