IBANS Scholars Scheme 2025/26
Interdisciplinary MSc by Research Projects
MSc (Res) degrees are research-based Masters degrees which can be interdisciplinary in nature. You will engage in a full-time research project supervised by researchers from different disciplines and write a dissertation. This is an excellent opportunity to spend a year in a research environment either for a standalone degree or as preparation for a PhD.
IBANS Msc (RES) Scholarships come with research bursaries of £1000 each for your research expenses throughout your degree as well as eligibility for Global Merit Awards for outstanding overseas applicants. You will also receive membership in the Institute for Behavioural and Neural Sciences (IBANS) as an IBANS Scholar.
Application Deadline: No hard deadline. Application for the project will be closed once the position is filled.
Degree start date: September 2025
Fees: Please see this page for information about tuition fees. Overseas candidates are eligible to apply for a Global Merit Award (£7500 tuition fee discount).
How to apply: If you are planning to apply for a project, you first need to contact the supervisors to discuss eligibility and obtain approval. Once an agreement is reached, you can proceed to submit your formal application. Details can be found in the Project Outline of each project.
Contact: For general enquiries about IBANS Scholar scheme ([email protected]), for general enquiries about admissions ([email protected]), for enquiries about specific projects, please contact the corresponding supervisors.
Current IBANS MSc(RES) Projects
Applications are open for the following projects:
- Project 1: Mmm… Molecular Mechanisms of MRAP2: Investigating a Key Regulator of Appetite in the Brain
- Project 2: The Impact of Role Models on STEM Career Aspirations
- Project 3: Exploring collective representations through agent-based models
- Project 4: Leveraging AI-Driven Feedback to Mitigate Biases in Decision-Making
- Project 5: CLDN3: a novel genetic risk factor for dyslexia
Project 1: Mmm… Molecular Mechanisms of MRAP2: Investigating a Key Regulator of Appetite in the Brain
Supervisors: Dr Javier Tello (Medicine) & Dr Paolo Annibale (Physics & Astronomy)
An exciting research opportunity is available to investigate the precise molecular mechanisms through which the brain regulates appetite, using advanced real-time imaging techniques and neuronal culture systems. In particular, this project aims to investigate the role of Melanocortin Receptor Accessory Protein 2 (MRAP2) in the trafficking and signal transduction of the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), which is crucial for regulating hunger and energy balance in the brain. Using advanced single cell imaging and functional fluorescence microscopy, the study will track MC4R dynamics in live neurons and assess changes in receptor expression and intracellular signaling in response to MRAP2. The findings could provide insights into the mechanisms underlying obesity and potential interventions for its prevention.
Applicants should hold, or expect to achieve, a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience or a related discipline.
This project has been awarded IBANS Research Bursary of £1000 for research expenses. For further details on the project and informal enquiries please contact Dr Javier Tello ([email protected]) and Dr Paolo Annibale ([email protected]).
For a detailed description of the project, see Project Outline.
Project 2: The Impact of Role Models on STEM Career Aspirations
Supervisors: Dr Irina Merkurieva (Economics), Professor Malinda Carpenter (Psychology & Neuroscience), Dr Margaret Leighton (Economics)
This project explores whether reading about female role models can enhance 11-year-old girls’ interest in STEM fields. The project consists of two parts: Intervention and Analysis. During the intervention phase, participants will read a book featuring biographies of women in STEM and write essays envisioning their future. During the analysis phase, these essays will be analyzed using AI tools to identify shifts in aspirations. The project aims to understand how role models influence career choices and provide insights for increasing diversity in STEM.
Applicants should hold a good undergraduate degree in any social science discipline and have some experience with data analysis software (e.g., SPSS or Stata). Candidates with a background in computer science or data science are also welcome to apply. Prior experience with coding is not required for this project; however, the successful candidate should be enthusiastic to undertake basic training in a language such as Python.
This project has been awarded St Andrews Business School Research Bursary of £1000 for research expenses. For further details on the project and informal enquiries please contact Dr Irina Merkurieva ([email protected]), Professor Malinda Carpenter ([email protected]), Dr Margaret Leighton ([email protected]).
For a detailed description of the project, see Project Outline.
