PhD Studentship: Mental Health Priorities of People Living with Parkinson’s: A PD-LIFE project

Supervisor: Professor Donncha Hanna

We are seeking a graduate with a background in Psychology, or related, relevant disciplines.

This exciting opportunity will focus on the mental health priorities of people living with Parkinson’s disease using a range of methodologies (which may include evidence & gap maps and Delphi studies) to identify & reach consensus on mental health priorities for this population.

This fully-funded PhD studentship forms part of the wider PD-LIFE programme, which consists of nine linked PhD projects across five universities. The student will join this broader initiative and benefit from cross-institutional mentorship & training, peer support from the wider cohort, and engagement with more than 40 researchers, clinicians, experts by experience, and advocacy partners.

This PhD specifically focused on mental health. It may involve in the integration & analysis of mental health measures across related research strands across the PD-LIFE project and employing Delphi methodologies to reach consensus on mental health priorities with different key groups. Policy briefs will translate these findings for policymakers, voluntary organisations, and advocacy groups across the island of Ireland. In addition, the project will be involved in the generation of state-of-the-art evidence on Parkinson’s and mental health through the development of interactive Evidence and Gap Maps (EGMs). These EGMs will synthesise and quality-assess international evidence on health, social & technological interventions and outcomes relating to mental health in Parkinson’s, presented in an intuitive, interactive format. The work will support cross-border data sharing, identify critical evidence gaps, and provide a platform for targeted future research and funding applications.

As part of the PD-LIFE structure, the student may have the opportunity to spend up to one year working at a partner university during the later stages of the studentship. This will provide additional supervision, access to complementary expertise, and opportunities for deeper collaboration within the consortium. The exact direction of the work may evolve over time, refined in consultation with supervisors and aligned with the overall goals of PD-LIFE.

This PhD is available as a ‘with publications’ model, with an experienced supervisory team with a sustained track record  in supporting doctoral researchers to publish their in high-impact international (Q1) journals.

Eligibility: 

• Applicants should hold or expect to gain a minimum of a 2:1 bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Psychology or a related discipline relevant to the project.
• An MSc in a relevant subject may be advantageous but is not a requirement.
• Due to funding regulations, this studentship is only open to NI/RoI/UK students.

Funding Details:   

• Maintenance allowance of £16,778 per year

This 3-year PhD studentship is fully funded through PD-LIFE under the North South Research Programme, supported by the Shared Island Fund and administered by the HEA. The award covers full doctoral tuition fees for three years, an annual stipend, and additional support for research costs, training, travel, and required equipment. Funding is open to ‘home’ students resident in the Island of Ireland or Great Britain.

Important notes

• For further details on how to apply please see the relevant QUB guidance.
• Applications that do not have the relevant required documents submitted (including a full research proposal) cannot be considered.
• Proposed start date: 21^st September 2026

Deadline: 29th May 2026

Further Enquiries:  

Please see: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research/phd-opportunities/mental-health-priorities-of-people-living-with-parkinsons-a-pdlife-project.html   

Contact: Donncha.hanna@qub.ac.uk

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