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Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba

Studentship opportunity

All Studentship Opportunities

Trauma and Justice: Advancing Investigative Interviews with the Trauma-Informed Cognitive Interview (TICI).

This studentship is funded by the ESRC through the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS)

Institution
Abertay University
Pathway
Health, Wellbeing and Communities
Studentship
Open Collaborative
Mode of study

Full-time / Part-time

Application deadline
4pm, 14 April 2022
Applications are due 10 April, 5 pm BST and
References are due 16 April, 5 pm BST

Project details

Eyewitness evidence is crucial in police investigations, but witnesses often experience trauma, and officers often face pressure and fatigue, particularly when dealing with vulnerable individuals. Trauma-informed practice acknowledges that trauma can influence how individuals participate in interviews, which in turn impacts the interview’s outcome and the overall pursuit of justice.

This PhD project seeks to develop a Trauma-Informed Cognitive Interview (TICI) framework to improve witness well-being while maintaining accurate memory recall. The project builds on the Cognitive Interview (Fisher & Geiselman, 2010), which leverages cognitive mnemonics from psychological theory to boost memory. By integrating counselling techniques, the PhD will investigate whether the TICI framework could address the specific needs of anxious and traumatized witnesses. Importantly, the framework will also promote officer well-being through the inclusion of reflective practices and psychoeducation around how witnesses who have experienced distressing events might behave in interviews. A mixed-methods approach will be used, involving qualitative research with victims, witnesses and police officers to ensure the framework is grounded in real-world contexts.

Additionally, laboratory and field research will evaluate the effectiveness of the framework using a combination of qualitative and quantitative measures. In collaboration with Police Scotland, the project will develop a practical framework for supporting distressed witnesses and victims, including training materials, briefing papers, and interview protocols to inform Police Scotland’s trauma-informed training and practice.

Supervisory Team:

  • First Supervisor: Dr Julie Gawrylowicz, j.gawrylowicz@abertay.ac.uk
  • Second Supervisor: Dr Penny Woolnough, p.woolnough@abertay.ac.uk
  • Third Supervisor: Dr Karen Goodall, Karen.Goodall@ed.ac.uk

About the University

Abertay University is a compact, modern University with an established reputation for working across traditional research boundaries, as well as within new and emerging disciplines and sectors. It is committed to high-quality research that delivers real impact for society. Abertay has been ranked in the UK top 10 for student experience in The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025. The student will be in the Department of Sociological and Psychological Sciences, a welcoming and stimulating place to study. In REF 2021 the Division was rated the best modern Scottish University for research (67% of outputs ‘internationally excellent/world-leading’). They will join a cohort of students from across the university in the Graduate School, accessing an extensive training and development programme underpinned by the Vitae Development Framework. The student will also join the Scottish Institute for Policing Research Postgraduate Group, accessing a dynamic environment of peers and events in the field of policing research.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Applicants will have a first degree (undergraduate) and have a demonstrable interest in the topic area under investigation.
  • Applicants can have a Masters degree, however this is not a requirement.
  • Applicants can study part-time or full-time

Other criteria include:

  • Applicants will have an honours degree in an appropriate discipline (e.g., psychology, social/behavioural sciences, policing, counselling, mental health studies, social work).
  • Applicants have experience in both qualitative (e.g., interviews, thematic analysis) and quantitative (e.g., experiments, surveys) research.
  • Applicants should have experience and/or knowledge of conducting research with vulnerable populations and be able to demonstrate strength in sensitive/empathic communication.
  • Applicants should have experience in writing reports and presenting findings to various audiences.
  • Applicants should have cultural awareness and the ability to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. Desirable Skills:
  • Experience and/or knowledge in criminal justice or forensic psychology settings.
  • Understanding of memory recall techniques in forensic settings.
  • Familiarity with trauma-informed counselling techniques.

Funding

As per guidance published by UKRI in October 2020, a maximum of 30% of all studentships awarded can be made to international students, with the remaining 70% going to home students. 

Residential Criteria

To be classed as a home student, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a UK national (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If you do not meet the criteria above, you will be classed as an international student. To establish if you would be classed as a home student, please see pages 4 and 5 of the UKRI eligibility guidance here

As per guidance published by UKRI in October 2020, a maximum of 30% of all studentships awarded can be made to international students, of which SGSSS has now awarded for the 2021/22 round of studentship awards. As such, this opportunity is only open to home students.

Residential Criteria

To be classed as a home student, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a UK national (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If you do not meet the criteria above, you will be classed as an international student and will not be eligible to apply. To establish if you would be classed as a home student, please see pages 4 and 5 of the UKRI eligibility guidance here.

Award details

The scholarship is available as a +3.5 (3 year PhD and placement) or a 1+3.5 (Masters year, 3 year PhD, and a placement) studentship depending on prior research training. This will be assessed as part of the recruitment process, however you can access guidance here to help you decide on which to apply for. The programme will commence in October 2025. The full ESRC studentship package includes, as advised by ESRC:

  • An annual maintenance grant (stipend)
  • Fees at the standard institutional home rate
  • Students can also draw on a pooled Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)

Other information

This is a collaborative studentship working closely together with our external partner Police Scotland, who agreed to facilitate access to resources and training. All supervisors have experience in working with vulnerable people and in mixed-methods research ensuring the prospective PhD candidate will benefit from the required expertise to make the studentship a success.

Furthermore, all of them have close links to relevant stakeholders. An advisory group will help guide the research and develop the student’s understanding. The advisory group will include mental health and national and international police experts and stakeholders working directly with victims. They will meet with the student and the supervisory team at key points during the PhD.

How to apply

  1. Applicants must register on SGSSS Apply, completing their Equal Opportunities data.
  2. Applicants must apply via SGSSS Apply, uploading the following documentation:

    • Application Questions (answered within SGSSS Apply, no upload needed)
    • Academic transcripts
    • Academic prizes
    • Referee information
    • CV
    • Other information (if required by the advert)
We strongly encourage applicants review the applicant guidance document for more on the process. 

Please Note:

  • This is not an application to the relevant University, this is an application for SGSSS (ESRC) funding.
  • Students do not need a Masters/PhD offer from the relevant University before they can apply for funding, i.e. this studentship.
  • If successful in obtaining the SGSSS (ESRC) studentship, students can only start the funded studentship once they have an unconditional Masters/PhD degree offer from the relevant University. It is your responsibility to find out the University’s application process, including when you need to secure your offer, as SGSSS plays no role in this process.

This studentship opportunity will open for applications on 9th June.

Apply now via SGSSS Apply

Selection process

Applications will be ranked by an internal institutional selection panel, and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted for interview on or around 18 April. Interviews will take place 29th April.

This studentship award is subject to the successful candidate securing admission to a PhD programme within Abertay University. The successful candidate will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme.

Contact details

Name
SGSSS Team (for questions on the application portal, only), for any questions on the project, email the first & second supervisors (see details in abstract above)
Email
team@sgsss.ac.uk

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