Overview
The international association of pain defines pain as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that is associated with actual or potential tissue damage”. Although the sensory component of pain (sensory discrimination and neuronal encoding) is well documented, the neural circuitry involved the negative affective-motivational aspect of pain is still unclear. The negative emotional components of pain (including anxiety, depression and aversive behaviours) are a key component of the pain experience, particularly for patients with long-term (chronic) pain. Chronic pain is prevalent in patients suffering from disease (e.g. diabetes, cancer) or undergoing treatment (chemotherapy, immunotherapy), which can lead to patient withdrawal from their societal environment. This PhD will use chemogenetic and optogenetic approaches in combination with electrophysiology, neuronal tracing and rodent behavioural paradigms (e.g. conditioned place preference) to examine the neural circuitry involved in the negative emotional aspect of chronic pain. This project is a collaboration between Nottingham Trent University and University of Nottingham.
Applicants should have a 2:1 or 1st class honours degree in a subject relevant to the proposed project. A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a Masters degree with Merit.
Please refer to Nottingham Trent University Profile for Richard Hulse for relevant publications.
https://www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/science-technology/richard-hulse
Entry requirements: Applicants should have a 2:1 or 1st class honours degree in a subject relevant to the proposed project. A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a Masters degree with Merit.
Duration: typical three years full time
Funding: self-funded students only
Supervisors
Dr Louise Hickey
Staff profiles
Entry qualifications
Applicants should have a 2:1 or 1st class honours degree in a subject relevant to the proposed project. A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a Masters degree with Merit.
How to apply
How to apply
The deadline for this application is 28 June 2020.
Please contact Dr Richard Hulse for application enquiries.
Download an application form here.
Please make sure you take a look at our application guidance notes before making your application.
Fees and funding
This PhD is self-funded.
Guidance and support
Further guidance and support on how to apply can be found on this page.