Project title: Healthy Learning in a Digital Age: The Role of Educational Media in Early Development
Primary supervisor: Dr Carina de Klerk (University of Essex)
Second supervisors: Dr Sarah Lloyd-Fox (University of Cambridge)
and Dr Sinead Rocha (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Collaborative partner: Early Ideas Limited
University: University of Essex
CAM-DTP Partner Institution: University of Cambridge
SENSS Theme: Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
Degree structure: The structure of the studentship offered will depend on your personal training needs. However, the minimum duration of a SENSS-funded studentship will be 3.5 years: this covers a PhD and a mandatory placement of approximately 3 months. The maximum duration of a studentship will be 4.5 years: this covers a Masters degree followed by a PhD, as well as the mandatory 3-month placement.
Training opportunities
A comprehensive package of training will be developed in consultation with the supervisory team and delivered through a combination of supervisor-led sessions, specialist workshops, and input from the partner company Tandem (Early Ideas Limited). As part of the project, the student will develop expertise in developmental cognitive neuroscience methods – including how to use EEG and fNIRS to measure infant brain activity – while gaining strong quantitative research skills. They will have the opportunity to work closely with experienced researchers across multiple labs, obtaining hands-on experience with collecting and analysing data on infant learning and development. During a three-month placement with Tandem (Early Ideas Limited), they will gain first-hand experience in educational technology design, project management, and communicating research to non-academic audiences. Supported by the supervisory team’s extensive international networks, the student will be encouraged to build professional connections across academia, industry, and the public sector, preparing them for a wide range of future careers in research, EdTech, and applied developmental science.
Project aims and objectives
The PhD project will investigate:
Whether infants perceive high-quality educational programmes (such as Ms Rachel and the Baby Club) as socially engaging in ways comparable to live interaction.
Whether infants show a “video deficit” in learning, and how this is modulated by prior exposure to interactive screen-based experiences.
How neural mirroring and synchrony during viewing predict learning outcomes.
Whether triadic interactions (infant–parent–screen), such as those promoted by The Baby Club, foster prosocial behaviour and engagement.
Alongside laboratory studies, the project will use a citizen-science survey with families via the partner company Tandem (Early Ideas Limited) to track parental attitudes and practices around infant screen use.
Project background
From the earliest months of life, children are surrounded by screens, sparking widespread concern about their potential harms. However, screen time is not uniform: while some content may be passive or distracting, other forms are carefully designed to engage infants and support learning. Yet surprisingly little research has tested whether infants experience educational media as socially engaging and whether they can effectively learn from it. This project addresses that gap by combining neuroscience, psychology, and educational technology to examine how infants respond to screen-based interactions and how parental co-use shapes these outcomes.
Studentship details
Studentships are advertised as being between +3.5 and +4.5-year. The standard length of an ESRC-funded studentship is +3.5. This includes the standard +3 PhD, plus an +0.25 (one term) for the integrated placement which you must take as part of your studentship, and a further additional +0.25 (one term) to enable you to undertake training relevant to your research project (including career progression). All studentships are offered on either a full-time or part-time basis.
The studentship award covers your university fees up to the home rate and provides you with a stipend (£20,780 in 2025/2026). You will also be able to apply for additional funding via the SENSS Research Training Support Grant to support your training needs.
Residential eligibility
All applicants, whether Home or International, are eligible for a full award, that is, you will receive a stipend (salary) and you will not have to pay any university tuition fees during your studentship award.
Essential and/or desirable attributes/skills
We welcome applicants with a 2:1 or above in Psychology, Cognitive neuroscience, Education, or a related field. Experience with experimental research, statistical analysis, or developmental populations is desirable but not essential, as full training will be provided. Most importantly, applicants should demonstrate enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research, strong communication skills, and a genuine interest in early learning and development. The ideal applicant will enjoy working with families and collaborating with industry partners to translate research into real-world impact. Finally, given that the research will take place at the Essex Babylab, the applicant must be willing to travel regularly to the Colchester campus.
How to apply for this studentship
To be considered for this funding, you must first apply to SENSS for this collaborative studentship. Please read the SENSS-CAM Studentship Application Guidance Notes before completing our online application form. The Guidance Notes are available.
If your application is successful, you will need to make a separate application for a place to study at the University of Essex your host University. You will be provided with a link with information on how to make your application to the University of Essex once you have been offered a SENSS studentship.
Deadline: The deadline for submitting your application for SENSS funding on HEIApply is 9:00AM GMT on Wednesday 7 January 2026. No extensions to this deadline will be permitted.
Enquiries:
For enquiries about this research project, please email Dr Carina de Klerk, University of Essex (c.deklerk@essex.ac.uk).
For enquiries related to your eligibility for this studentship, and/or the application process, please email: Laura Ruddick (laura@essex.ac.uk), Senior PGR Education Manager
About SENSS
The South and East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS) is a consortium formed of eight leading UK universities, all of which are engaged in cutting-edge social science research and training. The SENSS consortium members are:
City St George’s, University of London
Cranfield University
Goldsmiths, University of London
Middlesex University
University of East Anglia
University of Essex (the co-ordinating institution)
University of Lincoln
University of Roehampton
SENSS offers a world-class inter-disciplinary PhD research and training environment. It is committed to supporting its internationally recognised researchers and to producing the next generation of talented social scientists. SENSS has been accredited as a prestigious Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the national body which funds research and training in economic and social issues.
We pride ourselves on our rigorous doctoral training programme, making the most of our members’ diverse specialisms and offering our students a wide array of subject specific as well as advanced training opportunities. SENSS offers high-calibre supervision, driven by our members’ emphasis on formal training and research culture.
For further information about SENSS, please visit the SENSS website
About CAM-DTP
The CAM Doctoral Training Partnership [DTP] is a consortium between Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the University of Bedfordshire (UoB) and the University of Cambridge (UoC).
Its collective environment of excellent research and impact is an ideal complement for the interdisciplinary training of diverse social scientists. CAM-DTP PhD students will join a hub for regional change addressing key societal challenges and the DTP is keen to attract talented doctoral researchers from a wide range of backgrounds. www.cam-dtp.ac.uk