UK : Full time PhD Studentships in Pain Research

Birmingham City University - Faculty of Health, Graduate School

Ref HSCR02B

The Faculty invites applications for two studentships leading to the degree of PhD (either directly or via MPhil) in aspects of pain neurophysiology.

The studentships will join an established programme of clinical pain research between the University and the NHS regional pain centre. There are currently 5 PhD students in this group undertaking various studies related to chronic pain and a postdoctoral researcher is shortly due to be appointed. Applications are invited from suitably qualified graduates in biomedical sciences, clinical sciences and medicine.

Funding for the studentships is for three years and includes a subsistence grant of £13,290 per annum with University fees of £3,390 paid for UK/EU students. Applications from candidates outside of the EU will incur higher University fees which will reduce the subsistence grant.

Pain Research

The Faculty of Health has a research interest in clinical pain with projects in pain measurement, psychology of beliefs, spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, intrathecal drug delivery. The linked clinical unit is a nationally recognised centre for the specialised therapies of spinal cord stimulation and intravenous drug infusions in fibromyalgia. The 2 PhD projects in the following areas are being offered:

• 1. Central processing of pain neuromodulation: Investigations of neurostimulation
• 2. Central processing of pain neuromodulation: Investigations of fibromyalgia

The 2 students together will be expected to develop and test paradigms for investigation of central mechanism of pain transmission and to apply these to the two clinical therapeutic areas above. This will involved testing and possibly validating various neurophysiology clinical equipment

Support is provided throughout and there is an expectation in the early stages to support the learning of experimental and therapeutic techniques.

The students are also supported by access to the multidisciplinary clinic team providing these specialised clinical therapies. Office space and computing are available at the research site.

The team has a track record of regular peer-reviewed publications and research grant awards and past students have been invited to present their work at national and international meetings.

How to apply

Applicants should hold or expect to hold a first or upper second class honours degree in a biomedical or related discipline and have a working knowledge of neurophysiology.

You can find out some more information and the application forms on our website following the below link.

http://www.bcu.ac.uk/researchbursaries

Information on the Faculty of Health's Centre for Health and Social Care Research and Graduate School can be find via

http://www.bcu.ac.uk/health/research

• 1) To apply Download the Research Degree Application Form from http://www.bcu.ac.uk/docs/downloads/misc/research/BCU%20%20Research%20App%20Form.pdf
• 2) Complete the form FULLY and indicate the relevant Bursary Ref(s) in Section 1

Return the completed Research Degree Application Form and a Covering Letter to Mrs Sue Clarke, Research Administrator, Graduate School Administrator

Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Birmingham City University, Room 224, Ravensbury House, Westbourne Road Campus, Birmingham B15 3TN sue.clarke@bcu.ac.uk Tel 0121 331 6124 Fax 0121 331 6076

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Prof Jon Raphael for an informal discussion by emailing Julie.Emms@dgoh.nhs.uk or tel. 01384 244809.

The closing date for applications is 21^st Nov 2009.