Mulberry Bush Studentship (2022)

What you get

The scholarship covers 3 years of:

•  a living allowance starting at £16,062 per year in 2022-3 rising in line with Research Council rates
• UK PhD fees
• Research costs of £750 per year

Type of award

3-year full-time PhD studentship in Childhood and Youth

PhD project

The studentship has a specific focus, in line with the aims of the funding organisation; this is to improve understandings of how best to track the social and emotional development of children over time, particularly those who have experienced trauma. As part of the doctorate, the successful applicant will take forward the development of the ‘Sea Scale’ – a short standardised measure of social and emotional adjustment which can be used by teachers and practitioners. The scale was developed in collaboration between Sussex and the Mulberry Bush and has already been the subject of other studies. The applicant will explore the Sea Scale’s strengths and limitations, relate it to other similar measures, and explore how a strength-based approach might influence and shape thinking and practice about children’s social and emotional capacities. There will also be the opportunity to consider what alternative approaches might provide additional or different benefit (including ways in which children themselves could make to assessments of their development). A mixed-methods methodology will be expected, to ensure that all the relevant stakeholders are consulted in the development and critical evaluation of these tools; this will include the voices of children, parents/carers, and practitioners. The doctoral proposal will be shaped by the student in collaboration with the Mulberry Bush and the doctoral supervisors, and there will be three reviews per year with this team. The primary supervisor will be Professor Michelle Lefevre, a social worker and psychotherapist, who leads the Centre for Innovation and Research in Childhood and Youth at Sussex. The second supervisors will be Professor Robin Banerjee and Dr Helen Drew, from the School of Psychology.

Eligibility

Essential skills and experience:

• An undergraduate degree in a relevant subject;
• A masters’ degree which included a substantial component of research methods training;
• Experience of mixed-methods research;
• Proven skills in quantitative research;
• Willingness to undertake additional training in advanced statistical methods, and any other methodologies necessary to further the research.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to liaise and communicate with multiple stakeholders and across multiple contexts or interdisciplinary teams.

 Desirable skills and experience:

• Familiarity with using standardised measures in a practice or research context;
• Experience in a work or volunteer role with children
• Experience in a work or volunteer role with people who have worked with, or been carers for, children with additional or complex needs.

Eligibility – UK and International. Please note that International candidates can apply providing they cover the balance of fees. You will need to provide evidence at the point of application that you have funds in place to top up the scholarship.

Number of scholarships available

1

Deadline

15 July 2022 23:45

How to apply

Please submit a formal application for the PhD in Childhood & Youth Studies using our online application system which you can find here: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/applying and state Mulberry Bush Studentship in the award details section.

 Candidates will need to upload all of the following documents:

1. Research proposal (https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/phd/apply/tips-research-degrees/research-proposal )
2. MA/ degree certificate
3. MA/ degree transcript
4. BA degree certificate
5. BA degree transcript
6. A current CV
7. International only - Evidence of English Language proficiency (if applicable, see here for more information: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/phd/apply/international-qualifications/english-language-research#Ielts )
8. International only - You  will need to provide evidence at the point of application that you have funds in place to top up the scholarship.

Contact us

Professor Michelle Lefevre m.lefevre@sussex.ac.uk 

Dr Helen Drew H.M.Drew@sussex.ac.uk

Professor Robin Banerjee r.a.banerjee@sussex.ac.uk

Timetable

The deadline for applications: Friday 15^th July

Shortlisted canddiates notified for interview by Friday 22^nd July

Interviews held on Friday 29^th July (this will be online)

Date of result: Friday 5^th august