✨Prospective PhD Students✨

👋 Initial Contact

Please send me an email with your CV and a concise description of your academic background, research experience, and specific interest in our work. I’m particularly interested in understanding what motivates your pursuit of doctoral studies in this field.

Note: For September entry, please contact us during Term 1 (September-December) of the previous year to allow ample time for high-quality proposal development and application preparation, as funding applications usually close by early February.

📋 Selection Process

1. Preliminary Assessment: If I identify a strong potential match between your qualifications and my research area, I’ll invite you to develop a research proposal.

2. Proposal Development: I will provide constructive feedback on your draft, which serves as an opportunity to assess:

The quality and originality of your research thinking
Your receptiveness to feedback and guidance
Our collaborative dynamic

3. Official Application: Candidates with promising proposals will be encouraged to submit a formal application through Lancaster University’s Department of Psychology portal: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-courses/psychology-phd/

💰 Funding Considerations

Given the competitive funding landscape:

Eligibility Requirements: Successful candidates typically possess a First Class undergraduate degree and/or a Distinction at Master’s level.
Competitive Selection: Even with excellent academic credentials, funding is highly competitive. Shortlisted candidates must demonstrate exceptional potential in both their research proposal and interview to secure financial support.
Preparation: Review the funding options available on the department website and indicate in your initial email if you have access to alternative funding sources.

I look forward to hearing from ambitious, inquisitive, and driven individuals ready to make significant contributions to our research.

Current UG students?
👉 Join S.T.A.R.S.

Systematic Training for Achieving Research Success

We seek passionate and driven undergraduate students (year 1 and 2) who are committed to forging a future in academic and research careers. If you're ready to elevate your skills and make a meaningful impact in the world, then our S.T.A.R.S. family is the perfect launchpad for your aspirations!

You will step into S.T.A.R.S. as a Scout, and progress to become a Trainee, an Apprentice, a Researcher and a Specialist, each rank leveling up your research skills, deepening your scientific understanding, and developing your personal qualities.

We recruit new members biannually at the start of Term 1 and Term 2 via the Psychology Employability Programme (PEP). So, ready to shoot for the stars (*coughs*)? Join us, as we navigate through this exciting journey of research, learning, and growth. After all, with S.T.A.R.S, the sky isn't the limit!

Apply via PEP (Term time) or Contact Us

How S.T.A.R.S. Works

There are five ranks in S.T.A.R.S.: Scout, Trainee, Apprentice, Researcher, Specialist. You start off as a Scout and progress to higher ranks by completing a set of milestones (unfold to see):

1. Scout - just starting your journey in research

Understand the mission of the LISN Lab
Participate in 5 STARS research meetings
Learn about and demonstrate your understanding of an ongoing research project
Receive training and assist with ≥15 hours of research activity for this project
Present a summary of the data using descriptive statistics

2. Trainee - gaining foundational knowledge and starting to apply it under supervision

Participate and contribute in 5 more STARS research meetings
Demonstrate your understanding of an onging research project by writing a literature review, and revise it based on feedback
Take training in advanced research methods (e.g., eye tracking, EEG) and assist with ≥30 hours of research activity using that method
Present a full analysis of the data using both descriptive and inferential statistics
Write up a summary of the research findings

3. Apprentice - actively contributing and starting to develop independent projects

Participate and contribute in 5 more STARS research meetings and lead at least 1 of the meetings
Take training in experimental programming (e.g.,OpenSesame/PsychoPy)
Prepare a a research proposal for your own independent project
Collect a complete data sample to deliver the proposed project
Apply advanced statistics to your data (e.g., generalised linear mixed models) and present the results
Present research findings at a conference
Author a research paper in a peer-reviewed journal

4. Researcher - fully independent to run research projects

Independently lead a research project
Acquire specialised knowledge or skills and first-author a research paper using this expertise
Take on a leadership role in the lab
Apply for research funding
Recruit and train new STARS members independently

5. Specialist - achieved expertise in specialised research areas and/or methods