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Vacancy Information
The UCL Dept of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, in partnership with the Child Attachment and Psychological Therapies Research Unit (ChAPTRe) at the Anna Freud Centre, is offering a 3-year full-time studentship starting in October 2020 to work on the adoption research study. This is an unfunded PhD study.
This project, led by the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families (the Centre) in collaboration with Coram, is a unique, 20-year follow-up of an innovative research study on adoption. It is the only study of children adopted later in childhood from backgrounds of multiple disadvantage, from middle childhood to adolescence and into adulthood.
The original study – a partnership between the Centre, Coram, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and UCL – began 22 years ago and explored the journeys and of 111 children from nearly 100 families. By studying both samples of late-adopted children and early-adopted children, the research provided crucial insights to the factors that help adopted children thrive.
Though the PhD will offer an opportunity for the PhD student to work on existing data that has already been collected from earlier phases of the study, a major part of the project will be to work a third phase of the study to examine the differences now in the longer-term outcomes and experiences of the two populations. Having been seen at three time points in middle childhood (aged four to eight years) and at one time point in adolescence (aged 14 to 15 years), this third phase will see the adoptees as young adults. Not only will the study provide valuable insights into the longer-term impacts of adoption, but it will examine the experiences of this population at an important developmental milestone; having reached young adulthood.
The project will study both adoptees and adopters to provide multiple perspectives that will address the current evidence gap regarding the impact of adoption and related constructs such as attachment (parent-child relationships), resilience and trauma. We also aim to establish how the adoptees have coped with the transition to adult life, including aspects such as education, employment, social networks, romantic relationships and parenthood.
This PhD studentship offers the opportunity for the student to be involved in the development of the third phase of the study and working alongside the collaborators. They would be very involved in the delivery, administration, and analysis of the data from this phase.
Person specification
Applicants should have a first or high upper 2nd class degree in psychology or related discipline and ideally a Masters (or near to completion) in one of those areas. They must have achieved a level of research training which would allow them to proceed to PhD. We are looking for applicants who are highly motivated, academically excellent and proficient with both quantitative and qualitative research methods. We want someone who has an interest in the field of adoption. You will be competent in using SPSS and/or with R and other software for statistical data analysis. Familiarity with advanced statistical analysis techniques, such as multiple regression or factor analysis, would be an advantage.. Experience writing papers for publication would be an advantage, as would experience contributing to ethics and grant applications. Beyond this, we want you to share our mission to improve the lives of children who have experienced adversity.
Supervision
Supervision will be partly managed between Dr Saul Hillman, Senior Research Fellow from ChAPTRe, a research unit at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, and University College London (UCL), and UCL. Coram are collaborators with the research study.
Though this is not a funded studentship, we are endeavouring to obtain some funding for the research study which would hopefully allow a stipend for the successful candidate.
ChAPTRe is co-directed by Dr Nick Midgley and Prof Pasco Fearon. The mission of the research unit is to be a space for developing and promoting research related to children and young people's mental health and emotional well-being. The particular focus is on understanding children's development (especially in relation to attachment and mentalization) and both evaluating and reaching a better understanding of psychological therapies for children and young people.
Any enquiries relating to the project and/or suitability should be directed to Dr Saul Hillman (saul.hillman@annafreud.org).
Deadline for applications: August 11th at 12 noon.
Interview date (tbc): August 17th or 18th
Studentship Description
The studentship will be unfunded. Applications are open for both home/EU and overseas applicants, but please note that the studentship will be the same, although fees are different for home/EU and overseas students. The successful applicant will be expected to demonstrate that they would be able to study on a full-time basis.
UCL Taking Action for Equality
UCL is firmly committed to promoting equal opportunity. Our Equalities and Diversity Policy and Strategy underlies every aspect of our student selection process.
How to apply
If you wish to apply for the studentship you should email Helen King (helen.g.king@ucl.ac.uk) your CV (including the names of two referees) and a covering letter (750 words maximum) outlining your research interests, how your skills and experience fit with this project, what you hope to achieve from the PhD and your research experience to date. Please include contact details (telephone; e-mail). A transcript of your degree results would also be appreciated.