Richard Tunney

This fully funded PhD position at Aston University, supervised by Professor Richard Tunney, focuses on the study of learning and decision-making in behavioural addictions, particularly gambling disorder. Gambling disorder is a significant and growing public health issue, and this project aims to advance scientific understanding of how individuals transition from recreational gambling to problematic behaviour. The research will investigate the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying learning, decision-making, and risk-taking that contribute to the development and maintenance of gambling disorder. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research group within the College of Health and Life Sciences, working in a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment with access to advanced training in statistical methods, programming, and open science practices. The project will employ experimental psychology, computational modelling, and behavioural neuroscience approaches to uncover the cognitive processes that drive gambling-related behaviours. Potential research questions include how individuals with different gambling experiences learn from intermittent rewards, what cognitive or neural biases predict vulnerability to gambling disorder, whether reinforcement learning models can capture the progression from controlled to compulsive gambling, and how emotional and environmental cues influence risky decision-making. The research may involve designing and conducting experimental tasks, analysing behavioural data, and applying computational models such as reinforcement learning or Bayesian frameworks. The exact focus of the project can be tailored to the candidate’s interests and expertise. Applicants should have a strong undergraduate or master’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, or a related discipline. Experience with experimental design, data analysis, or computational modelling (e.g., MATLAB, Python, R) is desirable. Curiosity, critical thinking, and a passion for understanding human behaviour are essential. The studentship covers home tuition fees and provides an annual maintenance allowance of £20,780. Overseas applicants are welcome but must pay the difference between home and overseas tuition fees (currently £16,844 for 2025/6) and confirm their ability to provide this additional funding. The application process requires submission of transcripts, certificates, a research statement, personal statement, CV, two academic references, evidence of English language proficiency, and a copy of the applicant’s passport. Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. The deadline for applications is January 5, 2026. For further information, applicants can contact Professor Richard Tunney or the Postgraduate Admissions team at Aston University.