PhD Studentship in The Association Between Inflammatory Status and (Neuro) Cognitive Processes

Supervisors:  Dr Piril Hepsomali & Dr Daniel Lamport

Project Overview:   

We are seeking a talented and enthusiastic graduate with a background in Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience or related disciplines.

The prevalence of cognitive decline (CD) is expected to reach 152 million by 2050. This increase imply remarkable economic and social burden for healthcare systems, families, caregivers, and the elderly themselves. One of the mechanisms which has gained increasing interest in the role of CD associated with age and neurodegenerative diseases is chronic inflammation.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the presence of sustained inflammatory responses may exacerbate cognitive dysfunction and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in an older aged population. However, the specific domains of cognitive function affected by elevated inflammatory status have not been clearly identified. Additionally, the impact of elevated inflammatory status on the chemical and structural changes in the human brain is currently unknown.

This PhD project will address above-mentioned research gaps by focusing on understanding the associations between inflammatory biomarkers and domain-specific cognitive functions (and their neural correlates) in older adults with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment.

For more information or informal enquiries, please contact Dr Piril Hepsomali (P.Hepsomali@reading.ac.uk).

Eligibility: 

• Applicants should hold or expect to gain a minimum of a 2:1 Bachelor Degree or equivalent in Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience or a related discipline.
• An MSc (merit or distinction) in a relevant subject would also be advantageous.
• Due to restrictions on the funding this studentship is open to UK applicants.

Funding Details:  The studentship commences in October 2024, covers 3 years tuition fees and maintenance of £18,622 (this is the current amount for the 2023/24 academic year)

*Important notes*

1. Please quote the reference ‘DRC24-011’ in the ‘Scholarships applied for’ box which appears within the Funding Section of your on-line application.
2. If the application system prompts you to submit a research proposal, please paste in the project title and move on to the next step in the application.

Application Deadline:  31^st March 2024

Further Enquiries:  

Please note that, where a candidate is successful in being awarded funding, this will be confirmed via a formal studentship award letter; this will be provided separately from any Offer of Admission and will be subject to standard checks for eligibility and other criteria. 

For further details please contact p.hepsomali@reading.ac.uk

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