Pamela Jacobsen
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PhD Studentship: Stress Reactivity and Mental Health in Young People University of Bath in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Psychology
Funding
Available
Deadline
Oct 21, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Bath
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About this position
PhD Studentship at the University of Bath in the NIHR Mental Health Research Group, focused on how stress reactivity develops in young people and how it may be measured and improved.
This project explores the links between everyday stress responses and later mental health difficulties in adolescents and early adults, particularly in young people who have experienced adversity in childhood. The research aims to improve understanding of how stress reactivity can be captured at physiological, psychological, and behavioural levels, and to test whether dysregulated stress responses can be modified through small-scale intervention approaches.
A major feature of the project is its methodological emphasis. There is currently no universal gold standard for measuring stress reactivity, so the PhD will compare existing tools and methods with a novel wearable, blood-free microdialysis approach (U-RHYTHM) for ambulatory cortisol and biomarker measurement. The studentship will also use Experience Sampling Methods to better model stress responses in everyday life.
The first phase of the PhD will focus on measurement science and consensus-building around the most robust and reliable tools for young people. The second phase will move to feasibility and pilot work, exploring whether interventions such as exercise or mindfulness could credibly help modify dysregulated stress reactivity in at-risk youth aged 16–25.
The supervisory team includes Professor Pamela Jacobsen, Professor Sarah Halligan, and Professor James Betts at the University of Bath, together with Dr Thomas Upton at the University of Bristol. The successful candidate will be based at the University of Bath within a wider network that includes strong links to Exeter and Bristol, and will join a team investigating outcomes for young people exposed to childhood adversity.
Funding is provided at £21,805 per year, with additional support of up to £2,000 annually for research costs and training, plus £300 per year for travel or conference attendance. The application deadline is 21 October 2026. This is a strong opportunity for applicants interested in youth mental health, stress physiology, wearable sensing, and intervention research.
For more information, the advert directs applicants to the Bath Mental Health Research Group website and the GW4 BioMed application page.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Applicants should be prepared to work with at-risk young people aged 16-25 and to conduct research on stress reactivity, mental health, and intervention piloting. The project involves physiological and psychological measurement methods, including wearable microdialysis-based cortisol measurement and Experience Sampling Methods, so an interest in quantitative research and comfort with novel research technology would be beneficial. No specific degree classification, subject background, or language-test requirement is stated in the advert.
How to apply
Apply via the provided GW4 BioMed application link. Review the project description and prepare your application materials in line with the University of Bath and GW4 BioMed instructions. Submit before the deadline of 21 October 2026.
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