Birkbeck Studentship

[Heather K. J. van der Lely]

 		BIRKBECK COLLEGE
 	      SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

 	Departmental Research Studentship Scheme

Up to three MPhil/PhD studentships will be available in the
School of Psychology, with October 2000 as the starting
date for registration.  Candidates should have a first
class or upper second class degree in Psychology or in a
cognate subject that should be clearly relevant to the
proposed research topic.  Initial registration for all
research students is for an MPhil, with a key review at the
end of the first year.  Tenure of a studentship is expected
to be for three years, subject to satisfactory progress
reviewed termly but most critically at the end of the first
year when an upgrading decision is taken regarding
registration for a PhD.

The basic award will be for #163#8265 p.a. (under review).
There are opportunities for some teaching/ demonstrating
/seminar work that will attract additional payment, as
well as serving to provide valuable experience and
training.  Research training will be provided according to
individual needs and background, and will be geared to the
activities of the student's host research group.  Courses
of a generic nature are available and special purpose
advanced training is available for a range of research
techniques, including computing and methodological skills.

The School was given a 5 rating in the most recent Research
Assessment Exercise, reflecting its high international and
national standing.  Details of current research are
available at the website at http://www.psyc.bbk.ac.uk/
which gives access to information to the research interests
of current members of the School (and whose email addresses
are available for specific initial enquiries).  One of the
studentships is earmarked for research under the
supervision of Professor Jay Belsky who joined the School
last year.  Other significant staff changes and expansion
has taken place recently as can be seen by consulting the
website.

Effective for the session 2000-2001:
Dr Martin Eimer joins the School of Psychology from the
  	University of Cambridge as Anniversary Reader in
	Psychology
Professor Hermann M#252#ller returns to the School from a
	visiting professorship at the University of Leipzig

What to do:
The studentships will be available from October 1st, 2000.
Applicants should request further information and
application forms by telephone (020 7631 6535); by email
(secretaries at psychology.bbk.ac.uk); or by writing to the
School of Psychology (PG), Birkbeck College, Bloomsbury,
Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX. Informal enquiries may also
be made to Dr. Paul Barber (p.barber at bbk.ac.uk).

The application form requires an outline of research
interests.
It is important that this statement should make it possible
to assess the compatibility of the applicant's research
ideas with a prospective supervisor's ongoing research.
Another important consideration will be whether a given
candidate has a realistic and informed view of what a
viable PhD research project is likely to comprise, and a
good way for her or him to inform the School about this is
to supply a research proposal.  This should show an
understanding of the relevant theoretical and
methodological background for the proposed research and a
secure grasp of research design and resource requirements.

Other opportunities:

The School of Psychology has ESRC Mode B recognition for
part-time and full-time Research Studentships, and
applications are invited from students qualifying for the
ERSC scheme (relevant information on the ESRC research
studentship competition and the qualifying conditions is
available at http://www.esrc.ac.uk/).

There is also a research studentship available under the
EU Vth Framework Human Potential scheme for work on a
project exploring top-down effects in infant visual
recognition, under the supervision of Dr Denis Mareschal
and Professor Mark H Johnson.  Application forms may be
obtained as above, and informal queries may be addressed to
Dr Denis Mareschal (d.mareschal at bbk.ac.uk).

----------------------
Dr. Heather K. J van der Lely
Reader in Developmental Psycholinguistics,

Department of Psychology,
Birkbeck College,
University of London,
Malet Street,
London, WC1E 7HX
UK

Tel: (44) 0171 631 6317/6207
Fax: (44) 0171 631 6312
h.vanderlely at psyc.bbk.ac.uk