The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences at Queen Mary is one of the UK’s elite research centres, according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). We offer a multi-disciplinary research environment and have approximately 180 PhD students working on projects in the biological and psychological sciences. Our students have access to a variety of research facilities supported by experienced staff, as well as a range of student support services.
The student will particpate in lab meetings with Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais's ADHD LIife Lab, which includes PhD students, postdocs and RAs, as well as larger cross-group weekly meetings focused on child and youth development.
Our PhD students become part of Queen Mary’s Doctoral College which provides training and development opportunities, advice on funding, and financial support for research. Our students also have access to a Researcher Development Programme designed to help recognise and develop key skills and attributes needed to effectively manage research, and to prepare and plan for the next stages of their career.
There will also be additional training opportunities focused on developing methodological skills both within QMUL and at other universities in the UK.
Very little research has examined ADHD in older populations, and how individuals with ADHD experience aging. On average, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with poorer performance on tasks assessing attention, working memory, and executive functioning.
However, nearly all research in this area has been done in childhood and early adulthood. Whether ADHD may be associated with higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia is unclear. Additionally, it is not understood whether ADHD may be associated with a higher rate of cognitive decline in older age.
This studentship will investigate whether genetic risk for ADHD is associated with cognitive functioning and decline in a longitudinal older age cohort (the PROTECT cohort) in the UK. Additionally, we will investigate whether increased genetic risk for ADHD is associated with a higher likelihood of diagnosis of mild cognitive impariment and dementia in a cohort with data linkage to primary and secondary care diagnoses. Given an increasing aging population, cognitive decline/impairment is a significant public health problem, and insight into risk and protective factors is critical.
This studentship is open to students applying for China Scholarship Council funding. Queen Mary University of London has partnered with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to offer a joint scholarship programme to enable Chinese students to study for a PhD programme at Queen Mary. Under the scheme, Queen Mary will provide scholarships to cover all tuition fees, whilst the CSC will provide living expenses for 4 years and one return flight ticket to successful applicants.
Applicants must be:- Chinese students with a strong academic background.- Students holding a PR Chinese passport.- Either be resident in China at the time of application or studying overseas.- Students with prior experience of studying overseas (including in the UK) are eligible to apply. Chinese QMUL graduates/Masters’ students are therefore eligible for the scheme.Please refer to the CSC website for full details on eligibility and conditions on the scholarship.
Applications are invited from outstanding candidates with or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree in an area relevant to the project such as psychology, epidemiology, or biostatistics. A masters degree is desirable, but not essential.
Applicants from outside of the UK are required to provide evidence of their English Language ability. Please see our English Language requirements page for details: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/international-students/englishlanguagerequirements/postgraduateresearch/
Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Dr. Jessica Agnew-Blais at j.agnew-blais@qmul.ac.uk
Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 31st January 2024 for consideration, including a CV, personal statement and qualifications. You must meet the IELTS/ English Language requirements for your course and submit all required documentation (including evidence of English Language) by 14th March 2024. You are therefore strongly advised to sit an approved English Language test as soon as possible.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the supervisor. If you are successful in your application, then you will be issued an QMUL Offer Letter, conditional on securing a CSC scholarship along with academic conditions still required to meet our entry requirements. Once applicants have obtained their QMUL Offer Letter, they should then apply to CSC for the scholarship by in March 2024 with the support of the supervisor.
Only applicants who are successful in their application to CSC can be issued an unconditional offer and enrol on our PhD programme. For further information, please go to: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/scholarships/items/china-scholarship-council-scholarships.html
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