PhD project in Next Generation Ophthalmic Testing: “Continuous Psychophysics” for Rapid and User-Friendly Assessment of Visual, Movement, and Cognitive Disorders
PhD @University of Southampton posted 2 days agoJob Description
About the project
This PhD develops “Continuous Psychophysics”—a rapid diagnostic tool for precise, patient-friendly assessments of visual, motor, and cognitive disorders in conditions including Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, and Cranial Nerve Palsies. It aims to streamline clinical evaluations, facilitating quicker, accurate diagnoses, treatment decisions, and improved patient outcomes in ophthalmology and neuroscience.
This PhD project aims to develop and evaluate innovative clinical tests using “Continuous Psychophysics,” a method based on tracking a moving target. The core concept involves assessing vision, motor skills, and cognition simultaneously through performance on a straightforward, game-like task. Your challenge will be to develop computational models and tasks that effectively extract meaningful clinical information from this simple paradigm.
The research will involve extensive computational simulations and empirical studies, testing both healthy individuals and clinical populations—including longitudinal assessments—at University Hospital Southampton. You will closely collaborate with leading clinicians specializing in conditions such as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Glaucoma, and Cranial Nerve Palsies, gaining interdisciplinary expertise and valuable clinical experience.
Situated in the dynamic Centre for Perception and Cognition, you will have access to state-of-the-art research tools, including eye-tracking, motion capture, and virtual reality systems.
You will join a vibrant research community and benefit from our extensive international collaborative network. Ultimately, your work will directly impact clinical practice by providing faster, more accurate diagnostic methods, significantly improving patient experiences and outcomes, and enhancing healthcare efficiency globally.
Entry requirements
You’ll need at least a 2:1 honours degree (or international equivalent) in Psychology Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences, Computer Science, or related fields. Having already completed a Master’s degree is considered desirable but not necessary.
Experience in programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python) or previous research experience in basic/clinical vision science or psychophysics is advantageous.
Fees and funding
This PhD studentship is fully funded for UK candidates by Wessex Medical Research.
The studentship will cover:
- tuition fees
- stipend (currently £20,780 per annum)
- project consumables
- support for research consumables and conference attendance.
International applicants are welcome to apply but will need to qualify for Horizon Europe fee waiver.
How to apply
You need to:
- choose programme type (Research), 2025/26, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
- choose PhD in Psychology (Full time)
- add name of the lead supervisor in section 2
- use project reference “AF04”
Applications should include:
- a personal statement
- your CV (resumé)
- 2 academic references
- degree transcripts to date
Contact us
Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
If you have a general question, email: fels-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk.
Project leader
For an initial conversation, please email Dr Guido Maiello g.maiello@soton.ac.uk.
