Psychology PhD studentship

Psychology Doctoral Research Studentship - Psychology of Economic Inequality (2023)

What you get

• A stipend for 3 years (rising in line with UKRI studentship rates, currently £17,668 p.a.) to cover living costs.
• Home fees or International fees and research/training costs (including field work costs) are also covered for 3 years.
• You will also be expected to take up Doctoral Tutoring during your 6 semesters (3 years) of funding. This work is paid at Grade 5.1 (currently £13.88 per hour), and covers contact time, preparation and marking. You will be expected to work approximately 165 hours per year, dependent on modules selected and availability.

 

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

Economic inequality is one of the defining challenges of our era. Economic inequality has dramatically risen over the last decades, and the Covid-19 pandemic has amplified this trajectory to unsustainable new levels. Economic inequality is a major reason for public concern because it can erode people’s health and because it undermines societal cohesion. Social scientists are puzzled by the economic inequality paradox: Given the negative consequences that societies and individuals face under conditions of high economic inequality, why do people go along with it?

To date, social science research has struggled to provide a satisfying answer because it has not yet developed an integrated theory. The PhD student will contribute to ongoing work within our research group that aims to develop such an integrated theory. At its core lies the reconceptualization of economic inequality as a dynamic system that includes individuals as being shaped by and as shapers of economic inequality through the interactions with their daily environments.

The PhD student will carry out an original research project that focuses on the psychology of economic inequality and may employ a range of methods including experience sampling, experiments, secondary data analyses, or agent-based modelling.

Projects may focus on one of the following questions (or any one within our area of expertise):

• How much do people experience economic inequality in their daily environments, how do they react to and make sense of it?
• What are the mechanisms through which economic inequality gets under people’s skin and into their thinking?
• How does the experience of economic inequality shape individuals’ decision-making?

 The PhD student will be introduced to a network of international collaborators, and they may have the opportunity to intern with one of them. The candidate is expected to be collaborative and flexible and to possess the ability to navigate competing priorities. Extensive research experience is essential, and a strong background in statistical analyses is desirable.

This PhD project will be supervised by Dr Matt Gobel and Dr Matt Easterbrook.

Doctoral Tutor role

You will also be expected to take up Doctoral Tutoring during your 6 semesters (3 years) of funding. This work is paid at Grade 5.1 (currently £13.88 per hour), and covers contact time, preparation and marking. You will be expected to work approximately 165 hours per year, dependent on modules selected and availability.

Doctoral Tutors will be encouraged to study for a formal teaching accreditation (Associate of the Higher Education Academy), including enrolling on a ‘starting to teach’ module in the first term. Candidates who demonstrate interest in and suitability for the Doctoral Tutor role will be preferred. 

Eligibility

• This award will pay fees at the Home or International rate (as required by the applicant's fee status). International students must move to Sussex for the duration of the PhD and will not be permitted to register as Distance Learners. The studentship does not include additional funding towards the costs of visas or travel to the UK for international students.
• Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a First or a high Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, and/or a  Merit (an average of 60% overall) in a Master’s degree in Psychology or other relevant discipline.
• The University of Sussex believes that the diversity of its staff and student community is fundamental to creative thinking, pedagogic innovation, intellectual challenge, and the interdisciplinary approach to research and learning. We celebrate and promote diversity, equality and inclusion amongst our staff and students. As such, we welcome applications from all, regardless of personal characteristics or background. 

Number of scholarships available

one

Deadline

13 February 2023 23:45

How to apply

• Please read our Psychology PhD FAQS and our Prospectus before you start your application.
• Please submit your application online for 'PhD in Psychology' for entry in September 2023.

• In the 'Supervisor suggested by applicant' section of your application, put 'Matt Gobel'.
• In the 'Proposed source of funding' section of your application, please put 'Psychology Doctoral Research Studentship - Gobel'. 

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. The research proposal should be approximately 1,000 to 1,500 words in length and not exceed 3 pages, including references. It should be set at a minimum of 10 font type with margins a minimum of 1cm. Applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisor for more information about the project before writing their proposal.
• Current degree transcript(s) with full details of performance on all completed courses. 
• Two academic references.
• An up-to-date CV.
• A document summarising any teaching experience you have and illustrating your suitability for a Doctoral Tutor role. 

Contact us

For queries with respect to the application process: psychologyphd-enquiries@sussex.ac.uk 

To discuss the details of your research interests further, please contact Matt Gobel

 

Timetable

Deadline: Monday 13 February (23:59 GMT) [extended from 30 January]

Interviews (on Zoom): TBA