PhD Scholarships, Anglia Ruskin University, UK (2019)

ARU is home to a vibrant postgraduate research community drawing on high-quality facilities, a comprehensive Researcher Development Programme, and supervisors who are acknowledged experts in their field. At Anglia Ruskin you can pursue your passion.

For the third year we are offering full-time, fully funded, Vice Chancellor's PhD Studentships. These are open to UK/EU fee status applicants. For 2019/20 we are organising these studentships around our eleven research priority areas.

1. Social Inclusion and marginalised communities

The psychology of socially inclusive advertising.

This studentship is devoted to the topical issue of responsible socially inclusive advertising. While tougher advertising standards are being introduced and Social Media backlash increases, advertisers aren’t equipped with relevant tools to effectively implement inclusive and less biased practices.

Enhancing inter-professionality in the provision of mental health services for LGBT+ youth

This studentship will use Social Network Analysis (SNA) to examine ways professionals are best able to support Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people experiencing mental health challenges.

Heritage language bilingualism: challenges and opportunities

The focus of the studentship will be to contribute to the documentation of the grammar of a UK heritage variety, ideally one spoken widely in the East of England and GCSE/A-level qualifications exist. A background in syntax/language documentation is essential.

2. Ageing

Effectiveness of cognitive training in ageing: an individual-centred approach

The utility of so called ‘brain training’ techniques for improving cognitive abilities is widely debated. The successful applicant will explore the role of participant characteristics in the effectiveness of cognitive training for older adults. The overall aim is to develop more effective and targeted approaches to maximise the likelihood of positive outcomes.

3. Sustainability and environment

User engagement with renewable energy: what works in theory and what is done in practice?

This studentship will explore how, and how effectively, different user engagement theories are being applied in local and integrated renewable energy projects.

4. Crime and policing

Life on the ‘sex offender register’: identity, reintegration and the significance of de-registration.

This studentship will develop understanding of sex offenders' experiences of being subject to the Sex Offender Register and Notification (SORN), frequently referred to as the ‘sex offender register’; as well as developing an understanding of the process of de-registration and the significance of this for both the registered sex offender and their community.

5. Built environment and future cities

CPM 4.0: Building Our Future Cities

This studentship aims to re-evaluate Construction Project Management (CPM) from complexity perspectives and to develop new 4.0-ready project tools accordingly.

6. Creative practice and creative industries

Storytelling, workflow and language in the fourth industrial revolution

Emerging digital creative technologies are disrupting conventional narrative structures. This practice-based studentship will investigate how traditional creative practice workflows and processes are changing within these new storytelling landscapes, by devising, realising and evaluating a series of prototype studies.

7. Vision

Development of an evidence-based, sport-specific classification system for vision-impaired athletics

The aim of this studentship is to design a new evidence-based classification system for athletics for individuals with vision impairment.

8. Music therapy

The impact of music therapy on the physiological and psychological stress of being a carer for a partner with dementia.

This studentship will examine the role of music therapy as a method for reducing the perceived stress of caring for a partner with dementia using innovative biomarkers, such as measures of hair cortisol, heart rate variability and validated psychological measures.

Designing and testing a musical instrument application with in-patients for hand rehabilitation following stroke

This studentship will culminate in the production and clinical testing of a music-based touchscreen app for the rehabilitation of hand function following stroke.

9. Medical devices and technology

Development and evaluation of an innovative system for assessing and monitoring of inflammation in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

This studentship aims to develop and evaluate a cost-effective system for home use that provides an objective assessment of disease status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that correlates with current clinical indices (DAS28 and ultrasound synovial thickness).

10. Entrepreneurship and applied innovation

Reimagining Entrepreneurship in Artisanal Brewing and Craft Beer: Is the Economy going ‘back’ to the future?

This studentship will explore how craft beer and micro-breweries are changing the brewing industry and innovating products, processes and a wider paradigm of production and consumption.

11. Sustainable health systems

Music Therapy, Dementia and Sustainable Health

This studentship is linked to the project, HOMESIDE, involving Family Care Givers and People with Dementia dyads; from 5 countries. You will work primarily in the UK, testing the effectiveness of a home-based music program and its capacity to reduce Behavioural and Psychological Problems.