Funded research projects

Project Title: Trauma and Technology: Identifying Best Practice for Video-Recorded Interviews (VRIs) with Victims of Sexual Crimes

PhD Studentship: SIPR/R-LINCS2 funded. The Studentship is available for an October 2025 start.

A PhD studentship that comprises tax-free stipend of £20,780 (increasing in line with UKRI per annum) per year over 3 years and 3 months tuition fees paid, and a generous study package (e.g. limited research consumables, travel budget, and training when appropriate). 

The pan-University Graduate School offers an integrated training programme to the postgraduate community within a single centre, serving to inculcate interdisciplinary working in our next generation of researchers.

Interviews are likely to be online in mid June.

Project Description: The use of Visually Recorded Interviews (VRIs) with adult victims of serious sexual crimes has gained prominence in recent years due to technological advancements and growing recognition of the importance of preserving testimony and minimising re-traumatisation. This PhD project will use mixed-methods to identify best practices for Video-Recorded Interviews (VRIs) with sexual offence victims. By closely working together with relevant stakeholders, such as Police Scotland and Victim Advocate Services, the project will test the optimal set-up and presentation of VRIs to achieve best outcomes for victims, while simultaneously ensuring that officers are adequately supported when conducting VRIs.

Supervisory Team: The candidate will be supervised within the Department of Sociological and Psychological Sciences by Dr Julie Gawrylowicz and Dr. Penny Woolnough. External Supervisors are Dr Karen Goodall from the University of Edinburgh and Professor Amina Memon from Royal Holloway, University of London. Queries on this project should be directed to Dr. Julie Gawrylowicz (julie.gawrylowicz@abertay.ac.uk).

Entry Requirements:

Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a first class or upper second-class honours degree in a BPS (or equivalent) accredited Psychology programme, or a closely aligned discipline. They should have experience conducting both qualitative (e.g., knowledge of interviews, thematic analysis, grounded theory, or IPA) and quantitative (e.g., experiments, surveys, skills in SPSS, R, or Python for analysis) studies. Candidates should be able to demonstrate strength in sensitive/empathic communication and show understanding of trauma-informed approaches and psychological impacts. Furthermore, they should demonstrate a strong grasp of designing ethically sound studies involving a potentially vulnerable population. Finally, they will have experience in writing reports and presenting findings to various audiences.

For applicants who are non-native speakers of English, the University requires IELTS of 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0) or an equivalent qualification accepted by the Home Office.

Applications and closing date: 28 of May  2025

To apply visit Abertay Jobs.

Project Title: BARIToNE: Towards climate-Positive barley: Developing Model-Based Approaches to Identify Pathways and Evidence Benefits (PROTECT)

This four-year PhD studentship is fully funded by the BARIToNE Collaborative Training Partnership (from Sept. 2025) and offered in partnership between the James Hutton Institute, Abertay University and Glenmorangie.

The project aims to identify approaches to reduce the carbon (C) footprint of cereal (barley) production in-line with net-zero targets. Agriculture is a significant contributor to UK and global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and Scotland has committed to reach net-zero C-emissions by 2045. While crop research trials have identified potential approaches to reduce barley C-footprint for distilling, these have not been critically examined.

The studentship will therefore analyse value chain data to identify and account environmental impact indicators that assess the sustainability of barley production methods, and downstream value-chain segments, using life-cycle analysis (LCA). The approach will identify synergistic ‘wins’ in overall emissions reductions, minimising negative trade-offs in other impact-categories.

If you are successful, you will receive a full UKRI stipend (currently £20,780) also covering tuition fees, training, and travel budget. Funding will be available to any successfully appointed International students to help defray costs of VISA and IHS charge. We also offer enhanced support to individuals with primary care responsibilities or disabilities.

This round of applications is only open to those with UK residency status. Students must meet the eligibility criteria as outlined in the UKRI T&Cs (View Website) (see TGC 5.2).

Further information can be found via FindAPhD. 

Applications to the BARIToNE CTP programme are made via the form which can be found on our website: https://baritone.hutton.ac.uk/how-to-apply/

Applications close on Sunday 15 June 2025.

• Project Title: Privacy-Preserving for Machine Learning for Next-Generation IoT (NG-IoT) Security. 

• Project Title: Towards Machine Understanding of Human Languages: AI for Storytelling Across Languages

• Project Title: 5G & Edge computing technologies to unlock compelling immersive multiuser experiences for mobile XR applications

• Project Title: Bridging the gap between Virtual & Physical Film & Television Production: Virtual Production and Real-Time pipelines in the studio environment.

• Project Title: When an Adult with Learning Disability Goes Missing: A mixed methods study to inform prevention and response

• Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning for Next-Generation IoT (NG-IoT) Security

• Helpful and unhelpful aspects of therapy following spiritually transformative experiences

• Gateway to esports: Enhancing access and retention for casual audiences in competitive video games

• Open your MIND: Leveraging the ecological validity of language control research using immersive technologies

• Quantifying organic carbon losses in soils through natural processes and land management practises

• Revolutionising Heritage Conservation through AI-Powered Analysis of Timber Beam-Column Connections

• Project Title: 5G & Edge computing technologies to unlock compelling immersive multiuser experiences for mobile XR applications

• Project Title: Towards Machine Understanding of Human Languages: AI for Storytelling Across Languages

• Project Title: Reframing the 'social' in social return on investment: constructing more meaningful monitoring and evaluation in football, development and beyond. 

• Project Title: Active transport of Gold-coated iron oxide superparamagnetic nanoparticles: A universal delivery vehicle.

• PhD Research Studentship: BARIToNE Project 9 - towards climate-positive cropping: developing model-based approaches to identify pathways, and evidence benefits.

• PhD Research Studentship: Reframing the ‘social’ in social return on investment: constructing more meaningful monitoring and evaluation in sport for development and beyond.

• PhD Research Studentship 5G Edge- XR for unlocking compelling immersive experiences

• PhD Research Studentship: Investigating the impact of police communications and initiatives on public perceptions of progress in enhancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: A case of Police Scotland

• PhD Research Studentship: How, when and where can preconception interventions be utilised in Scotland

• PhD Research Studentship: Co-creating Performance and Play: Supporting community cohesion and well-being through mixed-media co-production

• Masters by Research (MbR) with technical work experience.

• PhD Studentship: Towards climate-positive barley: developing model-based approaches to identify pathways and evidence benefits

• PhD Research Studentship: Investigating the potential of Extended Reality for alternative understandings of forced migration and devastated Middle Eastern Cultural Heritage Sites.

• PhD Research Studentship: Using avatars in investigative interviews with children.

• PhD Research Studentship: How do we best teach our children to be cyber secure?

• PhD Research Studentship: Machine learning to determine soil properties: a smartphone-based solution for stakeholders

• RLINCS PhD studentship: The effect of different types of omega-3 fatty acids on exercise capacity in the elderly

• RLINCS PhD studentship: Using Affective Computing to Create an Emotional Bond between Users and Virtual Agents for Enhanced Social Interaction

• R-LINCS PhD Studentship: Using VR to Investigate the Visual Features that Determine the Effectiveness of Disruptive Camouflage

• R-LINCS PhD Studentship: Eco-grief and community experiences of changing water practices in Malawi

• PhD Studentship: Seals as sentinels of antimicrobial resistance: mapping antimicrobial resistance genes in UK waters

• PhD Studentships: A 4D Virtual Tumour for Cancer Ecology.

• RLINCS PhD Research Studentships: Investigating the Chemistry of a Cold Smoking Process and its Impacts on Food Safety and Quality; Deep Learning Intrusion Detection System for the Internet of Things; Characterising fat tissue structure and function in grey seals, an animal model of extreme fat deposition and mobilisation, using novel in vivo and in vitro approaches; Applying the self-reference effect to improve children’s mathematical problem solving; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury in female athletes.

• Master by Research Studentships in Mental Health Nursing: Various areas of research focus will be considered. 

• Master by Research Studentship: Developing a successful food new product development tool linking effective testing (using facial electromyography) with sensory attribute selection

• PhD Research Studentship: Exploiting yeast diversity in whisky fermentations for biocatalysis of desirable flavour compounds. 

• PhD Research Studentship: Evaluating the effect of plant species on soil carbonation flux

• PhD Research Studentship: Fluid-aerosol modelling of cloud evolution in substellar atmospheres (R-LINCS)

• Master by Research Studentship: Developing a successful food new product development tool linking effective testing (using facial electromyography) with sensory attribute selection

• MSc Research Studentship: Utilising crushed dolerite columns to stabilise unstable substrates using microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP): coupling ground improvement and climate mitigation - laboratory approach 

• Games and Media Facilitated e-Learning 

• Developing a successful new food product development, tool linking effective testing (using facial electromyography) with sensory attribute selection

• A generic framework for atmospheric fluid-aerosol modelling with applications in astrophysics, computer games and environment

• Utilising crushed dolerite columns to stabilise unstable substrates using microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP): coupling ground improvement and climate mitigation – numerical modelling approach

•  Exploring self-reference effects in children with ADHD

• Application of focused 'omics' approaches to the study of biological phenomena implicated in musculoskeletal ageing. (R-LINCS)

• CLOSED - Modelling of multiphase flow in deformable agricultural soils (Hosted at Abertay University for Tayside Centre for Geotechnical Engineering in Natural Environments)

• Development of Effective Guidelines and Communication Tools for the Protection of Rural Private Water Supplies from Sources of Pollution 

• Detection, analysis and clinical application of spermatozoa biochemical profile using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). (R-LINCS)

• Multiple missing: an exploration of behavioural consistency in repeat missing adults. (R-LINCS)

• Application of focused 'omics' approaches to the study of biological phenomena implicated in musculoskeletal ageing. (R-LINCS)

• Connecting Performance and Play: interdisciplinary design methods for the development of games and performance – ARCS/ SGSAH  studentship (Abertay University, National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)

• Investigation into and Development of Processes for the Enhancement of Safety and Shelf Life of Fresh Produce. (R-LINCS and James Hutton Institute)

• Ecology at play: An exploration of natural data through game design. (IW Stewart PhD Studentship) 

• Developing of 4D Imaging Methods to Quantify Soil Structural Dynamics with applications to Soil Science and Environmental Engineering. (R-LINCS)

• Addressing the Fundamental Problems of Cyber-Security through Anti-Patterns. (R-LINCS)

• Interaction between emotion and communication. (R-LINCS)

• Investigating structural synaptic plasticity as a novel therapeutic target for functional recovery from spinal cord injury. (R-LINCS)

• Securing cyberspace: Development and validation of a novel research and evaluation toolset. (R-LINCS)

• The Social and Organisational Construction of Ethical Hacking. (R-LINCS)

• A systematic study of the effect of ultrasound on food enzymes and bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds (model and real food systems). (R-LINCS)

• Assisting Digital Forensic Reconstruction via Exploratory Information Visualisation. (SICSCA)

• Exploring the Role of Monitoring Agents and Affective Feedback in Enhancing Cyber Security for Average Users. (SICSCA)

• Games Design, a new Approach for a New Industry. (ESRC)

• Design and Action. (AHRC)

• Exploring Interactive Design Engineering Methodologies. (AHRC)

• Investigation of the performance of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) on the Scottish Trunk Road Network (STRN). (BEAR)

• Factors controlling root growth in heterogeneous substrates: physical structures and root behaviour. (R-LINCS in partnership with James Hutton Institute)

• When do dialects become languages? (Leverhulme)

• Computer and Web Enabled Food Product Evaluation. (MacPhie of Glenbervie Ltd)

• Customer Honesty in Self-Service Interactions. (R-LINCS)

• Nano-and bio-technologies for food science and technology. (SORSAS)

• Role of Second Generation Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor(s) and Adenosine-Triphosphate on Human Sperm Motility. (SORSAS)

• Influence of soil structure on the spatial and temporal distribution of bacteria in soil. (SORSAS)

• Ecosystem service goods and benefits accruing from sustainable approaches to urban water management (SORSAS)

• Understanding Early Intervention: A Case Study of Dundee (SIPR)

• MPhil Research Studentship, 2 years: Project Title: Games and Media Facilitated e-Learning

• PhD Research Studentship: Mapping for Social Innovation

• MPhil Studentship: Development and validation of sequencing and bioinformatics methodologies to identify pathogenic mutations in candidate male infertility genes.

• PhD Studentship: Parental Involvement in Sport: Improving the Quality of Children’s Sport Experiences and Wellbeing

• PhD Studentship: Co-Design Mapping for Social Innovation Project.

• PhD Studentship: Enhancing Scotland’s resilience to climate change.

• PhD Studentship: Active transport of Gold-coated iron oxide superparamagnetic nanoparticles: A universal delivery vehicle.

• PhD Studentship: BARIToNE CTP - Towards climate-Positive barley: developing model-based approaches to identify pathways and evidence benefits (PROTECT)

• Project Title: Trauma and Justice: Advancing Investigative Interviews with the Trauma-Informed Cognitive Interview (TICI).