Project 3: Exploring collective representations through agent-based models
Supervisors: Prof. Amanda Seed (Psychology and Neuroscience), Dr. Derek Ball (Philosophy), Dr. Tugce Cuhadaroglu (Economics), Dr. Gabriel Ramos-Fernandez (National Autonomous University of Mexico)
This project explores the possibility that groups could use collective representations to interact with their environment. Ant pheromone trails, social welfare functions, transactive memory systems, interactive maps updated with user information, may be examples of collective phenomena based on collectively generated models that allow groups to incorporate features of the environment and adjust their behaviour accordingly. The student will use an agent-based model to formulate these questions in more concrete terms, exploring how a group of agents, each one behaving according to simple rules, could generate a representation of its environment with some of those features. The student will be trained in systematising the wide body of literature existing on collective representations, distilling essential content into simple rules that can then be used to program the agent-based model, and in analysing and validating the model’s results.
Ideal candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, philosophy, biology or economics, and have an interest in using models to study collective behaviour. The project may include the opportunity to visit UNAM in Mexico City to work on the agent-based model.
The project has been awarded IBANS Research Bursary of £1000 for research expenses. For further details on the project and informal enquiries please contact Prof. Amanda Seed ([email protected]), Dr. Derek Ball ([email protected]), Dr. Tugce Cuhadaroglu ([email protected]) and Dr. Gabriel Ramos-Fernandez ([email protected]).
For a detailed description of the project, see Project Outline.
Project 4: Leveraging AI-Driven Feedback to Mitigate Biases in Decision-Making
Supervisors: Dr Ozgur Akgun (Computer Science), Dr Tugce Cuhadaroglu (Economics)
This project aims to apply machine learning techniques to identify and reduce cognitive biases in decision-making. Empirical evidence indicates that individuals frequently deviate from rational decision making. The central question is whether these deviations stem from inadvertent errors in processing or are deliberate choices, and if AI-driven feedback can help identify and correct them. The project is structured in two phases. First, theoretical models and predictions of economic decision making will be used to develop an algorithm that aims to estimate preference parameters, and likelihoods of potential biases from decision data. In the second phase, this algorithm will be used in an online experiment to test whether AI-driven feedback helps to mitigate those biases.
Applicants are expected to possess robust computer science skills, including experience in algorithm development and data analysis, alongside an interest in applying economic methods to behavioural research. Prior experience in machine learning is essential, as the project relies on the candidate’s ability to integrate advanced computational techniques with economic theory without the need for formal training in these areas.
The project has been awarded St Andrews Business School Research Bursary of £1000 for research expenses. For further details on the project and informal enquiries please contact Dr Ozgur Akgun (ozgur.akgun@st-andrews.ac.uk), Dr. Tugce Cuhadaroglu ([email protected]).
For a detailed description of the project, see Project Outline.
Project 5: CLDN3: a novel genetic risk factor for dyslexia
Supervisors: Prof Silvia Paracchini (Medicine) & Prof Sonja Vernes (Biology)
Dyslexia is a specific difficulty in learning to read that affects 5-10% of school-aged children and is strongly influenced by genetic factors. A recent exome-sequencing studies identify several candidate genes for dyslexia. Notably, a specific variant (7-73769649-G-A) in the CLDN3 gene was identified in six independent cases, showing a four-fold higher frequency compared to population reference datasets. This project investigates the effect of this specific variant on the function of CLDN3, a gene involved in the blood-brain-barrier, to elucidate the molecular pathways underlying dyslexia. The research combines genomic technologies with functional validation approaches, providing an opportunity to dissect genotype-phenotype relationships in human cognition.
The student should have a strong theoretical grounding in genetics and molecular biology with a degree in a related field. They will receive comprehensive training in cell biology and molecular genetic techniques, including cloning, transfection, mutagenesis, and immunofluorescence. They will work with cellular models using differentiated neuronal cells and conduct bioinformatic analysis using UK Biobank data. Hands on experience in any of these methods is an advantage but not a requirement as training will be delivered through one-on-one mentorship with experienced researchers and supervision from two senior academics, ensuring optimal skill development and support.
This project has been awarded IBANS Research Bursary of £1000 for research expenses. For further details on the project and informal enquiries please contact Prof Silvia Paracchini ([email protected]) and Prof Sonja Vernes ([email protected]).
For a detailed description of the project, see Project Outline.