Deakin-Coventry Cotutelle - Impact of heat on cognitive function

This is a doctoral cotutelle project between Deakin University (Australia) and Coventry University (UK).

The successful PhD Student will be awarded a scholarship from Deakin University with the supervision team being drawn from Deakin University and Coventry University. The PhD Student will graduate with two testamurs, one from Deakin University and one from Coventry University, each of which recognises that the program was carried out as part of a jointly supervised doctoral program. The program is for a duration of 4 years and scheduled to commence in January 2024.

The PhD Student is anticipated to spend at least 6 months of the total period of the program at Coventry University, with the remainder of the program based at Deakin University.

After recent deaths of military personnel from heat exposure, there is a need to better understand the consequences of working in the heat and develop mitigation strategies to avoid further preventable deaths.

The project can be shaped to suit a student’s interest, but primarily will investigate the impact of consecutive days of working in the heat performing simulated military tasks. This project is part of a larger program of work and the successful candidate will become part of this research team. There will be a specific interest on the impact of repeated bouts of physical work on a range of cognitive. The student working on this project will use cutting-edge technology and analytic procedures to study the brain’s electrophysiological activity using electroencephalography (EEG). This will be supplemented with additional tools such as eye-tracking and pupillometry. Depending on the interest of the student, the PhD project can specifically focus the impact of working in the heat on neural electrophysiological activity or on aspects of cognitive functioning (e.g. language, memory, motor functioning).

Applications close 5pm, Wednesday 25 October 2023

This scholarship is supported by Deakin University, is available over 3 years and includes:

• Stipend of $33,500 per annum tax exempt (2023 rate)
• Relocation allowance of $500-1500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate
• International students only:  Single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa
• Full Tuition Fee Waiver for up to 4 years

Funding to support travel of PhD Student between Deakin University and Coventry University

To be eligible you must:

• be either a domestic or international candidate. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship.
• meet the PhD entry requirements of both Deakin University and Coventry university, including English language proficiency requirements
• be enrolling full-time and or part-time
• be able to physically locate to both Coventry University (United Kingdom) and Deakin University (Australia)

Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page and Coventry’s research entry criteria page for further information.