PhD Studentship: Training and Security in the Security Sector

Location: Public Health and Sports Sciences, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter, UK

The University of Exeter’s Department of Public Health and Sports Sciences is inviting applications for a PhD studentship fully-funded by their research partners Smiths Detection (https://www.smithsdetection.com/ ) a global leader in threat detection and security screening technologies. The PhD will commence in September 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. For eligible students the studentship will cover Home tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £19,237 for 4 years full-time, or pro rata for part-time study.

Project Description

The project is focused on a new virtual training system being developed by Smiths Detection, which will train the cognitive, perceptual and procedural skills needed to operate x-ray equipment used to screen baggage and cargo. As such the PhD project is being set up to answer important questions about how the training system supports learning, and how subsequent performance in the real-world is affected, and how trainees acquire the perceptual skills needed to interpret the x-ray images produced by the x-ray equipment. In terms of discipline, the work will be a combination of Psychology, Human factors, and Pedagogy.

The successful applicants will be based within the Virtual Immersive Training and Learning (VITAL) research team, within the department of Public Health and Sports Sciences.

The project will examine the efficacy of a new training system; the role of various features in supporting performance and training; and the optimisation of training delivery (including novel concepts related to the delivery of feedback; and the automatic creation of trainee oriented courses). The PhD students will develop new skills in measuring psycho-physiological indices of cognition and emotion (e.g., eye movements); analysing large data sets (from video and databases); and general data science skills for analysing data sets. Data will include those generated in experimental trials and those collected by the company from the device in use. As such postgraduate level qualifications and skills in either research methods, psychology, or data science are required (e.g., an MSc or equivalent in psychological research methods).