Key information
The School of Social Sciences seeks to recruit a high-quality PhD candidate for the project titled 'Behaviour change for brain health supported by AI imagery'.
- Funding
- Fully funded (UK students only)
- School
- Social Sciences
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Award
- PhD
- Delivery type
- Full-time
- Supervisor
- Alan Gow
- Start date
- May, September
- Closing date
- Thursday, 12 February 2026
- Duration
- 42 months
The School of Social Sciences at Heriot-Watt University is offering a full-time PhD studentship funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to start in May or September 2026.
The studentship includes a tuition fee waiver and an annual stipend set at £20,789 for 2025-26. The duration of the studentship is 3.5 years.
The School consists of the Department of Psychology, the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies, the Department of Research Methods and Practice, and Edinburgh Business School. Our research in psychology focusses on applied solutions, including interventions in brain health and dementia. Research students have access to a range of training and other activities supported by the School, and through the University’s Research Futures Academy. The PhD studentship will benefit from the multidisciplinary research and practice environment of the university’s Global Research Institute in Health and Care Technologies.
Summary of project
As we age, we may experience changes in our brain health. For most people, these changes are related to ageing; for some they reflect underlying diseases of the brain leading to dementia. There is growing evidence about the lifestyles and behaviours that promote and protect brain health across the life course, and those that reduce or delay changes when we’re older. Identifying these protective factors is a global research priority, as is transforming that knowledge into action. Developing interventions to reduce or slow age-related cognitive decline can harness new technologies to deliver those at scale; these must ensure behaviour change principles are embedded in their design to ensure their effectiveness.
The proposed project is in collaboration with an industry partner which is developing image-based interventions to support people living with dementia. Their interactive platform presents images that serve as prompts for reminiscence, social connection and activity. The first images presented are from a standardised pool of images with personal or local relevance. Based on the images selected and the responses they elicit, new images are generated to deepen and extend interactions and subsequent behaviour change. This platform provides the basis for the proposed project, to be adapted for older adults living in the community with no current cognitive impairment; a pivot towards behaviour change and risk reduction. The aim is to consider how individualised AI-generated imagery can be used to promote behaviour change for brain health.
Project supervisor
Professor Alan Gow (Professor in Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Edinburgh)
Dr Kelly Wolfe (Assistant Professor in Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Edinburgh)
Professor Mario Parra Rodriguez (Professor in Psychology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow)
Applicants are strongly encouraged to get in touch with Professor Alan Gow at A.J.Gow@hw.ac.uk for an informal discussion prior to submitting their application.
Entry requirements
Applicants should have an undergraduate degree with a minimum classification of 2:1 in Psychology or a relevant field. For this PhD studentship, relevant fields could include training in computer science, human-computer interaction, etc. A Master’s degree is desirable. Applicants must be eligible for UK student fee status.
In addition, candidates for whom English is a second language should meet the University’s minimum English-language requirements. If you have not already studied a degree programme that was taught and examined in the medium of English, the minimum overall IELTS score is 6.5 with no score lower than 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.
Please note that possession of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee shortlisting for interview.
Funding information
Annual stipend for 3.5 years at UKRI stipend rates (set at £20,789 in the Academic Year 2025-26), plus tuition fees waived.
Why Heriot-Watt
We have been producing career-ready graduates since 1821. With our roots as the world’s first Mechanics Institute, Heriot-Watt is a pioneering university with a global reach.
At Heriot-Watt, learning goes beyond the lecture theatre. We tackle real world challenges through extraordinary research – from climate change to protecting our oceans, to advancing life-saving medical breakthroughs and shaping the next generation of AI. We are also committed to developing forward-thinking design and sustainable business practices that impact industries worldwide. On our campuses you’ll find some of the world’s most advanced facilities, while our strong industry links set you up for career success. This is why almost 90% of our graduates are in employment or further education (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).
