Clinical Investigation and Visual Sciences

Description

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Programme Aims
To provide opportunities to acquire knowledge and expertise for positions within academic vision science research, industrial research and development in the ophthalmic and pharmaceutical industries, senior positions within the Hospital Eye Service (for registered optometrists), and optometric companies.

Special Features
* State-of-the-art facilities for retinal imaging, visual field examination, and electrophysiological investigations, and customised psychophysics apparatus for applied and basic vision science research.
* An international centre of excellence for studies investigating the function and structure in glaucoma and Age-Related Macular Degeneration, visual field loss, and for studies concerning the psychophysical evaluations of central and peripheral vision.
* Renowned for electrophysiological investigation in glaucoma and diabetes as well as for studies of ocular and related parameters in Down's syndrome.
* The Group is supported by grants from numerous organisations such as the Wellcome Trust, NIH/NISCHR, Leverhume Trust, PPP, BUPA, the College of Optometrists and numerous other charitable and industrial sources.

Contents

Research areas include:

* Theoretical and clinical aspects of perimetric measures of the visual field including drug-related visual field defects
* Spatial and contrast scaling for equalising performance in recognition tasks across the visual field
* The refinement of electrophysiological techniques for assessing retinal processing
* Electrophysiological measures of retinal processing in protanopia
* Retinal imaging in glaucoma
* Effects, mechanisms and risk factors in diabetic retinopathy
* Clinical measures of motion processing in children
* Aetiology, impact and management of visual defects in children with Down's Syndrome
* Electrophysiological measures of vision in Down's Syndrome
* Motion perception in normal and abnormal vision
* Quantification of tear film properties
* Corneal Sensitivity
* New electrophysiological techniques for assessing retinal processing
* Visual performance in low vision and image enhancement techniques
* Eye movements and vision in Nystagmus
* Vision and visual defects in Down's Syndrome

Requirements

Suitable for graduates in optometry, medicine, psychology, social science, physics, biology, biochemistry, mathematics or any relevant scientific discipline.

A First or Upper Second class UK Honours degree, or equivalent is required.

Note: International students pursuing part-time programmes of study are not eligible for Tier 4 General Student) visas and must have alternative leave to remain in the UK if they intend to study at the University in person.

Funding

Funding options

Funding for your postgraduate degree is available from a variety of sources.



Research Council fundingThe Research Councils provide government funding for postgraduate study and are a major source of funding for Cardiff postgraduate students. Each Funding Council supports a different area of study and may have differing application and awarding procedures.



We are the lead partner in the Economic and Social Research (ESRC) Wales Doctoral Training Centre, and hold block grants from the following Research Councils:



* Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
* Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
* Medical Research Council (MRC)
* Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
* Science Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
* Charities, trusts and other external bodies

Our 4 year PhD in Integrative Neuroscience is supported by the Wellcome Trust, the UK's largest provider of non governmental funding for scientific research.



In addition, there are numerous organisations offering alternative sources of funding for postgraduate courses. These awards are unlikely to cover full expenses but offer help towards overall costs.



The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding, a free eBook available to current Cardiff University students, applicants and prospective students, provides guidance and advice on writing funding applications and contains links to over 300 alternative funding bodies.



In addition, Cardiff University subscribes to ResearchProfessional providing access to their research funding and news service for current students of Cardiff University.



Part-time employmentMany postgraduates take paid employment while pursuing their studies.



Professional and career development loans

A Professional and Career Development Loan is a deferred repayment bank loan between £300 and £10,000, available for Masters or professional qualifications. Banks usually take between six and 12 weeks to process your application so apply well in advance.



Cardiff University's Learning Provider Number is 8655.



Funding for study and research abroadA range of organisations provide funding to promote cultural exchange and international mobility in research and teaching. These funding opportunities are generally for doctoral students wishing to conduct part of their studies or research abroad.