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Location: UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, Royal Free campus
Supervisors - Prof Anette Schrag: Co-Supervisor - TBC
Anxiety and Depression are common and distressing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) can cause considerable suffering to patients and caregivers. However, little is known on the underlying changes leading to these symptoms.
The proposed PhD will be nested within the already funded RCT using two different antidepressants in patients with depression in PD and an EU-funded study on the mechanisms of anxiety and depression in PD. The proposed PhD project will generate information on mechanisms underlying these neuropsychiatric symptoms, using clinical assessments, blood biomarkers and neuroimaging tools.
The student will receive training in the clinical assessment of patients with Parkinson’s disease and neuropsychiatric symptoms, analysis of data, and clinical trial methodology. They will join a group of researchers and PhD students investigating the motor and non-motor aspects of Parkinson’s disease, including cognitive and neuropsychiatric features.
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Bachelor's degree (2:1 or higher) in a relevant discipline
- Computer literate
- Able to understand data management and analysis
- Strong interest in understanding psychiatric aspects of neurodegenerative disease
- Able to work as part of a collaboration between different departments
- Excellent written communication skills with the ability to train in writing scientific papers and a PhD thesis
- Excellent oral communications skills with the ability to deliver research presentations
Desirable criteria
- Experience in research in patients with psychiatric symptoms
- Experience in research in patients with Parkinson’s disease
- Experience in MRI image analysis
Application process
Deadline: 23:59 BST, 13th September 2020
Please submit applications to a.schrag@ucl.ac.uk in the following format:
- A CV or biographical sketch (2 pages maximum)
- Personal statement (600 words maximum) outlining (i) why you are applying for this project, (ii) what makes you the ideal candidate, (iii) what training experience you have had to date.
ii. Name and contact details for at least one person who could be approached as a referee.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified in late September. For further information contact Prof Anette Schrag at a.schrag@ucl.ac.uk