PhD Study : Using technology including Virtual reality to explore the sensorimotor, cognitive and mental wellbeing of individuals following Persistent Concussion

Summary

It is important that accurate information can be collected regarding people’s movement and health. This objective information can be useful to inform interventions to help individuals post injury and to enhance the performance of sportspeople.

Sports related concussion is a public health concern worldwide.  Sports related concussions involves a variety of clinical symptoms and functional impairments. While most recovery from a concussive event over the following days to weeks, up to 30% if children and adults will experience prolonged symptoms. This can have a lasting impact upon a person’s activities of daily living, academic and sports participation. There is a need for research exploring on clinical presentations, distinct subtypes, the lived experience of persistent concussion and longitudinal studies to help inform clinical practice.

This research project aims to explore the diverse aspects of persistent concussion and the impact on individual’s lives. This study will use technology including virtual reality in combination with other wearable’s to gather data on a range of motor, sensory, cognitive and mental wellbeing measures. This will allow the better understanding of persistent concussion and help towards the development of a rehabilitation programme.

The project will consist of three parts:

1. A systematic review understand the existing literature regarding persistent concussions and the use of objective measurement/technology to understand them
2. Using technology (including VR) to explore persistent concussion; using objective measurements and existing pitch side tools to gain an understanding into the diverse impairments (movement and balance related, cognitive and psychosocial) associated with persistent concussion
3. The third stage will be the piloting of a persistent concussion rehabilitation programme in a series of case studies to address sensorimotor, balance and cognitive impairments

Please note: Applications from those holding or expecting to hold a 2:1 Honours Degree in Psychology are strongly encouraged to apply.  Applications for more than one PhD studentship are welcome, however if you apply for more than one PhD project within Psychology, your first application on the system will be deemed your first-choice preference and further applications will be ordered based on the sequential time of submission. If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be interviewed only on your first-choice application and ranked accordingly. Those ranked highest will be offered a PhD studentship. In the situation where you are ranked highly and your first-choice project is already allocated to someone who was ranked higher than you, you may be offered your 2nd or 3rd choice project depending on the availability of this project.

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship
• Evidence of academic writing skills (a short sample of academic written work of the applicant's choosing (Max 3 pages, A4, font 11)) – please upload in the section entitled Research Proposal

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Experience of presentation of research findings

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,237 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living