The project aims to examine the interplay between three different outcomes of visits to rocky shores in England. First, visits may adversely affect the marine environment. Second, visits may have positive effects on marine awareness in visitors, which may be beneficial to the habitat in the long run. Third, visits to marine environments may be psychologically restorative for the visitors. Restoration refers to recovery of cognitive resources, for example after stressful experiences, and thus enhances well-being. So far, restorative effects have been shown for green environments (e.g., parks) but not for marine or aquatic environments. Moreover, no integrated interdisciplinary analysis looking at these three outcomes together has been conducted before. The successful candidate will engage in lab and field studies using observation and experimental methods.

This interdisciplinary project will benefit from existing collaborations with the Wembury Voluntary Conservation Area, the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, the European Centre for Environment and Human Health in Truro and the Changing Risky Behaviours research group in the School of Psychology. The student will be expected to liaise with these partners and be actively involved in the bi-weekly Psychology and Sustainability meetings.

School of Psychology
The School of Psychology is large and has a vibrant, highly collaborative, and interdisciplinary community. Laboratory and teaching facilities were completely renovated in 2008. Research in the School was rated as 5 in the 2001 RAE and world leading in the 2008 RAE for which 34.5 staff were submitted (making Plymouth the 12th largest research School of Psychology in the UK) and 85% of our research was rated at international standard. Currently, the School has established expertise in several fields, with research organised around the recently recognised University Research Centre in Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. The centre encompasses research excellence in Thinking and Reasoning, Memory, Vision, Cognitive Neuroscience, Language Development, Social Psychology, Health and Well Being and Human Factors.

Applicants should have a good first degree (2:1 or above) in Psychology or a closely related discipline and ideally a relevant Master’s degree. We are particularly interested in candidates with the motivation and ability to integrate approaches from the two disciplines involved.

Previous scientific research experience and excellent research skills are essential. Experience of presenting and writing up research beyond undergraduate level is desirable.

The studentship is for 3 years and includes fees plus a stipend, and a research training support grant of £750 per annum (for conference travel, etc). The personal maintenance stipend for ESRC/NERC studentships is currently £13,590 per annum (non-taxable). The position is open to UK citizens and EU citizens who have been resident or studied in the UK for 3 years.
Plymouth has often been voted 'best place to live in Britain', and has many exciting cultural and student activities.

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Sabine Pahl. However, applications must be made in accordance with the details shown below.

Applications
Please provide an application form, CV and covering letter explaining why you are interested in this position, including details of two referees. General information about applying for a research degree at the University of Plymouth and application forms are available at (http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=5731) or by contacting Catherine Johnson.

Applications should be sent direct to Miss Catherine Johnson Faculty of Science & Technology Research Office, University of Plymouth, PL4 8AA.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 23rd July 2010. Interviews will be held on Friday 6th of August. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not been contacted by Friday 13th of August should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

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