Leverhulme Trust funded Psychology PhD in Museum Reproductions and Visitor Experience at Goldsmiths, University of London Goldsmiths, University of London in United Kingdom

Goldsmiths, University of London is advertising a fully funded PhD studentship under the Leverhulme Trust on museum reproductions, visitor experience, psychology, and cognitive science.

The project, titled Object lessons: Understanding and augmenting the role of reproductions in museums, is an interdisciplinary study led by Dr Rebecca Chamberlain (Reader, Goldsmiths) with supervisory support from Dr Kathryn Eccles (Associate Professor, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford). The successful candidate will work closely with Oxford Internet Institute and Oxford University Museums, including sites such as the Pitt Rivers Museum, the Oxford Museum of Natural History, and the Ashmolean Museum.

The research examines how visitors experience reproductions such as digital scans, 3D prints, and augmented reality, and how these experiences are shaped by the mode of reproduction, the object being reproduced, and the way the object is presented and explained. The PhD includes in-situ studies in museums, behavioural and eye-tracking measures, survey design, and quantitative/qualitative analysis. The student will also contribute to developing a toolkit for museums based on the findings.

Funding: full home-fee waiver plus an annual stipend of £23,805 for 2026-27 (including London weighting), for up to three years.

Eligibility: applicants should have or expect to receive a Master’s-level qualification in a relevant subject such as Psychology, Cognitive Science, or Neuroscience by 1 October 2026. Experience in museums and galleries is beneficial, and an interest in cultural and artistic heritage is essential. This opportunity is open to home (UK) students only.

Deadline: 3 July 2026 at 5pm. The studentship starts on 1 October 2026.

How to apply: submit an online PhD application in Psychology through Goldsmiths’ programme page, title the proposal “Leverhulme Studentship: Object Lessons,” and upload the required documents: CV, personal statement, research proposal (max 1500 words), references, and academic transcripts/degree certificates.