School of Psychology PhD Studentship: Optical imaging and manipulation of the neural substrates of the reinforcing effects of heroin versus cocaine (2018)

Supervisors: Prof Aldo Badiani and Dr Hans Crombag (School of Psychology, University of Sussex)

It is commonly thought that the reinforcing effects of all classes of addictive drugs are mediated by the activation of shared neural substrates. However, studies in rodents and humans suggest that the substrates of heroin reward are largely distinct form those responsible for cocaine reward (Badiani et al. 2013). In particular, recent molecular biology experiments conducted in our laboratory (using the catFISH in situ hybridization technique) indicate that the neuronal circuitry engaged by heroin overlaps only partially with that engaged by cocaine. The aim of the present project is to further investigate the neural basis of heroin versus cocaine reward in rodents using optical imaging and manipulation techniques (such as optogenetics and fiber photometry calcium imaging) in combination with intravenous drug self-administration, drug-induced conditioned place preference, and drug-induced locomotor activity.

Applications should be made by Sunday 21st January 2018

What you get

£14,553 tax-free bursary per annum, plus a fee waiver

Type of award

PhD studentship available for September 2018

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements for potential candidates:

  • Studentship awards will be based on a competitive process, including interview. There are two types of awards available: +3 studentships, which fund a three-year full-time PhD, and 1+3 studentships, which fund a one-year Master's degree followed by a three-year full-time PhD. Full-time studentship covering tuition fee, and a maintenance allowance (currently £14,553 per annum).
  • The competitive awards are funded by the School of Psychology (+3, eligibility: Home or EU residency); the ESRC (1+3 or +3, eligibility at South-East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS); or the Chancellor's International Research Scholarship (+3, eligibility at Chancellor's International Research Scholarship (2018).
  • Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a First or a high Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, and/or a Master's degree in Psychology or a related discipline.

Deadline

21 January 2018 23:59

How to apply

Guidance for applicants:

  • Application procedures can be found here.
  • Please submit your application online for the 'PhD in Psychology' programme for September 2018 through this link.
  • In the 'Supervisor suggested by applicant' section of your application form, please put name of supervisor
  • In the 'Proposed source of funding' as School of Psychology and/or SeNSS, or CIRS).

Candidates should provide:

  • A research proposal that outlines your knowledge of the research area, hypotheses that could be addressed in your PhD, and an outline of potential methods. Your answer should not exceed 2 pages including references, be set at minimum 10-font type with margins a minimum of 1cm.
  • Current degree transcript(s) with full details of performance on all completed courses.
  • Two academic references.
  • An up-to-date CV.

Sponsors

The School of Psychology is one of the largest centres for the study of psychology
in the UK. We have nearly 40 academic faculty, about 100 research students and
the same number of postgraduate students taking Master's degrees. Our
undergraduate intake is about 250 a year, which gives us an academic community
of nearly 1000 people working in a rich and supportive learning environment.

Psychology is a diverse discipline and our size means that we span major
research areas in social, cognitive, biological, developmental and clinical
psychology. Psychology at Sussex was rated 10th in the UK for research in the
2014 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 91% of our research at Sussex is
ranked as world-leading or internationally significant.

Contact us

For queries with respect to the application process please send an email for the attention of 'Postgraduate Coordinator' to: psychologyphd-enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

To discuss the details of this PhD project further, please contact Prof Aldo Badiani via email: Aldo.Badiani@sussex.ac.uk

Timetable

Deadline for applications: Sunday 21st January 2018

Availability

At level(s):
PG (research)

Application deadline:
21 January 2018 23:59 (GMT)
the deadline has now expired