Children’s Media and the Neurodivergent Mind

• Supervisors: Professor Rachael Bedford (SBBS, QMUL), Professor Tim Smith (UAL)
• Studentship Funding:
  • Name: New Talent Research Enabling Scheme
  • Funder: Faculty of Science and Engineering - School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences (SBBS) at QMUL
• Application Deadline: 23:59PM on 21^st March 2025
• Expected Start Date: 15^th Sept 2025 (Sept 2025 Entry)

Download this document for further details, eligibility criteria and how to apply. [PDF 103KB]

Project Overview

Applications are open for a 3-year funded PhD Studentship in the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences (SBBS) at Queen Mary University of London.

Recent evidence suggests that neurodivergent children (e.g. those with an autism or ADHD diagnosis) may spend more time that neurotypical children watching and interacting with screen media; yet they remain overlooked in tailored guidelines about screen time. This is due, in part, to a lack of research into the mechanisms linking screen time to neurocognitive development in neurodivergent children. In neurotypical children, aspects of screen media have been associated with executive function difficulties - a set of cognitive abilities such as inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, which enable children to set and follow through on their goals. The aim of this PhD is to determine which features of children’s TV are linked with executive functions, and to test the moderating role of neurodivergent traits.

This project will run alongside the UKRI-funded Animating Minds project, and involve using state-of-the-art eye-tracking and functional near infra-red spectroscopy techniques to measure executive functions in young children.

Research Environment

Queen Mary University of London’s (QMUL) Centre for Brain and Behaviour (CBB), co-directed by Professor Bedford, is a diverse, interdisciplinary, scientific environment. Within the CBB, the state-of-the-art Child Development Lab includes EEG, fNIRS, high-speed precision eye-tracking and actigraphy. The CBB has strong expertise in cognitive developmental neuroscience as well as the statistical modelling approaches appropriate for developmental data (including structural equation modelling).

Find out more about the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on our website.

Entry Requirements & Criteria

We are looking for candidates to have or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree. A Master’s degree in an area relevant to the project such as Developmental Psychology or Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience is desirable. Candidates must also have experience conducting research in a laboratory environment.

Knowledge of developmental cognitive neuroscience methods, the effects of screen media on neurocognitive development, experience working with neurotypical or neurodivergent children and advanced statistical analysis and programming skills would be highly advantageous but are not required. 

Find out more about our entry requirements here.

Funding

The studentship is funded by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). It will cover home tuition fees, and provide an annual tax-free maintenance allowance for 3 years at the UKRI rate (£21,237 in 2024/25). 

Please find out more about funding and eligibility via: Rachael Bedford_QMUL SE Studentship Details [PDF 103KB]

Any further queries can be sent to sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk 

How to Apply 

Find out more about our application process on our SBBS website.

Further details can be downloaded here: Rachael Bedford_QMUL SE Studentship Details [PDF 103KB]

Apply Online

References

Lillard, A. S., & Peterson, J. (2011). The immediate impact of different types of television on young children's executive function. Pediatrics, 128(4), 644-649.

Portugal, A. M., Hendry, A., Smith, T. J., & Bedford, R. (2023). Do pre-schoolers with high touchscreen use show executive function differences?. Computers in human behavior, 139, 107553.