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BPS updates

BPS seeking applications for PhD in challenging histories

The BPS has linked up with the University of Leicester to offer an Arts Humanities Research Council-funded CDA focusing on the challenging history of UK psychology.

14 November 2023

The successful candidate will be based at the BPS head office in Leicester city centre and have access to the society's internationally-important archive which dates back to the 1890s.

The PhD is titled 'Facing up to the past: Challenging histories and changing future conversations at the UK British Psychology Society'.

Sophie O'Reilly, BPS archivist, said:

"This is an extremely exciting opportunity for applicants, the society and research into the history of psychology.

This project is ambitious and timely because it is based on a century of neglected evidence of LGBTQIA+, Black and marginalised histories of psychology in the UK.

This is a very under-researched topic. Hopefully the research will shed new light on our understanding of UK psychology."

They will be the first person in the UK to research the lost and forgotten stories of psychology's hidden histories of eugenics, marginalised Black histories, and those discriminated against because of their disability, gender, and sexual identity. 

This ground-breaking opportunity will give privileged access to a huge amount of under-researched sources and will provide the opportunity for the successful candidate to conduct internationally significant research.

More information is available online (select Leicester), along with full details on the application process. Applications will be open until noon on Wednesday 10 January 2024.

If you have any questions please contact the lead supervisor Professor Elizabeth Hurren by email.

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