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A ‘full circle’ moment – student to supervisor
By iomh, on 15 February 2023
A PhD scholarship may last just a few years but today’s scholar could become tomorrow’s supervisor as Dr Jen Dykxhoorn from the UCL Division of Psychiatry describes.
Last month, Professor James Kirkbride and I were awarded a prestigious Mental Health Research UK (MHRUK) scholarship to recruit a PhD student to explore the causes of health and social inequalities in psychiatric disorders.
This research will focus on understanding the causal links between severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorders in socially excluded and historically marginalised groups.
This research will use novel causal inference methods to better understand what social factors increase the risk of severe mental illnesses in different population groups. Understanding the causes of mental illnesses is required to inform prevention efforts to reduce the rates of severe mental illnesses in society.
From student to supervisor
It was particularly meaningful to be awarded this funding as a PhD supervisor and it represents a full circle moment in my career.
MHRUK had funded my PhD through the John QC Grace PhD Scholarship under the supervision of Professor Kirkbride and Professor Glyn Lewis. My PhD research focused on the impact that factors in the social environment have on the rates of mental health problems in migrants. I showed that region of origin, age at migration, family networks and neighbourhood factors all influenced rates of psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychotic features.
The training and support I received during my PhD provided a strong foundation for me to continue my career in psychiatric epidemiology. It is a privilege to continue to work with MHRUK as I continue to develop as a researcher and PhD supervisor.
About the studentship
With this MHRUK studentship, we are looking for ambitious candidates with a keen interest in quantitative data science, psychiatric epidemiology, statistical modelling, or statistics.
The successful applicant will be awarded a four-year PhD studentship, which will be held in the UCL Division of Psychiatry, commencing October 2023.
For full details, please visit the full PhD studentship advertisement.
Open to UK and international students
We would also like to acknowledge the UCL International Scholar Award for Doctoral Training (ISAD) for providing additional funding to cover the additional tuition fees for an international student.
As I was an international PhD student, I know how vital funding to cover the difference between UK student fees and international student fees. With the support of ISAD, we are pleased to be able to offer this PhD studentship to the most qualified applicant, regardless of fee status.
This blog was written by Dr Jen Dykxhoorn from the UCL Division of Psychiatry