Notice

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are a group of severe epilepsies. Dravet syndrome is one such condition and is usually caused by a change in the SCN1A gene. People with Dravet syndrome often experience frequent seizures, learning and developmental difficulties, and have a higher risk of early death. As new treatments that target the underlying cause of the condition become available, there is an urgent need for reliable ways to predict how the condition may progress for each person and to measure whether these new treatments are making a meaningful difference.

This PhD will investigate neurodevelopmental and electrophysiological biomarkers in Dravet syndrome and related DEEs. The student will work within the UK SCN1A Horizons natural history study team, led by Professor Andreas Brunklaus, and take an active role in a prospective mobile-EEG study of approximately 50 people. This hands-on, participant-facing role involves longitudinal data collection in family homes and travel to participants.

The student will organise and conduct home assessments, acquire portable EEG recordings and undertake standardised neurodevelopmental assessments, including with children who have developmental delay and complex needs. Combining measures of learning, behaviour and development with brain activity, the project will examine whether early markers predict cognitive, communication and motor development independently of seizures and treatment.

The studentship provides full training and development across neuropsychology, developmental research and electrophysiology. This includes standardised assessments such as the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-4), Wechsler measures of cognitive ability (WPPSI-IV, WISC-V, WAIS-IV) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), and adapting approaches for children with developmental delay and complex needs. The student will receive direct psychologist supervision, with wider psychology, peer and multidisciplinary team support. Training will also cover portable device EEG acquisition, data management and quantitative analysis. The student will be supported to publish findings, present at national and international conferences, and engage with clinical, research and patient communities.

Essential criteria

• An honours degree in Psychology (minimum classification 2:1).
• An interest in neurodevelopment, epilepsy and/or clinical neuroscience.
• A good understanding of psychological and quantitative research methods.
• Experience of collecting, managing and analysing research data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate sensitively with participants and families.
• Experience of quantitative analysis using R, Python, MATLAB, SPSS or an equivalent package.
• Good organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Ability and willingness to undertake participant-facing research, conduct assessments in family homes and travel to participants.
• Experience of working with children with developmental delay, learning disabilities and/or complex neurodevelopmental needs.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team.

Desirable criteria

• A relevant master’s degree or other postgraduate research experience.
• Experience of conducting neurodevelopmental or cognitive assessments, caregiver interviews and/or caregiver-reported questionnaires.
• Experience of longitudinal research and/or home-based data collection.
• Experience of EEG data collection, processing and/or analysis.
• Experience of working in a clinical, healthcare or participant-facing research environment.
• Knowledge of DEEs, epilepsy or rare genetic conditions.

Any questions relating to this position should be sent to [email protected] in the first instance.