The Research Centre for Better Living is offering seven fantastic research projects through the CAM Doctoral Training Partnership (CAM-DTP), ARU and the University of Cambridge, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Read full project descriptions and apply for a CAM-DTP studentshipSupervisors: Prof Jane Aspell; Dr Sanjoy Deb; Dr Maria Filippetti (University of Essex)
Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are hyper-palatable, energy-dense products that are often of low nutritional quality. An overlooked aspect of human health, particularly with UPFs, is interoception – the perception of the body’s internal states. This PhD will investigate whether interoception is linked to UPF intake, using both experience sampling methods (ESM) and laboratory investigations.
Supervisors: Dr Elizabeth Kirk; Dr Jacob Dunn
Crying is a normal infant behaviour. Yet for some adults, this elicits an extreme stress response. Reports estimate that up to 6% of parents have smothered, slapped, or shaken their baby at least once because of crying, with men being more likely to harm a child than women. This proposed programme of research will use lab-based studies to investigate the psychological and physiological responses of adults to infant crying.
Supervisors: Prof Sharon Morein-Zamir; Dr Jane Scott
Excessive accumulation and difficulty with discarding possessions are common behaviours, but when maladaptive can constitute hoarding disorder, a condition affecting around 2.5% of the population. The research will investigate how factors such as cultural identity, ethnicity, marginalisation and migration influence attachment to objects and possessions. It will explore how understanding these factors can inform and expand current psychological models of problem hoarding.
Supervisors: Prof David Pearson; Prof Minna Sunikka-Blank (University of Cambridge)
Despite technological advances, applications of eye-tracking in architectural design are underdeveloped. This studentship will use approaches from psychology, architecture, and urban studies to establish how eye-tracking can inform more inclusive, healthy and evidence-based design. This will involve research combining behavioural data, observational fieldwork, and qualitative analysis.
Supervisors: Dr Nic Gibson; Dr Nnenna Ugwu
This PhD will explore the experiences and challenges faced by neurodiverse and sensory different (SD) learners in lab-based STEM education. The student will co-develop interventions tailored to improve accessibility and inclusivity and evaluate how beneficial these interventions are in promoting engagement and academic performance.
Supervisors: Dr Debora Antoniotti de Vasconcelos e Sa; Dr Sharon Geva
Each year around 100,000 people in the UK have a stroke, with 1.4 million survivors nationwide. Health anxiety (HA) refers to a persistent excessive worry about one’s health and is common amongst stroke survivors. This project will explore HA and its impact on survivors and carers at the point of discharge, aiming to develop a co-produced training intervention focusing on HA prevention and recovery.
Supervisors: Dr Tamer Said; Dr Ruth Ford; Prof Michelle Ellefson (University of Cambridge); Dr Rob Nash (National Institute of Teaching)
In recent years, concepts such as retrieval practice, working memory, executive functions, and cognitive load are increasingly discussed in academic and policy circles, as well as in teacher training and professional development. However, little is known about how deeply teachers understand these principles – or how they apply them in real classrooms. This project will explore teachers’ understanding and application of educational neuroscience and cognitive psychology in their practices.