Two fully funded PhD Studentships in Psychology at the University of Liverpool: Health, Psychology and using Research to Bring About Real-world Change

We have 2 exciting PhD opportunities at the University of Liverpool in the Department of Psychology. We are happy to consider applications to one or both of the PhDs, but please ensure application instructions are followed for each PhD.

PhD 1: The psychology of outdoor advertising

This fully funded PhD in Psychology offers the opportunity to use psychology research to benefit society through real-world impact. It investigates how outdoor advertising, particularly for meat and dairy products is associated with health and environmental outcomes. The project will use experimental and statistical modelling methods to generate evidence to inform policy change around food, health and climate change.

This project investigates how outdoor advertising is associated with health and environmental outcomes. In close partnership with Adfree Cities, the student will investigate:

1. The link between advertising exposure and mental health, using large-scale secondary data and modelling
2. How advertising shapes social norms for meat and dairy consumption
3. Whether counter-advertising campaigns (subvertising) can shift perceptions and consumption of meat and dairy products

The project offers the opportunity to develop skills in and apply a broad range of research methods including advanced statistical methods, computational modelling and experimental design, with the aim of generating policy-relevant evidence.

The student will work collaboratively within the Adfree Cities team throughout the project, with hybrid working and in-person placements, including an in-person placement timed to support the launch of a major campaign. Through this partnership, the student will gain hands-on experience in policy engagement, advocacy and public communication. They will contribute to live campaigns, attend meetings with stakeholders (e.g., local government) and help produce reports and policy recommendations.

Applicants should:

• Have an undergraduate (1st class Hons) and Master’s degree (either completed or in progress) in psychology or other relevant quantitative subject
• Be excited about the opportunity to work with a non-academic partner (Adfree Cities) to bring about real-world impact of their research
• Be comfortable using and learning about quantitative data analysis

This project will be based in the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool. To apply for the position, please email Dr Charlotte Buckley charlotte.buckley@liverpool.ac.uk attaching a covering letter, CV, details of 2 referees and a completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (nwssdtp.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/equal-opportunities-monitoring-form.docx)

PhD 2: What can local and national governments do to help people make healthier food choices?

This PhD will examine how the food environment can be changed through public health policy in order to improve diets and reduce obesity and diet-related disease. As part of a large, funded research programme we have an excellent opportunity to appoint a motivated and engaged PhD student to develop their knowledge and research skills on the topic of health psychology, public health nutrition and real-world behaviour.

The PhD will use a combination of methods and generate evidence which will inform local and national public health policy in the UK. The PhD will have two main parts. First, the successful applicant will contribute to a new trial testing whether it is feasible for small out of home food businesses to adopt menu calorie labelling and what public health benefit this could have. This will involve learning about mixed methods approaches to research and then applying those skills to work with participants and food outlets in the local community. Second, the PhD will investigate how food advertising shapes eating behaviour, and how this might change if advertising is restricted. There will be the opportunity to contribute to a randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigating the impact of brand only food advertising and conduct experimental studies examining the psychological processes through which advertising may influence behaviour.

The PhD student will be encouraged to develop their own ideas and research studies alongside supportive academic supervisors. The position would be ideal for a psychology graduate with an interest in research that has potential to improve health and bring about real-world change. Relevant research experience is desirable. The supervisory team have an excellent record of supervising PhD students and helping early career researchers transition into a long-term research career.

This fully funded studentship is supported by a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) programme which aims to understand how we can change the food environment to prevent diet-related disease and obesity. The studentship will be primarily based at the host institute (University of Liverpool). Students will be actively encouraged to engage with and learn from the collaborating institutes in the programme, including Oxford, City St George’s, and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Each studentship has a dedicated budget for personalised training, study visits and external placements, which we anticipate students will use during the studentship.  Students will also become members of the NIHR academy (www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/nihr-academy): a dedicated network to support their training and development as a researcher. 

Candidates should have a 1^st class honours degree (undergraduate) and/or a Distinction at Masters level in psychology.

A candidate with a non-psychology undergraduate degree but a psychology Masters would be eligible, as would a candidate with a psychology undergraduate and related but non-psychology Masters. However, the above classifications will apply (i.e. a 1^st class undergraduate and/or Distinction at Masters level)

Essential attributes include being highly motivated, a desire to improve public health and any relevant research experience working with human participants is desirable (e.g., quantitative and/or qualitative).

For submission: Email your CV, university transcripts (including grades) and a detailed cover letter outlining why you are applying and why you are well qualified for the position by the 01/03/26 (latest) to Dr Charlotte Buckley: Charlotte.Buckley@liverpool.ac.uk

In your CV, please include your overall degree classifications to date and any relevant research experience. If you wish to make an informal inquiry before submission, please contact both Dr Charlotte Buckley and Prof Eric Robinson (eric.robinson@liverpool.ac.uk) in the same email.

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