WELLCOME TRUST Ph.D. PROGRAMME AT UCL
Mental Health Science
The Wellcome-UCL 4 year PhD Programme in Mental Health Science provides a platform for interdisciplinary research necessary for effective translation of findings from work on mechanisms and risk factors into novel treatments and prevention strategies. Its ultimate objective is to train scientists and policy leaders for whom interdisciplinary working is the norm, and who can communicate their findings to a wide audience so that their research delivers change.
The programme follows a “1+3” model, with three, 12-week rotation projects during Year 1. Each rotation project is from a different theme of the programme. These short projects familiarise students with the different groups in which they may choose to conduct their PhD project. The different themes of the programme are shown below.
Mechanism
Identification of the biological, neural, and cognitive processes that drive and maintain the symptoms of mental illness from childhood to old age, particularly drawing on UCL’s world-leading neuroscience. Includes research in: molecular genetics; cellular and systems neuroscience; pharmacology; cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging; and cognitive psychology.
Population Mental Health
Understanding risk factors for mental illness using epidemiological methods, using birth cohorts to identify social and environmental determinants of mental illness, as well as genetic epidemiology. Incorporates the rapidly developing field of mental health data science, including new remote data capture approaches and the application of novel machine learning methods to large datasets.
Intervention
Development, targeting, and evaluation of new treatments and preventative interventions for mental illness, including experimental medicine and clinical trial methodology. Builds on knowledge relating to modifiable risk factors and causal mechanisms, enabling the development, implementation, and targeting of more effective interventions.
Director
Jonathan Roiser: j.roiser@ucl.ac.uk
Co-directors
Alexandra Pitman: a.pitman@ucl.ac.uk
Sunjeev Kamboj: sunjeev.kamboj@ucl.ac.uk
For general information: