INDiE Lab has funding to support two PhD studentships, both starting October 2026.
Interoception in Early Childhood: Measurement, Mechanisms and Mental Health (4 years). Interoceptive accuracy - the ability to perceive internal bodily signals - has been linked to fundamental aspects of socio-emotional development that emerge early in childhood and are disrupted across a range of clinical conditions, and predict functional outcomes. However, most existing methods of assessing interoception are unsuitable for young children. The project will focus on developing and validating a new experimental task for younger populations. Said task will be combined with eye-tracking, physiological recording and potentially neuroimaging if useful. The PhD candidate will lead on developing experimental work to measure individual differences in interoceptive accuracy early in childhood, and testing how these differences are associated with key aspects of development and mental health.
What is the Impact of AI-Adaptive Sensory Environments on Child Behaviour and Cognition? (3 years). AI-assisted technologies are being developed to allow real-time adjustments of sensory environments for children and young people with sensory sensitivities (e.g.,https://shorturl.at/2YvLl). However, the mechanisms by which these could support educational engagement and cognitive development are not well understood. This project will combine cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) technology, psychophysiological measurement and AI-informed algorithms to test whether sensory adaptive cognitive paradigms promote learning and engagement. The core question is whether cognitive tasks that use AI to adapt to children’s arousal level and consequently alter the immediate sensory environment are advantageous for cognitive outcomes. Alongside clear clinical and educational implications, this project will interrogate long-standing theoretical accounts on the role of sensory input, arousal and regulation in how children interact with their local environment.
For both projects, you will join them at their earliest stages, with ample opportunity to contribute tothe design and direction of planned studies. The candidate will work independently and in collaboration with other members of Dr Carter Leno’s group. You will also join and be expected to contribute to a thriving research community at the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development at Birkbeck, and will be encouraged to take part in research networks within the department and at other institutions nearby. Being based at the Toddlerlab offers extensive opportunities for training in theory and innovative methods at an internationally recognised centre of developmental science.
These studentships covers PhD tuition fees (at Home level) and provides a tax-free living stipend (comparable to UKRI levels for 2026). Please contact Dr Virginia Carter Leno directly (v.carterleno at birkbeck.ac.uk) to discuss. Deadline for applications is 8th June.
