Anglia Vision Research group consists of academic staff with a wealth of international experience in research, research training and teaching in optometry and vision sciences from the Universities of Cambridge, Cardiff, Indiana, Houston, McGill, and Melbourne. Our researchers have a history of publication in high-ranking vision science and optometry journals and have attracted grants from research councils, charitable trusts and industry.

Our research interests lie in understanding basic processes and neural mechanisms of normal visual perception in areas of spatio-temporal vision, image processing, colour vision, stereopsis and binocular vision. As trained clinicians we are also interested in understanding how visual mechanisms differ in developing, aging, anomalous, or diseased visual systems. We aim to apply scientific principles to our understanding of such clinical conditions and to develop new diagnostic or therapeutic tools.

Primarily, our research uses psychophysical tools of investigation; however we plan to develop visual electrophysiology in parallel within our research laboratories, to enhance our ability to address scientific and clinical questions. Our coherent group continues to be strengthened and invigorated by a growing PhD student base. We have firm links with Addenbrooke's hospital in paediatric eyecare and electrophysiology, as well as with research groups at the University of Cambridge.

Supervision and support

We have both new and experienced doctoral supervisors. Our members also act as expert reviewers for vision journals and examine PhDs in external institutions. Our supervisors have gained their own PhDs from several external and overseas institutions, which we believe enhances research supervision. As a PhD student, you will attend regular meetings with supervisory teams, research journal clubs, external scientific seminars and conferences. You will also present your own research within the department and at national and international level scientific conferences.

Facilities

You will have access to state-of-the-art psychophysical and electrophysiological systems for studying vision, eye movements and the visual brain.

Funding

Aside from self-funding or funding by your employer, charities and trusts (competitively sought after, as are Research Council Awards), career, graduate, and professional study loans may be available. Visit: www.family-action.org.uk for information on educational trusts, or www.direct.gov.uk for bank loans at competitive rates. Alternatively, visit your local high-street bank for more information.

Career development and training

Career development on this research programme comes mainly from supervisory mentoring and research conference training and networking opportunities.

Candidates seeking admission to the degree of MPhil or MPhil with possibility of transfer to PhD will normally be required to hold a first or upper second class honours degree of a university, or any other institution of higher education in the UK with degree-awarding powers or a qualification which is regarded by Anglia Ruskin as equivalent to a first or upper second class honours degree.