Jenny Freeman

[Full Home and International tuition fees plus a stipend at the 2026/27 UKRI rate (expected £20,780 per annum) for 3 years. The last 12 months of the four-year registration period is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ period. No additional funding for NHS Immigration Health Surcharge, visa costs, or flights.] This PhD studentship at the University of Plymouth offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the advancement of home-based vision monitoring for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Visual disturbances are a common and challenging aspect of MS, often difficult to assess accurately in clinical settings due to their intermittent nature. The project aims to leverage Virtual Reality (VR) platforms to enable patients to monitor their vision at home, providing more precise and comprehensive data that could transform clinical practice and disease management. Supervised by Dr Mahesh Joshi, Professor Jenny Freeman, and Professor Paul Artes, the research will focus on the feasibility and acceptability of home vision monitoring in MS. The work will help build the evidence base for using home-based tests to track vision changes in chronic neurological conditions and contribute to the development of new vision-related metrics for diagnosis and prediction of disease progression. The project offers direct clinical impact, opportunities to develop expertise in VR-based vision assessment, and skills in clinical balance and mobility assessment, as well as a deeper understanding of MS care within the NHS. Applicants should hold a first or upper second-class honours degree in Optometry, Orthoptics, Ophthalmology, or a relevant Masters qualification. Essential skills include prior research or clinical experience with VR devices or vision assessment in neurological conditions, strong organisational and time management abilities, and clinical communication and problem-solving skills. For non-native English speakers, an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component) or equivalent is required. The studentship is fully funded for three years, covering Home and International tuition fees and a stipend at the UKRI rate (expected £20,780 per annum for 2026/27). The final year of the four-year registration period is a self-funded writing-up period. Please note that additional costs such as NHS Immigration Health Surcharge, visa fees, and flights are not covered. Applicants must not work full time while receiving the PhD stipend. To apply, submit your CV, personal statement, degree certificates and transcripts, and contact information for two academic referees via the application link. The deadline for applications is 20 March 2026, and shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview soon after. For informal enquiries, contact Dr Mahesh Joshi at [email protected].