A PhD Studentship on Social Norms at the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London

Applications are invited for two 4-year PhD studentships in the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London.

We are inviting applications for a September 2024 start , and the successful candidate will join a research project on Social Norms, funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The project seeks to understand how social norms develop and are sustained, and involves psychologists, economists, and computer scientists at Royal Holloway.The position will be supervised by Professor Ryan McKay (RHUL Psychology), but the successful student will also benefit from the expertise provided by members of the project team including Dr Gabriele Bellucci (RHUL Psychology), Dr Bjoern Hartig (RHUL Economics), Professor Kostas Stathis (RHUL Computer Science) and Professor David Levine (the Leverhulme fellow and the project’s principal investigator based in the Department of Economics).

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

- Tipping points in social conventions;

- Differential effects of descriptive vs injunctive social norms;

- Conflicting social norms;

- Social norms and identity;

- (consequences of) Norm violations;

- The social and psychological consequences of taboo language;

- Using norms to increase charitable giving;

- The usefulness of norms for decision-makers.

The scholarship provides support of £20,622 per year (UKRI rate including London Weighting) over a period of 4 years for a full-time student. It also includes a fee waiver to cover annual fees at the home fees rate (currently £4,712). Students who have already started their study programme are not eligible. Please note that fees for international applicants (i.e., the difference between home and international tuition fees) will not  be covered.

The post is based in Egham, Surrey where the College is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus within commuting distance from London. At Royal Holloway, the post holder will join an active postgraduate research community, in a thriving research environment. The Department of Psychology ranked 3rd  in the UK in the 2021 REF for our world-leading and internationally excellent research. The department has excellent facilities (e.g., EEG, MRI, VR, dedicated physiological recording equipment) and the post holder will have access to extensive training provisions provided by the doctoral school.

Applicants for the studentship should ideally hold, or be predicted to achieve, a first-class undergraduate degree or equivalent in Psychology or related discipline. A relevant MSc (e.g., cognitive science, decision science) with distinction is desirable, but not essential. Strong statistical skills, and experience with designing and implementing experiments with human participants, are essential. Applicants will need to submit a CV, a research proposal and personal statement (see guidance available on the portal when you apply), along with transcript(s) and copies of any qualifications. 

Applicants must apply on the college application portal . Please select "PhD Psychology" as the course title within the application form, specify the name of Prof Ryan McKay as supervisor and provide also a clear statement that you are applying for the scholarship entitled "PHD POSITION IN SOCIAL NORMS ".

For an informal discussion about the post please contact Professor Ryan McKay ([email protected] ).

Closing Date:  Midnight, 18th February 2024

Interview Date: late Feb-early March 2024

Royal Holloway is committed to equality and diversity, and encourages applications from all sections of the community. Read here  about structures and initiatives around equality and diversity, including information on staff diversity networks.